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MoneySaving polls

Archives for July 2008

Money Moral Dilemma. Would you keep the lottery ticket?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Would you keep the lottery ticket? You’re in the lift at your local shopping centre, a woman talking excitedly on the phone says she won an unspecified amount on last night’s lottery. Yet she’s saying she can’t find the ticket and asking her husband if he’s…
Do you ask for a doggy bag? Poll results/discussion
Poll ran 28 July - 04 August 2008. In the USA, even in some quite upmarket restaurants, it's common to be offered a doggy bag so you can take the remainder of the food home with you. Is our culture different? Do you ask for a doggy bag in the UK if you’ve food left? A. Always – we always want to take the food home. - 11%…
Nerdy note! Don’t confuse Megabits (Mb) and MegaBytes (MB)
While they sound similar, don’t confuse Megabits (Mb) and MegaBytes (MB). An MByte is a measure of storage, for things like memory sticks, and means just over a million bytes of information. Mbits also measure storage, but are commonly used for data transfer speeds for things like broadband. To really complicate it, an…
The “What does the government spend our money on?” quiz results/discussion
Poll between 22-28 July 2008. The "What does the government spend our money on?" quiz. Below are the main sections of the government's £618 billion (a thousand million) annual expenditure. Which of these do you think the government currently spends the most money (£169bn) on? You answered: A. Debt Interest - 38% (2783…
Money Moral Dilemma: Would you pick herbs from a stranger's hedge?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Would you pick herbs from a stranger's hedge? You’re off to the grocers, to pick up, amongst other things, a bunch of rosemary to go in tonight’s tea. Yet lo and behold, on the way, you pass a house with an overgrown front hedge, and lovely fresh rosemary is…
Are you eating out less because of the big squeeze?
Hi everyone Just doing a bit of research for a project I'm working on and it'd be great if you could help with this very quick poll! Are you more likely to eat lunch/dinner at home rather than grabbing something while you're out shopping / before the cinema and so on? I'm thinking about cheap meals out / fast food so under…
Coverplans
I am new so if this is not the right place to ask this question please bear with me after completing the budget planner I am now saving nearly £100 a month> but I have discovered that an old coverplan that I bought years ago has still been kept running. The company increased the charge in April 2004 without notifying me,…
Nerdy Note: Instant Access and No-Notice savings
The difference between Instant Access and No-Notice savings There are two types of top savings accounts that let you get cash whenever you want. Instant access means you can withdraw cash immediately via a branch; whereas No-Notice generally applies to internet or phone account and means you needn’t warn them of…
'Pick this site’s charities for the next year.' Poll results/discussion
Poll between 15-22 July 2008. Pick this site’s official charities for the next year. Here’s the shortlist for the site’s charities, those that are selected could get up to £20,000 each, so please vote carefully. How they were picked… Any site user could nominate and over 600 charities were suggested. The tough shortlisting…
MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Should Arkwright give Granville his money back?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Should Arkwright give Granville his money back? Granville walks into a computer shop and is assisted by the shop owner, Arkwright. He chooses a £399 laptop and takes it to the till, where he’s served by one of Arkwright’s junior shop assistants. He’s reading…
MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Should you still help your kids get on the housing ladder?
Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Should you still help your kids get on the housing ladder? Your daughter and her husband have spotted their dream house, but they’ve no deposit and there are no 100% mortgages anymore. You’d always promised to give her the money and be a guarantor, but you…
Nerdy Note: Do debts die with you?
Do debts die with you? Sadly the old phrase when you die your debts die with you is misleading. What you owe when you die has to be paid before anything can go to your beneficiaries. If you owe more than your assets are worth, they’ll get nothing, but won’t be asked to pay the rest of the debt. But if they’re jointly…
What's your favourite biscuit? Poll results/discussion
Poll between 08-15 July 2008: What's your favourite biscuit? With gloomy weather and inflation rising, for a bit of fun we thought we’d poll something crunchy, which doesn't involve credit. Following the hotly contested top crisp flavour vote a few months ago, now the question is what’s your favourite biscuit? Sorry if…
MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Should Alan give the laptop back?
Thanks to MoneySaver Ben Clay for this idea and here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on: Should Alan give the laptop back? Alan went into a shop to buy a laptop, and instead of it ringing up at £399 it was just £3.99. He spotted this at the check-out and was aware of the error but keep schtum.…
'How much would you ask for back?' poll results/discussion
Poll Between 01-08 July 2008. How much would you ask for back? If you had lent a friend some money, beneath what amount wouldn’t you bother to ask for it back? Which is closest to your typical answer? I never ask for money back - 7% (584 votes) £100 and over - 9% (731 votes) £20 and over - 16% (1368 votes) £10 and over -…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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