Daily Echo | Money Saving Expert | Martin Lewis gives advice and tips for saving money

Take the money test and you could save £100s or even £1000s

4:12pm Thursday 9th May 2013

Your starter for 10. Would you like to save some money? Sometimes cutting your bills isn’t about knowing the right answers, it's about asking the right questions. So let me run you through my money test. Answer each of the following questions – it could add £100s or £1000s to your pocket.

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Sort your energy bills and save £100s

1:21pm Thursday 25th April 2013

This year’s over-extended winter couldn’t have come at a worse time. The increased demand for fuel has pumped up wholesale gas and electricity prices. Some pundits predict another energy price hike round towards the end of the year, hoicking prices by 10%.

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How to have a happy new tax year

12:34pm Thursday 11th April 2013

Happy New Year! Well, new tax year that is (party poppers at my house). That means you now have a brand new tax-free savings ISA allowance. Now, you may be thinking “Hold up, didn’t you write about best ISAs last time?”

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Cash ISA need-to-knows

12:04pm Thursday 28th March 2013

This is an urgent warning. The cash ISA year ends on April 5 and if you don’t use it, you lose it. Yet if you've any savings, your cash is still better in an ISA. As it can take time to open one, you need to act NOW.

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Ten ways drivers can save big bucks...

1:53pm Thursday 14th March 2013

The cost of running a new car, not counting the purchase price, is nearly £4,000 a year – and older cars aren’t too far behind. Imagine if that came as an annual bill. You’d jump out of the driving seat and immediately try to slash the price.

Don't fall into the hidden bill trap...

3:53pm Thursday 28th February 2013

It's the financial nightmares you never thought would happen that really hurt. So here’s how to fight back against the top 10 hidden bill perils.

Make your savings work for you

1:39pm Thursday 14th February 2013

Imagine a limbo dancer who’s been lowered down a mineshaft. Saving rates are currently even lower than that. In November last year I noted they were at their lowest levels for 300 years – and they’ve plummeted since.

Don't complain about your bank, make the right move and you could gain £100s!

5:00pm Thursday 31st January 2013

Does your bank make you growl? Don’t get mad, get minted! It’s a great British whinge to complain about our banks – and with good cause.

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Don't wait to deal with debt: follow these ten credit card debt-busting tips...

12:43pm Thursday 17th January 2013

Debt is a bit like fire. It can be a useful tool, but handle it badly and you’ll get burnt. Sadly, in January, many people’s fingers are tingling under the flame.

Planning a holiday? keep the costs down with these ten tips...

11:38am Friday 4th January 2013

Sun, sea, sand, ski. I’ve no idea why all the best holiday words begin with an S, but that includes saving.

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Save £100s with the winter checklist

12:32pm Monday 24th December 2012

Winter isn’t good for your wallet. Whether it’s a crisp sunny day, or you’re knee deep in snow, the added chills mean bigger bills.

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Don't sort your debts out next year... do it NOW

11:42am Thursday 6th December 2012

The best time to put the brakes on is before you crash into a brick wall. Sadly, when it comes to debt, many people leave it until after.

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Martin Lewis: My top ten Christmas shopping tips

3:50pm Friday 23rd November 2012

It's that dreaded time of year again, when many feel the need to trudge around the shops in the freezing cold, with heavy bags pulling shoulders out of their sockets.

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Children's accounts: help your child to be a savvy saver

5:02pm Thursday 8th November 2012

It’s the gift that keeps on giving (and a cracking BOGOF to boot). Why not give your children money for a savings account to start a nest egg this Christmas? Then an even better present is to teach them how to ensure it’s at the best rate to encourage them on the path to being money-savvy.

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Credit cards: switch to plastic and get big cashback

11:49am Friday 26th October 2012

Let me say it loud and proud – hoorah for credit cards! I can almost hear readers' collective gasps at that. “Eh? Aren’t you the Money Saving Expert? Surely credit cards are bad – boo hiss!”

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Beat the hike in women's car insurance before new ruling comes in

2:12pm Monday 22nd October 2012

I’m not quite sure this is what ’60s feminists had in mind.

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Start preparing your pocket for Christmas

4:59pm Thursday 27th September 2012

This is a crucial warning. I’ve just had it confirmed that Christmas will be on 25 December this year. You may be thinking "that’s not a surprise". Yet if that’s true, why are so many skint in January, as if it crept up on them?

Applying for a credit card? Here's ten things you need to know

3:12pm Thursday 13th September 2012

It’s enough to make you growl. You apply for a credit card or loan, get accepted but they inform you the rate’s far higher than advertised.

10 things to consider when cutting your energy bills down to size

5:47pm Thursday 6th September 2012

Energy price hikes are back. The shock announcement this week by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) that on 15 October it’ll raise gas and electricity prices by 9% is an urgent warning for people to sort their bills NOW.

Ten ways to improve your credit profile

12:22pm Monday 20th August 2012

Boosting your credit score is a bit like going on the pull. Contrary to the myth that each of us has a credit rating, or may reside on a blacklist, actually each lender has its own bespoke scoring system to decide who it lends to.

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Ring the changes: how to bring down the cost of your mobile

12:08pm Thursday 2nd August 2012

Stop for a moment. Take a look at your mobile. Some view it as a shiny little pocket rocket of technology that acts as a mini-computer, others think it’s just a phone.

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Ten ways to drive down the cost of motoring

3:44pm Thursday 19th July 2012

The average cost of running a new car is up to a hefty £6,000 a year, according to the AA. So it’s hardly surprising the cost of motoring is one of the single biggest issues affecting people’s finances today – even after the fuel duty rise has been postponed.

Planning a holiday abroad? Martin Lewis on his ten things to know before you go

10:57am Saturday 7th July 2012

Let your wallet take a holiday when you go abroad. If you're planning a trip away, act now to avoid pain in Spain, getting hustled in Brussels, or breaking the banka in Sri Lanka. If you wait till you go, it'll be too late – and the costs can rocket.

Overseas spending: how to get more for your money when you're abroad

5:04pm Friday 22nd June 2012

Sun, sea, sand... and a serious impact on your pocket. Holidaying abroad is expensive enough, but too many people make it worse by leaving it until the last minute to get their spending money – or doing it completely the wrong way.

Beat the energy price hikes and cut £100s off your bills

2:38pm Thursday 7th June 2012

Energy prices are likely on the rise. Don’t take my word for it – British Gas has warned customers the price it pays will go up by 15%, and this could push up folks' bills by £50 come Christmas.

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Double-dip recession: top tips for your circumstances

2:46pm Friday 25th May 2012

Is it time to recession-proof your finances? The economy's shrinking, and a panic wave of worry has swept across the nation. Yet before we all go battening down the hatches, risking making things worse, it's worth taking a moment to actually think about what recession really means for our pockets.

How to save £1,000 in a day

4:46pm Thursday 10th May 2012

How much do you earn in a day? Is it over £1,000 after tax – if so, don’t bother reading this. For everyone else, taking a day to work through their finances could be the most lucrative day of the year. So here are my top ten things to try.

New tax year: top cash ISA tips

3:05pm Friday 27th April 2012

Throw your bowler hats in the area and shout “happy new (tax) year!” Okay, perhaps that’s overdoing it, but the one bit of good news is this wipes the cash ISA slate clean.

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Ten things you need to know before you borrow

1:51pm Thursday 12th April 2012

The old adage “neither a borrower, nor a lender be” is no longer fit for purpose in our modern world. While some find that tough to stomach, we need to face facts. Unless you’re super-rich, you’re going to need to borrow to buy a house or go to university.

Be cash wise: ten things you need-to-know

4:00pm Thursday 29th March 2012

Cash is King ... or so they say. I’m afraid I disagree. It has advantages for budgeting and haggling. But when it comes to spending or making savings safer, cash comes a distant second place. Here are my ten need-to-knows.

Spring clean your finances and stop wasting cash

12:19pm Thursday 15th March 2012

This may sound crazy, but stick with me. It’s possible you’re throwing hundreds or thousands of pounds a year away on things that you no longer need, use or value – be it gym membership, old insurance, bank account fees or more.

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Money-saving tips for the over 50s

3:01pm Thursday 1st March 2012

Whether 50 is just around the corner or long gone, the older you are, the more your cash needs to look after you. With 420,000 older households struggling, prevention is better than cure. Here are 10 crucial tips for the over 50s.

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Holidays don't have to cost the earth

1:26pm Thursday 16th February 2012

Like comedy, good holiday MoneySaving is about timing. Unlike comedy, people don’t groan when I try it.

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Get the best deal from your energy company

2:55pm Thursday 2nd February 2012

Forget Paul Daniels, forget David Blaine – even Derren Brown would’ve struggled to play the big six energy companies’ latest sleight-of-hand.

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Top 10 money myths set straight

4:25pm Thursday 19th January 2012

Did you know you accidentally swallow eight spiders a year in your sleep? How about that you only use 10% of your brain? Well if you did, you’re wrong – they’re urban myths.

Money saving resolutions for 2012

3:37pm Thursday 5th January 2012

Is it wrong to admit a secret love of January? For one month only, being savvy with cash becomes sexy.

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Save money this Christmas (yes, really!)

4:35pm Friday 16th December 2011

It's the final countdown (duh duh duh duh ...). Christmas is almost here, so tacky songs are permitted, tinsel's everywhere, and shops hope you’ll ignore price tags and spend, spend, spend.

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Consumer rights: a guide

1:18pm Friday 9th December 2011

Far too many people throw cash away at Christmas, thinking "I can always exchange it later". Often that's just wrong.

Junior ISAs: what you need to know

3:25pm Thursday 24th November 2011

The new ickle ISA just for kids has launched. Yet don't go gooey, it's about real cash, not monopoly money.

Check if you're due a tax refund

10:00am Friday 11th November 2011

Martin Lewis writes his regular tips column

Be cashback card clever

2:22pm Friday 28th October 2011

Are you buffing your MoneySaving halo because you don't have any credit cards? I'm afraid I'm going to have to take the shine off it. Provided you neuter their borrowing ability, for many credit cards are by far the BEST way to spend, and you should be holstering one in your card arsenal.

10 ways to screech motoring costs to a halt

12:28pm Friday 14th October 2011

It's hard for motorists not to feel under siege. With huge hikes in petrol and insurance, the average cost of running a (new) car has zoomed ahead to £5,500 a year according to the AA.

Now's the time to start preparing for Christmas

9:30am Friday 30th September 2011

Christmas is coming! No, don't tell me to shut up – I hate the early creep of festivities as much as the next person, but if you want to have more and pay less, there are some things you need to do right now.

Student loan need-to-knows

9:00am Tuesday 20th September 2011

Student loan interest rates have jumped to a huge 5.3% for 100,000s people across the UK.

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Shifting debts onto your mortgage: what you need to know

3:37pm Thursday 1st September 2011

It feels like a no-brainer: shift expensive credit cards and loans onto a cheap mortgage and, bazinga, you’re quids in.

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Tesco Clubcard: how to get back lost points and maximise the value

3:14pm Friday 19th August 2011

If you're one of the millions holstering a Tesco Clubcard in your wallet, it's time to sit up and listen.

Drive down the cost of your fuel bill

9:36am Friday 5th August 2011

It’s no longer safe to mention the cost of petrol and diesel in a public place. The vapours of fury from everyone in ear shot are enough to send even the most placid vicar into apoplexy.

How to stop unwanted texts, calls and junk mail

3:17pm Thursday 21st July 2011

SMS – Spam Messages Suck! This might not have been the original meaning but it's perfect for today's onslaught of unwanted texts, clogging up mobile phones. And sadly in many cases the convention “just text stop” is damaging, not helpful.

Cut the cost of childcare this summer

12:49pm Friday 8th July 2011

This is a wealth warning for all parents: the summer holiday are coming! And while the kids get time off, that doesn’t mean you do.

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How to stop spam texts

11:00am Saturday 25th June 2011

Spam Messages Suck. That's not SMS's original meaning, but apt enough. To fight back first, identify which of three types of unwanted texts it is.

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