When you compare savings accounts on the site, look out for the new FirstSave Notice Savings Account which offers up to 3.50% AER on your account balance.

There are two types of FirstSave Notice accounts. One offers 3.00% AER and requires you to give 30 days’ notice to withdraw funds. The other has a notice period of 90 days but offers 3.50% AER.

As these are notice savings accounts, they are ideal for savers who do not need to access their money immediately.

Also, there are different conditions to be met depending on when you would like to receive your interest. If you’d like to receive interest yearly, you will need at least £100 in your account. However, if you want to receive your interest on a monthly basis, you will need a minimum balance of £5,000.

A great thing about this savings account is that it guarantees to pay an AER of at least 0.25% above the Bank of England Base rate (on balances over £100) until 1 January 2010. After this date it guarantees that the AER will not fall below the Bank of England Base Rate until 1 January 2012.

Plus, you will be able to manage your account online.

Click the link for more information about the FirstSave Notice Savings Account

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You can now apply for the LV Diversified Income ISA Savings Account on compareandsave.com.

The LV ISA will invest your money in global markets and aims to earn you a good level of income and long-term capital growth.

This savings account offers a wide range of investments, including property, fixed interest and equities, and will invest in markets globally.

However, this account is meant for savers who are looking for a long-term investment and will therefore unlikely be suitable for you if you want to invest for less than 5 years.

To apply for the LV ISA you need at least a £1,000 initial investment or you can invest from £100 per month.

Applying online will reduce the initial set-up fee from 5% to 2% of the amount invested, and you have to be at least 18 years old to open an account.

Click the link for more information about the LV Diversified Income ISA Savings Account.

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22/04/2009 UPDATE: Chancellor increases ISA allowance in 2009 Budget (see NEW article ‘New ISA allowance for 2009 to 2010‘)

23/02/09: The amount you could invest in Cash ISAs went up to £3,600 at the start of the current tax year 2008/09, the first time the tax-free limit was increased since ISAs were introduced in 1999.

The move was welcomed by the savings industry and noted to be a sign of “the government recognising the importance of ISAs in the UK savings market” by Richard Saunders from the Investment Management Association.

However, Mr Saunders also said that “a 3% increase after nine years is not very much and we will look for more in the future”.

Unfortunately, the next tax year, which starts on 6 April 2009, will not see the ISA limit increased any further based on information released in the Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report in November 2008, but this may well change when the budget is announced in April 2009.

As a result, this tax year (6 April 2009 until 5 April 2010);
INSERT INTO `module_blog_posts` VALUES the amount that can be saved in ISA savings accounts will be (as far as is known until the 2009 Budget is announced on April 22):

• Up to £3,600 in a Cash ISA
   
• Up to £7,200 in a Stocks and Shares ISA
   
• Up to a maximum total annual savings limit of £7,200 (if you hold two accounts, max £3,600 in a Cash ISA and £3,600 in Stocks and Shares ISA)

ISAs allow consumers to save money and earn interest without paying any tax on the interest earned, a potential saving of 40% for higher-rate taxpayers and 20% for basic rate taxpayers.
 

Read the mini-guide to Individual savings accounts (ISAs)

Compare ISA savings accounts here

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It’s that time of year again; every saver with an ISA will be trying to use up their £3,600 tax-free allowance before the financial year ends on 5 April.

However, this past year has been rocky and savings rates are at an all-time low as a result of UK interest rates falling to their lowest level ever.

Last year, we asked you how much of your tax-free ISA allowance you used in the financial year 2007-08 and we would like to ask you the same based on 2008-09.

Having your say should only take a matter of seconds with our easy to use poll tool. Just click on the answer you want to vote on, click the ‘submit’ button and your vote will be recorded. You will then be able to see the results so far and see how many people have provided the same response as you.

Click the link to take part in the 2008-09 ISA poll

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The MBNA Platinum Credit Card now comes with interest free balance transfers until April 2010 (subject to a 2.9% admin fee) and 0% on card purchases until June 2009 for new customers applying for the card.

You will be able to manage your credit card account online and won’t have to pay an annual fee.

Plus, you will have access to 24 hour customer service and, once your introductory offers expire, will benefit from a low typical APR of 15.9% (variable).

What’s more, if your card is stolen, lost or used fraudulently on the internet you will not be held liable by MBNA or have to pay an excess.

If you do choose to transfer a balance over to your new MBNA card, you must do it within 90 days of opening the account.

Click the link for more information on the MBNA Platinum Credit Card

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The Barclaycard Platinum Credit Card now comes with 12 months 0% on balance transfers (subject to a 3% admin fee);
INSERT INTO `module_blog_posts` VALUES 3 months 0% on purchases and a low typical APR of 12.4% (variable).

Additionally, Barclaycard comes with an Identity Protection Service, Fraud Protection and emergency help if you need it when you are travelling abroad.

What’s more, Barclaycard is keen to help you remember when your payments are due and so offers a text alert service which will send you a reminder five days before your due date.

Plus, you can manage your credit card account online and have access to customer service 24 hours a day.

Click the link to find out more about the Barclaycard Platinum Credit Card

This offer is current as of 16th FEBRUARY 2009. 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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You will now get 25% off the price of a Direct Line Travel Insurance policy if you buy it online.

Direct Line offers single trip policies from £10.66 and annual multi-trip policies from £48.25 and will offer cover for children travelling independently on excursions such as school trips.

What’s more, you will get new-for-old replacements as standard (except for clothing);
INSERT INTO `module_blog_posts` VALUES and up to £5 million in medical cover.

As part of your travel insurance policy, you will get cover for watches and sunglasses, access to a 24 hour emergency helpline and you will only have to pay one excess per incident.

To be eligible for a Direct Line policy, you have to be less than 65 years of age.

Click the link for more information about Direct Line Travel Insurance

This offer is current as of 13th FEBRUARY 2009. 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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If you buy a Tesco Pet Insurance before 4th March 2009, you will get a £10 voucher to spend at Tesco. Plus, if you buy online you will receive 20% off the price of your policy.

What’s more, you will get a further 5% off the cost of your policy if you insure more than one pet with Tesco.

You will be able to choose between Standard and Extra levels of pet insurance cover, there isn’t a maximum age limit for pets and the conditions of your policy will not change as your pet ages.

Tesco will also give you a free Pet Protect membership for 12 months, which comes with Missing Pets Bureau.

You can also choose to use your Tesco Clubcard vouchers to save you even more money.

Click the link for more information about Tesco Pet Insurance

This offer is current as of 12th FEBRUARY 2009. 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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If you are a new customer you will receive a £50 Tesco voucher when you buy a Standard or Finest Tesco Home Insurance for your buildings and contents (excludes buy to let) by 1st April 2009. And, you will get a 35% discount off the cost of your premium for your first year.

Plus, if you have Tesco Car Insurance you will receive a further 5% off the price of your premium.

What’s more, Tesco will cover any switching fess you incur by changing insurer, up to a value of £25.

With your standard home insurance policy from Tesco you will receive £1 million building cover. With a Finest policy your building cover will be unlimited.

You can expect to receive your £50 Tesco voucher within six weeks of buying your home insurance policy.

Click the link for more information about Tesco Home Insurance

This offer is current as of 10th FEBRUARY 2009. 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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If you buy a Tesco Car Insurance policy by 1st April 2009, you will receive a £50 voucher to spend at Tesco. Once you have purchased the policy, you should receive your gift card within 6 weeks.

You will also receive a 15% online discount and up to a 70% no claims discount.

Plus, named drivers on your policy will be eligible for a 50% discount when they take out their own policy with Tesco Insurance.

It is also worth having a Tesco Clubcard registered in your name when you buy because you will receive 1 point (worth 1p in store) for every £2 you spend on your car insurance.

What’s more, you can get a 10% multi-car discount by insuring more than one car and you will get discounts from Nationwide Autocentres, including a 15-point car safety check, 15% off a full car service and 10% off all mechanical repairs.

Click the link for more information about Tesco Car Insurance

This offer is current as of 9th FEBRUARY 2009. 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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