Nifty & thrifty: Three of the best money-saving swaps
Keep finances in check this autumn with our pick of the deals
1 SWAP Your piggy-bank for… the Lloyds Bank Save the Change scheme
Popping any leftover pennies into a piggy bank can be a great way to save. Now Lloyds Bank has come up with a high-tech way of doing the same thing. Current account customers can register for its ‘Save the Change’ scheme so when you buy an item with your debit card, the amount is rounded up to the nearest pound and the difference is transferred to your Lloyds savings account.
2 SWAP Your credit card for… the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold Card
Christmas might seem a long way off but if you’re organised now, you could reap the benefits of all that extra spending. Sign up for this charge card and you’ll get 20,000 rewards points when you spend £2,000 in the first three months, which you can spend on shopping and travel. But you must pay it off in full each month as it’s not a credit card. Also, while joining is free for the first year, there’s a £140 fee in the second year, so remember to cancel it.
3 SWAP A two-year bank loan for… the AA Dual Credit Card
If you’re considering borrowing money, it could be worth checking out the AA Dual Credit Card instead. It offers interest-free spending for up to 32 months. Meet minimum monthly repayments to keep the deal, and pay off the balance before the 0% deal ends to avoid big interest charges.