Martin Lewis' deals of the week
Urgent solar panel warning, Easyjet seat trick, free open days to 4,700 properties, free nail polish and ‘free’ body lotion. These are our Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis’ Deals of the Week.
Remember, deals can change quickly, even while I’m on the programme. So always double-check the terms and conditions before spending. Plus, while I hope these deals will save you cash, don’t spend if you can’t afford it, don’t need it, or won’t use it.
Warning: Go quick if you want solar panels
If you’ve been thinking about getting solar panels then you need to act now to lock in the high earnings as a Government consultation's proposing to reduce the amount those with panels are paid for generating electricity from January 2016 from £515/year to £135/year. So for many this will mean it simply won't be worth it.
But the rate you get depends on when you install the panels and register for the feed-in-tariff. From that point on, the tariff is set for 20 years and rises with inflation, so if you do that before January, you get the higher rate regardless of any announcement. If you’re contemplating it, read the full Martin’s Solar panels – are they worth it? guide.
Today is the cheapest time to book Easyjet flights
Easyjet releases seats in tranches four times a year, and today tickets go on sale for Easyjet’s spring 2016 flights, including Easter, May bank holidays and half-term (but there's no one release time, they're likely to go on sale in batches throughout the day).
Better still, if you do book early and the price later drops, you may be able to call it up and it’ll give you the difference back in vouchers towards another Easyjet flight (though only for standard reductions, not sales).
But before you book your flights, do a flight comparison to see if you can find cheaper flights with another airline.
Martin’s quickies
- FREE peek in 4,700 hidden property gems. From today till Sunday, many usually-closed or usually-charging English buildings are open for free as part of Heritage Open Days.
Examples of places to visit that usually charge, include BBC Broadcasting House in Bristol (Saturday only), which normally costs £9.25, Beatrix Potter’s cottage in Cumbria (Saturday only), which normally costs £9.50 and Tintagel Old Post Office in Cornwall (Saturday only), which normally costs £3.80.
Example of places you can visit, which are normally closed, include Norman Cross Prison Depot in Cambridgeshire (Saturday and Sunday only), Sevington Victorian School in Wiltshire (Saturday and Sunday only) and Cells at Gateshead Old Town Hall in Tyne and Wear (Friday and Saturday only).
- FREE Crabtree and Evelyn nail polish. Till Tuesday 29 September, take any other brand nail polish, new or old, full or empty to a Crabtree & Evelyn store and you can exchange it for a new 15ml Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Lacquer (normally £6). There are 21 colours to choose from, though once they’re gone they’re gone, and it’s only one per person. To get the polish you'll also need to sign up to its free loyalty card. It's worth doing as you'll receive an email offer for your birthday, but you can opt out of emails if you prefer.
- Beauty ‘freebies’ in £4ish magazines. Buy the October edition of InStyle magazine (£3.99, Emily Ratajkowski on the front) and you'll get one of two Neal's Yard body lotions (worth between £7.29 and £10.75). Or if you buy the October edition of Marie Claire (£3.99, Rita Ora on the front) you'll get one of three Balance Me beauty products (worth between £7.20 and £12 based on the full sized versions). You need to buy both magazines by Tuesday 29 September. Even if you don’t want to read the magazines, the freebies are pretty decent.