With half term coming up in England, here’s a cheap way to entertain the kids. Children aged 5 to 11 can get free coaching sessions through the FA Skills Programme, says Martin Lewis on Moneysavingexpert.com. Sessions will be held at 37 locations across the country between Monday and Friday next week (16-20 February). For more information visit thefa.com.
Cheap hotels at Alton Towers
And until 27 March, Alton Towers’ two themed hotels are offering rooms for £55 a night including bed and breakfast. The standard rate is usually £93 a room. The offer is valid from Sundays to Fridays excluding next week. Note, though, that the main theme park is currently closed for winter but the waterpark is open.
Prepare to switch energy providers
Energy price inflation is easing, says Melanie Wright in The Sunday Telegraph. As a result, British Gas has announced a 10% reduction in gas prices. But don’t do anything just yet. Hang on until all the major energy providers have announced their price cuts, then work out which one is the best for you. “During the reshuffle of the energy market consumers should arm themselves with information on their current provider, current tariff and also their consumption to make the right choice when looking for the best deal when all the big six have shown their hands,” says Scott Byrom, utilities manager at Moneysupermarket.com in The Sunday Telegraph.
Sell your mobile phone
If you have any old mobile phones in your house then it’s time to sell them. Several websites will buy them from you. Simply visit www.love2recycle.com, www.mopay.co.uk or www.envirofone.com. Then type in the make and model and the site will tell you how much it will pay for it. If you like the price it’ll send you a postage paid envelope to send your phone in and then a cheque for the phone. And until 28 February, Love2Recycle is paying an extra £5 if you enter the code MSM242 at the checkout, says Martin Lewis on Moneysavingexpert.com. You can only use the code once, but you’ll get £5 extra for each phone, so sell in bulk if you can.
Grab a two-for-one meal
Register at Strada and you will receive a two-for-one voucher for main courses. This isn’t valid on Fridays or Saturdays, but it’s still handy for anyone wanting to miss Saturday night’s crowds and dine out in peace.
Get free food from Orange
Pizza Express has launched yet another free meal scheme. The chain has teamed up with Orange to expand the Orange Wednesdays promotion. Now you can enjoy 2-for-1 cinema tickets and 2-for-1 on a main meal plus free starters. Text FILM to 241 from an Orange mobile phone to receive a text ticket for participating theatres. Then go to orange.co.uk and claim a voucher to present at a Pizza Express restaurant.
The best and worst banks
A new survey from Which? has revealed the banks that offer the best and worst customer service. Each bank’s overall score is an average of the mark awarded by the 15,000 Which? members surveyed. Questions covered customer service, the accuracy of statements, the quality of products and whether they were kept informed about better deals. The average overall score was 63%.
| The worst | The best | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey | 48% | Smile | 87% |
| Barclays | 51% | First Direct | 83% |
| HBOS | 53% | Co-operative Bank | 81% |
| Cheltenham & Gloucester | 55% | Nationwide BS | 76% |
| Northern Rock | 55% | Yorkshire BS | 74% |