Good at cooking or baking and want to learn a language for free? Try a skill swap. Photograph: Image Source/Alamy
One of the best ways to save money is to never pay for anything you can get for free. Here are 12 things that you could end up paying for but don't need to.
1. Reclaiming PPI
There are a multitude of companies offering to help you claim your money back if you have been a victim of payment protection insurance mis-selling. Most of these firms will take a percentage of whatever compensation you may be eligible for – usually 25% – and on top of that there can be other charges. If you do the legwork yourself it won't cost you anything, except perhaps the price of a postage stamp. Our guide on how to reclaim PPI can help you determine whether to make the claim yourself.
2. A European health insurance card
This card will allow cardholders to receive free or discounted medical treatment while abroad in European Economic Area (EEA) countries. There are a number of unofficial websites offering the cards at a cost. Do not apply if a site asks for a fee. Instead, use the official website.
Remember that all family members over the age of 16 must have their own card.
3. Getting medical advice from NHS Direct
NHS Direct, which offers 24-hour health advice, has relaunched as NHS 111. Calls to the new service are free both from landlines and mobiles. Until the relaunch is complete, the old NHS Direct phone service is still in place in some areas. This service uses an 0845 number that costs 5p a minute from a BT line. Be wary of phone numbers for the service that show up prominently in search engine results. These will cost at least £1.53 a minute.
4. Registering to vote
It is simple and free to register to vote. The About My Vote website has all the information you need, or you can call the Electoral Commission for free on 0800 3 280 280. Don't fall for scams by companies that offer a paid-for "assisted service" to complete electoral registrations.
5. Debt advice
It is perhaps no surprise that debt problems have increased as the UK struggles to emerge from recession. It's crucial that anyone who finds themselves struggling with debt seeks advice as soon as they can, but some of the debt advice services advertised online or recommended by lenders charge fees for their services. Rather than paying, look for a non-profit organisation offering debt advice. This is a list of some of the biggest.
6. Phone calls to businesses
Many businesses and service providers still use phone numbers with "08" prefixes, some of which are not free to call. The government has signalled that it is planning to standardise such numbers, but in the meantime, the Say No to 0870 website provides a list of free or cheaper alternative phone lines.
7. Blocking nuisance calls
The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is the official central register, which allows people to opt out of receiving unsolicited sales and marketing calls. Once your name and number is on the list, it is illegal for companies to make such calls to you. Be wary of bogus calls from companies claiming to offer a better service and charging a fee for it – the TPS has a list of unregulated firms to watch out for.
8. Furniture collection
Many councils have now introduced charges for collecting items that do not fit in the bin, so consider alternative ways to get rid of things that you no longer need. If you have furniture or large items that are still usable, donating them to charity makes sense. The Furniture Donation Network, which is a partnership between UK charities, will send a van to pick up your unwanted items free of charge. Or you can contact charities such as the British Heart Foundation directly to agree a time and date for collection. Freecycle or Swapshop are alternatives for smaller items, or those that are not in such good condition – you will be surprised how many things you can find a home for.
9. Careers advice
Whether you're looking to switch industries or seeking advice on job applications, there are several free resources. These include the National Career Service, which has a wealth of advice on its website and can arrange free telephone appointments. Nidirect also offers a free call-back service and can provide assistance by email.
10. Learning a new skill
By participating in a skill swap, you can learn for free – as long as you're willing to teach one of your own skills in return. Foreign language classes, cookery lessons and musical tuition are among the most popular skill swaps. Local Skill Swap and Skillbound are dedicated websites, while Gumtree has its own section.
11. Building a website
Using a free website builder can be an effective way to promote your business, or yourself, if you are a freelancer. Moonfruit and Webs are among the companies that offer free page templates, webtools and hosting. On most sites, features such as a personalised url (without the use of a subdomain), extra bandwith or additional storage space usually incur a cost.
12. Somewhere to stay on holiday
Rather than paying for accommodation and leaving your property empty while you go away, you could consider a house swap. There are a number of sites that will put you in touch with people who are happy for you to stay at their place, in return for staying at yours – including one run by the Guardian.
Even if you do not want to offer your home to stayers while you're away, you could find free bed and board through a couch-surfing site.
What are the best products and services that you never pay for? Share your own penny-pinching tips below the line.
No comments:
Post a Comment