Christmas is almost here and inevitably this means travelling up and down the country to see loved ones.

However, if your car breaks down, would you miss or turn up late to a family gathering because you don’t have breakdown cover?

Women drivers between 18 and 24 are most likely to answer this question with a ‘no’, according to motor insurer and breakdown cover provider RAC, because this group of people is most likely to skimp on breakdown insurance. This means they risk being stranded or having to call on friends or family to help them out of their jam.

RAC’s patrolman of the year, Iain Vale, says he goes out to between 10 and 12 breakdowns a day in the Cambridge area during this time of the year.

“Many drivers are so ill prepared for what to do if they break down – some end up calling their insurer and taking out cover on the spot which isn’t ideal,” Mr Vale said.

But, you don’t have to break down completely to benefit from your breakdown cover, says Mr Vale: “You can call up for anything that you don’t feel sure about with the car – if your headlights have gone, if your windscreen wipers stopped and you can’t drive in the rain, if you have a flat tyre, if your engine warning light comes on and you don’t know why.

“I recently spent over an hour helping a lady who had a two-door coupe, put one of the seats forward but got it jammed and couldn’t push it back.

“Breakdown cover is so much more than just dealing with a flat battery and, if you have a policy, it is worth calling up for help if it will reassure you and make you feel safer about driving your car,” he added.

Will Thomas, head of car insurance at Confused, says breakdown cover is worth paying for: “You don’t realise the value of breakdown cover until you need it.

“It is an additional cost, but it is essential.

“Some people think just because they are insured, they are automatically covered, but that’s a serious misconception,” he added.

Click the link to compare breakdown cover

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Our new poll is here and this time round we are interested to know what you are planning to do with your credit card balance at the beginning of 2009.

The New Year often results in resolutions of sorting bits and pieces out, including the household finances where Christmas has past and money is tight so things need to be done to save some money.

You may choose to transfer your balance to an interest free or low rate credit card, or you may decide to pay your debts off.

However, you may also make the choice to pay just the minimum repayment until you have enough money to pay off more, or because you are still accruing 0% interest on an interest-free purchase offer.

Whatever you are planning to do with your credit card balance, we would like to know.

Click the link to vote in the credit card balance poll

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We have reached the last weekend before Christmas 2008 and for most of us it’ll be time to get the food shopping in for our festive feastings.

When you enter the supermarket you will be hit with an array of offers and tempting treats. The problem here is that it is very easy to overspend on your usual weekly shop, which will be especially bad if Christmas has already squeezed your wallet dry.

It is actually very easy to prevent the shock of a huge bill when you get to the checkout. All you will need is a bit of discipline and a shopping list.

By making a list of the food and other sundries you think you will actually use before you do your next shop you will save money and throw out less food. Try to think about each day that your shop will cover and what you will reasonably use during each of those days. You will need to use your discipline here too to walk away from lots of offers.

According to Credit Action, a third of all groceries purchased each day will end up in the dustbin. Now think about how much you will spend on your Christmas shop, divide it by three and think of throwing that third in the bin. It’s unlikely that this thought will be a pleasant one.

Another good tip, and it’s very simple in practice, is never go to the supermarket when you are hungry. You will likely buy more food as your stomach guides your hands to the food it wants now.

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If you had to replace everything in your house because it was stolen or it had been destroyed in a fire, would you have the details of each item available for your home insurance company?

If the answer to this question is no, you may benefit from our new home contents inventory list tool.

Keeping track of all of your possessions will never be the easiest job in the world, but our new tool should make it easier.

Our home contents inventory list is a chart you can print off and fill in by hand or alternatively you can complete it on your computer.

Try to fill in as many of the details as possible and take photos of your goods as well.

Once complete, store a copy of the document and the photos (even digital format would be fine) in a fireproof box in your home and/or somewhere safe outside of your home.

Click the link to download the compareandsave.com home contents inventory list (Excel document 26.7KB)

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When you go to compare gas and electricity you will sometimes be asked what type of energy user you are.

It’s all very well being asked if you are a ‘low’, ‘medium’ or ‘high’ user, but what do these terms mean when talking about how much you currently pay out for your energy?

Here are the definitions of each type of user according to Consumer Focus, the new consumer champion formed by the joining of past consumer groups including energywatch.

Low user

You will be classed as a low user if you usually spend £15-£27 per month per year on one fuel. This works out to £180-£320 per year.

Medium user

Medium users generally spend £29-£44 per month on one fuel. Over a year this would equate to £350-£530.

High user

If you spend £45-£61 per month on one fuel, you would be defined as a high user. During the year, a high user would spend £540-£730 on one fuel.

Click the link to compare gas and electric

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If you take out a Sainsburys Pet Insurance policy online by 23rd February 2009 you will receive three months free on renewal after 12 months and also get a 15% online discount.

Your policy will cover vets’ fees up to £7,500 in the event of your pet having an accident or illness and you can put in your claim for fees up to 12 months after the event, providing you are up-to-date with your premiums.

There is also no maximum age for your pet when it comes to vets’ fees so this pet insurance policy is suitable for older animals and pets from rescue centres.

What’s more, you will receive 12 months free ‘Petback Protect’ from the Missing Pets Bureau with your Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance policy.
Click the link for more information about Sainsburys Pet Insurance
This offer is current as of 5th DECEMBER 2008. Terms and Conditions apply. For more offers please refer to the Offers section of compareandsave.com’s ‘Your money matters blog’.

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An unknown entity claiming to be the ‘Central Bank of England’ is currently circulating fraudulent emails in an attempt to get consumers’ banking details.

The Bank of England has placed a warning on its website warning Britons that emails from ‘Central Bank of England’ using the email address onlinebanking@bankofengland.co.uk ask recipients to sign in to a website and enter in their bank account details.

These are not genuine say the Bank and should be “deleted immediately and not used” as “they are not from, or related to, the Bank of England”.

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New customers can now get 0% on purchases until June 2009 with the Capital One Low Rate Balance Transfer and the Capital One Low Rate Balance Transfer No Fee credit cards.

This is currently one of the longest 0% purchase offers you will find on credit cards in today’s marketplace.

What’s more, both cards come with low rates on balance transfers until 1st January 2011 and a free identity theft service.

The Capital One Low Rate Balance Transfer Credit Card offers a low rate of 5.5% p.a. variable on balance transfers, until 01/01/11, with a 1.7% admin fee.

On the other hand, the Capital One Low Rate Balance Transfer No Fee Credit Card offers a low APR of 6.5% on balance transfers, until 01/01/11, with NO admin fee.

To qualify for either card, you need to pass the Capital One credit check, be at least 21 years of age and have a minimum annual income of £10,000

Click the link for more information on 0% purchase credit cards

This offer is current as of 2nd DECEMBER 2008. Terms and Conditions apply. For more offers please refer to the Offers section of compareandsave.com’s ‘Your money matters blog’.

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