How to cut mobile costs

BT customers can slash the cost of calling mobiles from a landline to grab an offer reserved for new customers.

The telecoms giant usually charges 12.5p/minute during the day to call mobiles and 7.5p/minute in the evenings, plus a 7p connection charge at all times. But it's £1.50/month mobile call saver package means you’ll now pay just 7.5p/minute at all times.

Yet sign up for a year, before 31 Dec, to any of its calling plans and it's free. This includes BT's basic £10.50/mth line rental unlimited weekend calling plan.

The sneaky bit is, even if you're already contracted to BT, call up/go to your online account and ask to start a NEW 12 month contract and you'll get it.

Yet you can batter down mobile costs further by signing up with telephone prefix service 18185. Dial that number before calling a mobile and it's 6p/minute, plus a 5p connection fee.

External Link: Read Martin's Calling Mobiles Cheaply guide for more tips.

Premium bond prize fund slashed

The Premium Bond prize fund has been cut, meaning just 2.85% of the total bond fund will now be distributed in winnings, down from 3.4%. That makes the rate half the return of a top savings account.

Though with average luck, you'll get LESS than the 2.85% interest rate, as to pay every big winner, lots of people must win nothing.

In fact, 95% of those with £100 in over a year will win nothing. Even with £1,000 most people - 60% - win nothing. The only plus with premium bonds is the 100% security they provide, though you're best off saving in a regular savings account if your priority is a decent return.

External Link: Check how much you're likely to win with the free Premium Bond Probability Calculator. Plus for alternatives, read Martin's Top Savings Accounts and his Safe Savings guide to ensure your money's secure.

Free £25 eye shadow with £2.50 mag

You can get a posh Elizabeth Arden eyeshadow palette, worth £25 and redeemable at Boots, in this month's Prima magazine. Simply buy the December issue for £2.50, cut out the voucher from the middle insert and head to Boots.

£19 a night hotel rooms

Travelodge is offering two million rooms throughout December and January for just £19 a night. They're normally priced between £29 and £59 so it's perfect for a cheap mid-winter UK getaway. But grab them quick – at that rate they won't last long.

External Link: More details and a full guide to cutting hotel costs everywhere in the world are in Martin’s full Cheap Hotels guide.

Knickers coming down!

Not literally, just that there's a 70% off sale for online purchases from Knickerbox.

External Link: For many more shopping discount codes read Martin's Discount Vouchers guide plus get 2for1 Restaurant Vouchers too.