Too many of us let cash languish in accounts or in products paying rotten returns. Shake off this laziness and make your money work harder, plus hunt down any forgotten funds or concealed cash. You may be amazed at what you find.
Give yourself a 25% pay rise
There's nowt more powerful than sorting out your own finances. By shifting to the best deal on every product, you can give yourself a 25% pay rise, without cutting back. Before anything else, this is the most important starting point.
Get paid every time you spend
Cashback credit cards pay you back a proportion of what you spend each time you use them.
Set up a direct debit to pay the card off in full each month, so there's no interest cost, and you can earn £100s/year. Just use the card for all your normal spending.
How much? The top cards pay 5% cashback for the first three months. It's also possible to get 3% for petrol/transport and 1% for supermarkets.
How do I do it? For updated best buys, see the Top Cashback Cards guide.
Don't accept pitiful savings rates
Make sure you're getting the most out of your savings. Too many people leave their savings in pitiful high street bank accounts where former best buy rates have dropped massively.
Even worse, you may have it in a current account earning just 0.1%. Stop! Five minutes' work will let you increase the interest massively.
How much? For every £5,000 you have in a top easy access savings account, as a basic rate taxpayer you'd earn at least £52 a year more than in a poor account - potentially much more if you're able to tuck it away for a couple of years.
Pay off debts with savings
Most people who try to save while they're in debt are simply throwing their money away. The amount you pay in interest to borrow is much more than you earn on your savings, so pay the debt off with savings and you're quids in.
How much? Someone with £5,000 on a credit card and £5,000 saved is likely to be around £800 a year better off by paying off the debt with the savings.
Get the benefits/state pension you're entitled to
There's a plethora of benefits available - the key is working out whether you're entitled to them. The rather nifty tool from benefits specialists Entitledto in ourBenefits Checkup guide does the work for you. Its regularly-updated calculator works out everything you can get.
Plus it may be possible to get more in your retirement by purchasing extra National Insurance Contributions (NICs), though there are drawbacks. Read the full State Pension Boosting guide.
How much? If you've a family income under £46,000 it's worth checking. But in rare cases families with £73,000 can qualify, as you could get any of these: working tax credit; housing benefit; council tax support; pension credit; child benefit and child tax credit. By boosting your state pension, you could end up £1,000s better off.
Use your credit rating to stooze
Many credit card companies are willing to lend you money at 0% interest, so why not use this cash for everyday spending, replacing all other credit & debit card spending?
This means you'll now have debts on your 0% card (make sure you make the min repayment each month) and a similar amount in your current account, which you can save in an ISA or high interest savings account.
Pay off the full balance before the 0% ends, having earned interest on the money saved. This is known as stoozing. It's legal and can be profitable, yet it's only for the really financially-savvy.
Flog what you've got - declutter and sell it!
Whenever you finish using something, whether it's kids' clothes they've grown out of or an embarrassing old CD... flog it!
Remember, if the buyer needs you to send items via registered or special delivery, this is an additional cost to take into account when calculating if it's worth it. Some sites also require a minimum number of items or overall trade-in value, so check these first.
Flog on eBay for best prices
If you've got it, and don't need it, flog it. Selling on eBay* usually pays best, yet to really get the eBay cash rolling in, you neeed to know the etiquette and shortcuts.
Our 40+ eBay Selling Tricks guide offers a crash course, including tips on getting the best prices and cutting eBay fees by using no-charge listing weekends. Plus there are tools to create multiple listings in advance and bulk-upload them, and lots more.
Flog old handsets, iPods, cameras & more
eBay usually pays best, yet if you want speed and ease, there's a whole industry set up to help. If you've unwanted gadgets, such as mobiles, cameras or MP3 players lying around the house, several firms will happily take 'em off your hands.
Not only could this bag you £100s but, by not throwing it out with the rubbish, you'll also be doing your bit for the environment.
How do gadget-buying companies work? The idea is simple. You go to the website, find your gadget and it'll tell you what you can get for it. If you agree, it'll send you a freepost bag or label. You then send the gadget to it (make sure you send it registered) and the cash will be transferred or you'll receive a cheque. Some sites even arrange free collection for heavy items.
Mobiles
How much? It depends on the phone and demand, but some of the higher-end handsets will easily net up to £200 - more for some models. It only takes five minutes to check out what yours is worth.
Cameras, other MP3s, sat navs, games consoles
How much? Again, as a rough guide, cameras tend to get £3-£15 (some of the snazzier models can fetch more), sat navs up to about £20 and games consoles up to about £40. It really depends on the make and model though, as prices vary widely.
How do I do it? Use the MobileValuer - just select the type of item you've got from the list along the top of the page.
Laptops
How much? It varies, but generally you can get up to about £80 for an old laptop in top condition.
VDs & more
Several sites let you quickly trade in old CDs, DVDs, computer games and Blu-rays for cash. The sites are easy to use and give instant quotes, so if you've got loads to get rid of, you could speedily make a bit extra. Also see how to get max cash for old books.
How do I do it? Type in the barcode, ISBN or product name on the site to get an instant valuation. Each site is different, and some offer more for certain items than others, so always compare a few. Some also have a minimum number of items you need to trade in, or a minimum overall value needed, so you may need a few to sell.
Once you've compared and found the top payer, you simply accept the valuations and send your stuff to the them. Postage is usually free, but always check. Always ensure items are packed well, as, in most cases, any that fail basic quality checks will not be sent back to you.
You'll then get paid, either by cheque, bank transfer, vouchers or store credit, depending which service you've used. All these companies aim to send payment for accepted items within about seven or eight days of receiving them, though forumites' feedback suggests it can be longer.
How much? The amount you'll make depends on what you're flogging. As a rough guide, you'll generally get up to about £1 for CDs, £1.50 for DVDs and £15 for computer games, though it can be a lot less. Where these websites win is convenience.
The top trade-in sites. This table shows the main players, and what you can trade in with each. They have been chosen based on feedback from the forum. If you've had a positive or negative experience with any of these, please post in the individual forum threads.
Remember there's no protection if things go wrong or a site goes bust. We don't check companies' solvency.
| BLU-RAYS | BOOKS | CDS | DVDS | GAMES | WHAT'S FEEDBACK LIKE? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music Magpie* | Music Magpie is well-established and feedback's reasonable, though prices aren't always top. Please feed backyour views. | |||||
| Amazon Trade-in* | Amazon is an established player, but prices aren't always best. Please feed back. | |||||
| WeBuyBooks | Forumites' fave WeBuyBooks.co.uk can be the top payer for books, and some DVDs and CDs. Please feed back your experiences. | |||||
| CeX | CeX has been trading for 20 years, and offers cash or store credit for trade-ins. Please feed back what you thought. | |||||
| GameXchange | GameXchange is generally best for retro games (postage isn't free). Pleasefeed back. | |||||
| Momox | Forumites rate Momox for trading in books, though CDs/DVDs aren't so well paid. Please feed back what you thought. |
Can I do better elsewhere? Yes. Though hoarders of '90s CD relics and games could make £100s on the side, for more recent items you may be better off selling 'em individually on eBay* or other auction sites. You may do better trading in computer games at high street game shops - check these too.
Get max cash for old books
Listing books one-by-one on eBay* may get the most cash, but it'll take some time. One of the best options for selling old books is Amazon Marketplace*, as you need only search for the book and write a short description. Your listing stays up till it sells.
Amazon provides full reviews of most from its database - if you're listing a few in one go, this saves time. It automatically adds 47p for delivery, so ensure your sale price covers postage if it's a heavy tome. If you're a professional seller then you will have to pay £25 a month, but if you're just selling a few items it's 75p per item. For books Amazon then charges 15% on top as a fee. (It's different for other items, for a full list see Amazon fees.)
Use trade-in sites for less hassle. If you need speed and ease, trade-in websites let you enter details, they offer a price, and you post goods free. For books, two of the best are WeBuyBooks.co.uk and Amazon Trade-In*. Prices can be lower than selling them yourself and you get credit instead of cash if using Amazon.
For more on how Amazon Trade-In prices compare with other methods, see theAmazon Trade-In launches MSE news story. See the Quicker cash for old CDs, DVDs & more section for a full list of trade-in sites.
How much? Potentially £100s if you're selling pricey textbooks, less if it's old paperbacks.
Find out more: See the forum's Sell Your Books thread.
Spot & flog from car boot/garage sales
If you've an eye for car booty, buy items cheaply and sell them at a profit on eBay or other auction sites. Be sure to arrive early to beat other bargain hunters. You can use Car Boot Junction or Carbootsales.org to find your nearest car boot sale.
The big money lies in spotting collectables to sell on, so research online first or (subtly) use your mobile phone's web browser.
There's a quick way to glean a product's market value on eBay*. Fill in the search box and tick 'completed listings' on the left-hand grey bar. It'll come up with a list of prices similar auctions have already fetched. Then sort by "Price: lowest first". If the price is red, it means no one bought it. Green means it sold.
How much? The earning potential increases with your knowledge of rare items and collectable brands, and a little luck doesn't go amiss either. If you're in the right place at the right time, this could net you £100s extra a year.
Find out more: Read other MoneySavers' top suggestions or add yours in the Spot & flog on eBay thread. More hints are in the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales board.
Flog old gold
“Sell unwanted gold for CASH!” TV, mags and billboard ads pulse with promises, yet rarely seem to live up to them.
However, amid the scrap are shining examples – meaning £14 per 9ct stud earrings and £55 per 18ct gold ring is possible.
How much? Do it the right way and, depending on how much bling you unearth, it's possible to make jaw-dropping sums, as MoneySaver Goochie did.
I sent off 32g of gold (old broken earrings and chains that I haven't worn for 20+ years) and 35g of silver yesterday afternoon by special delivery (by 1pm), and got £272!
- Goochie
Sell your story
Journalists are always looking for dramatic stories. If you've been in an extreme situation, come close to death or have any other gripping or extraordinary tales to tell about your life, why not get paid and have it published? Even amusing photos can earn good cash prizes in some magazines.
Many magazines pay a premium for interesting letters and photos. Love It!magazine pays £100 if your printed pic wins its Cute Wars comp (emailcute@loveitmagazine.co.uk). Woman's Own's Smart Shopper page pays £20 for every money saving reader tip that it uses. (Email womansown@timeinc.com).
Love It! also pays out £50 for shameful holiday snaps (dodgy sunburn, tanning disasters) that win its You’ve Been Shamed category (emailshamed@loveitmagazine.co.uk). Love It! doesn’t pay for every printed pic.
How much? A 'star letter' will usually fetch at least £20 in magazines. If you go direct to Love It! rather than through a press agency, you can earn from £100 up to £2,000, depending on the article's length.
Find out more: Join the discussion, read other MoneySavers' top suggestions, or add your own in the Sell your story thread.
Recycle old printer cartridges for cash
Printer cartridges are expensive, sometimes even more costly than the printers themselves. So, next time one runs out, offset the cost of a new one by recycling the empty one for cash, or Tesco Clubcard points.
There are lots of recycling sites out there, so do a bit of research to find out which are the best payers for your cartridges - some pay as much as £3 per cartridge (eg for a Canon PG 540 XL). TryCash For Cartridges, Recycle Ink Cartridges and Infotone.
Though some recycling sites will take your empty cartridges, they may only pay for certain ones, so check feedback and compare prices. There are lots of suggestions in the forum.
Alternatively, recycle the empty cartridges with Tesco and earn up to 125 Clubcard points for each cartridge. Each point is worth 1p in store but up to four times as much if you redeem on goodies with Clubcard Boost such as breakdown cover, days out and holidays away. See The Recycling Factory for full details.
Rent it out for cash
It's amazing what you can rent out for cash, especially if you live in a desirable area. Ensure you get the most out of your property - even your parking space can be profitable.
Take in a lodger or play guesthouse
If you've space at home, it's worth considering whether you can rent out a room to a lodger. This can be a handy way to earn extra, and the Government offers some tax incentives to those who do so. What's more, as a landlord you'll be expected to ask for a month in advance, which means ready cash comes in quickly.
If you're renting a room out, you've two options to legitimately reduce tax:
If you're renting a room out, you've two options to legitimately reduce tax:
- The 'Rent a Room' scheme: The Rent a Room scheme allows you to earn up to £4,250 a year tax-free from renting out a furnished room in your home. This is a useful tax break for most people and really ups the gain (though the threshold's halved if you let the room out jointly with your partner or someone else and share the income).If your income is less than the threshold, you don't need to do anything, as the tax exemption is automatic (you can opt out of the Rent a Room scheme if you wish though, eg, if you've made a loss). If your income is more, you must complete a tax return - you can then opt into the scheme and pay tax on the remaining amount. Remember though that you won't be able to deduct expenses.
- Deducting expenses: Alternatively, HMRC allows landlords to deduct mortgage interest costs and certain other expenses from any rental income. This can be a bigger saving in some cases. You can choose not to opt into the Rent a Room scheme and instead record your income and expenses on the property pages of your tax return. See Gov.uk for full info.
Quick questions:
What option is best for you?
If you don't want to do take in a full-time lodger, you can play guesthouse instead.Airbnb and Wimdu allow you to list your spare room online, and take in travellers looking for a cheap place to stay. You can set the nightly cost, undercutting local hotels, and you might get to work on your language skills too.
If you're living in a council or housing association property and considering getting a lodger to help avoid the bedroom tax, check it's allowed under your tenancy agreement first.
How much? With a full-time lodger, you can take home £4,250 without paying a penny in tax (but it might affect the amount of benefits you can claim). If you've a desirable property and don't mind paying income tax on anything above this, you could easily make more. Earnings through Airbnb etc vary hugely.
Get cash for spare storage space
If you've unused space in a loft, garage or spare room, the website Storemates lets you rent it out to others looking for cheap storage. It's free to register, search and list, but charges 15% of the monthly rent via GoCardless if you find a successful match.
How much can you get? It automatically suggests a price but you can charge what you like. Storemates recommends charging 50% of commercial prices. So charging £10/week for 15 square feet of storage space could bring in over £500 a year.
Is it worth doing? Some forumites report earning up to £40 a month but others say they've had no response. While it could be an easy money-spinner, equally it could be a damp squib. Please don't see its inclusion here as a recommendation, more a heads-up about an interesting concept that's starting to get attention.
How do I join? Register on the Storemates website and list a storage space. If someone's interested, they'll contact you via the site and arrange to check out your space. It also provides a template legal contract to help sort the terms, but you need to arrange rent payment yourself.
Forumites also recommend similar site ShareMyStorage - if you try either of these, or any other sites, please feed back in the Rent your storage space discussion.
Anything else to watch for? Be prepared to settle any disputes yourself, and check you're comfortable with what's being stored. Don't agree to store valuables, and always check with your home insurance policy first in case you'll need to claim. This is because if you have to claim for damage to someone else's items, most standard insurance policies won't cover this.
Rent out your parking area
If you live in an area where parking is expensive or hard to find, yet have an empty parking space in your driveway, you could rent it out to others looking for a space. Online parking marketplaces such as JustPark* or Yourparkingspace let you list your space in their databases and set your price, taking their cut only when you're successful.
You can also set restrictions on use if you're likely to need the space yourself at certain times. For full info on this, read the dedicated Rent Your Parking Spaceguide.
One thing to note is that some more officious local councils have deemed renting out your space a 'change of use' to your property, asking for a £385 planning application fee. Yet the Government's announced renting out one parking space without planning permission is fine in England, provided it's not a nuisance to neighbours. Elsewhere it's a grey area, so some councils may ask you to apply for planning permission to keep doing it.
How much? Spaces in London can fetch £200 per month or more, though security is also likely to be a factor in determining price. Do note, while listing a space is free, these sites generally take a fee when you successfully rent it out.
Find out more: Read the Rent Your Parking Space guide, then join the discussion and read other MoneySavers' suggestions or add yours in the Selling parking spaces forum.
Rent out your house as a film location
Film and TV production teams are always on the lookout for homes and areas they can shoot in. Your home needn't be palatial to qualify either; all shapes and sizes can be desired, and the rates of pay can be pretty good.
There are a number of online agencies that'll list your property for free (usually taking commission once your property is chosen for a shoot).
Sites mentioned in the forums include MyHouseYourShoot, see the forum discussion for more suggestions and feedback. Never use any that charge a large upfront fee.
How much? It varies widely, but if your property's chosen, as a very rough guide forumites report you can get up to £500 for a day. And you get to brag about it. Don't bank on being selected though; there are many more properties than film crews.
Find out more: Join the discussion, read other MoneySavers' top suggestions or add your own in the Rent your house as a film location discussion.
Earn wonga on the web
If you've a computer or smartphone, there's a host of small ways to boost your coffers. Our30 Make Money Online Tips lists the top sites and apps that pay. Here are a few to start:
Earn via cashback sites
Cashback sites work by giving you a cut of their cash earned for directing you to shops or service providers. When shopping online, click through to a shop via one of these sites and it'll give you a small proportion (usually around 3% but up to 10%) of what you spend back in cash.
However, while it should be fine, you need to be aware cashback is NEVER 100% guaranteed as there can be tracking and other issues.
How much? £100s a year if you're a serious online buyer.
How do I do it? See the full Top Cashback Sites guide.
Get paid to click
You don't have to buy anything to earn cash via cashback sites - you can earn cash just for clicking links on the internet. Cashback websites give you a share or all of their ad-revenue, and sometimes get paid just for sending traffic.
For example, Topcashback* pays £2.10 when you click through to get a Gocompare car insurance quote or £3.15 when you sign up for a free trial with graze.com. Its Free Cashback section lists the top offers.
How much? Some forumites rack up to £20 a month just by clicking these links. It depends how many offers are available, and how consistent you are with the routine.
How do I do it? Full how-to in the Top Cashback Sites guide.
PS. You can also click and give to charity. See The Hunger Site guide for more.
Get better cashback rates in shops
Cashback site Quidco* has a free scheme that lets you register your debit or credit card to earn better cashback rates when you shop in certain stores. You can access the service via its website or its Android or iPhone app.
First, register the 16-digit number across your debit or credit card on Quidco's site or the app. Then, use the same debit card in store at retailers such as Debenhams, TM Lewin and Moss Bros - the amount of cashback that you earn varies between stores.
If you're new to the cashback sites concept, they pay you to click through them to buy something (see Top Cashback Sites for a full guide).
How do I do it? To sign up, just grab the app, and if you don't already have a Quidco account, sign up (on the app or online).
For online cashback, Quidco takes the first £5 you earn each year as an admin fee if you have a premium account (for basic accounts, it's free).
The secret to unlocking extra cashback
Over the past 12 months Quidco has slowly introduced another way to benefit from in-store cashback – if you're a keen cashbacker then you might already have noticed it. It's a secret way to unlock extra cashback rates by clicking the 'activate to earn' button on selected retailers via the Quidco app or website.
At some retailers, the activate button could be the only way to access a cashback rate on in-store purchases, for example, at Jojo Maman Bébé you won’t get cashback on stores purchases without activating. Or, it could unlock a significantly larger rate of cashback, for example, at Ernest Jones you’ll get 4%, a big uplift from the 1% on offer for those who don’t activate. There is no standard rate of uplift as it varies by retailer, but typically the 'activate to earn' offers tend to double the amount of cashback you earn.
It's a time limited offer though and you'll typically have a seven-day window to spend in stores to benefit from the uplift. But, in theory you could activate the retailer every week, as there's no limit on activations. It's a new scheme so it's still limited to a very small number of retailers, for up-to-date information see the full list on Quidco's website.
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Profit from photographs
Keen photographers can upload their digital photos to photo bank websites such as iStockphoto and earn royalties for each one sold.
You may need to advertise elsewhere to drum up demand though, and some sites have a minimum payout. However, if you have an interest in niche photography subjects, or take particularly beautiful shots, you could make good money.
How much? It varies by site. For example, you decide the retail price of your photos at Photobox, giving you the freedom to adjust the profit margin.
Find out more: Join the discussion, read other MoneySavers' top suggestions or add your own in the Sell photos online thread.
Affiliate your website
If you run any kind of website, commercial or personal, you can add affiliate link packages to it and get paid each time somebody clicks from your page.
Two of the most popular schemes are Google's Adsense and Amazon Associates. They don't cost a penny to install. Of course, if you want to generate a substantial income through these schemes, you'll need a high level of site traffic and this can be difficult to achieve.
If you're sure you can provide a site which will appeal to a substantial number of people then give it a try, but generally speaking, it's not worth starting one up just for the purpose of affiliate linking.
How much? A niche website with loyal usage could earn £1,000s a year from these links.
Find out more: Join the discussion, read other MoneySavers' top suggestions or add your own in the Making money from websites thread.
Listen to music? Get paid to review it
Unsigned music review site SliceThePie pays you for each song you review, but as you build up a reputation you can earn more.
You'll need a pretty open mind, as you can't choose specific genres, but once you've found a band you like you can vote for them. It now allows you to review artists signed to record labels. The system's too complex to describe fully here, so read the site's tutorials before you start.
How much? Not much, but not bad for a hobby. Typically, a dedicated fan willing to put in a couple of hours each night could expect to earn around £30/month, though forumites report this can vary. You earn in dollars and get between $0.10 and $0.20 per review, but the amount varies depending depending on the track, length and detail of the review. You'll need to earn at least $10 (so, just over £6.50) before you can withdraw cash via PayPal.
The company now also operates a 'refer a friend' scheme where users can refer friends and earn 10% commission from the reviews submitted. So, if they earn $0.20 for a review, you'll get $0.02 for it.
Find out more: Join the discussion, read other MoneySavers' top tips or add your own in the Earn cash for rating new music thread. Also check out the SliceThePie FAQs thread.
Matched gambling
This is something we thought very hard about before including. Yet as many who know exactly what they're doing make serious risk-free cash, we felt it couldn't be excluded from this guide.
It's all about taking advantage of the offers betting sites run to encourage new players, usually involving free bets (eg, "bet £30 and we give you a free £30 bet"), and the fact different bookmakers offer different odds.
Thus, in some circumstances, by betting on all outcomes you guarantee a profit, whatever the outcome. However, this is incredibly complex and dangerous, and most people should run a million miles from it. Don't contemplate attempting it without doing detailed research.
How much? With time and care it's possible to make a few thousand over the year. But please don't go for it if you're desperate for cash. This is only for those with patience and not under money pressure. Otherwise, you'll end up drawn into real gambling, and losing.
How do I do it? Read the Matched Betting introduction and FAQs discussion in theGambling Introductory Offer Loopholes board and the other sticky threads at the top. But remember it's an open forum, anyone can post, and just because someone sounds like they know what they're doing, it doesn't mean they do.
Grab £1,000s of grants
There are grants galore available if you know where to look; from doing up your home to education or helping your business. There are a number of grant search engines where you can find out exactly what money you're eligible for.
Reclaim, reclaim, reclaim
Right across finance, companies have been taking or holding money when they shouldn't. These days it's easy to fight back. This can mean a boost of £1,000s to your finances in just one go.
Tax rebate for uniform wearers
If you wash or repair your work uniform, you may be able to reclaim tax.
Whether it's a full nurse's or police uniform, or just a simple T-shirt, provided you DON'T ever wear it for owt else, if you wash and maintain the clothes, you may be due an extra tax-free allowance each year and can backdate the claim for up to four years.
How much? Many MoneySavers have reported no-quibble cheques posted after they contacted HM Revenue & Customs. Forumite aliasojosaid rebates can be several hundred pounds.
Other half got his letter - £336 adjustment in tax for earlier years and flat rate job expenses applied from now on, and a new tax code to reflect all that.- aliasojo
How do I do it? Read the full Uniforms Tax Rebate guide.
Check if you're due a tax rebate
If during the past four years you've had the wrong tax code, you may be due a tax rebate. Last June, HMRC said that up to three and a half million employees are due this rebate... BUT around two million may need to pay more. See theMillions to repay tax after HMRC errors MSE news story for more.
How much? It all depends on how wrong your banding was, but it can range from tens of pounds to thousands. One forum user has managed to claim over £5,000 because HMRC was deducting for a company car and medical insurance he'd never had.
How do I do it? Read the Tax Code Checker guide and tool to work out if your code is correct, then contact HMRC. If you think you've overpaid in the past, again, just contact HMRC.
Reclaim for train delays
Leaves on the line, the wrong kind of snow and service faults... train delays are all too common on our railways. But it's possible to claim for a delay if you know your rights.
How much? The refund will come in the form of vouchers (so you can use them for your next trip) and the amount all depends on the train company. But you can still ask for money instead - Chiltern Railways, for example, pays out in cheques if the amount is more than £30.
How do I do it? Delays need to be more than 30 minutes to claim and the amount you get, and how you claim, varies depending on the railway line. Full details in ourTrain Delays guide.
Reclaim phone/broadband credit
If you've switched TV, mobile, broadband or phone providers in the last six years, there's a very real chance you're owed a little cash. You can get it back at speed.
Some providers don't automatically refund leftover credit when you cancel your contract or change provider.
How much? This isn't going to make you rich, but may give you a handy little boost. One forumite was amazed to get £144 back from TalkTalk, but generally amounts have been lower.
How do I do it? Use the Reclaim Phone Credit guide for more info, plus a full list of contact numbers for providers. Read about others' experiences on the forum discussion.
PPI reclaiming
If you've got or had a loan, credit or store card with payment protection insurance (PPI), you may be able to reclaim £1,000s, and for FREE. Banks lost in court after years of systemically mis-selling PPI. Now they've put over £18 billion aside to pay back money wrongly taken from their customers.
How much? We regularly see success stories of over £10,000. However, as ever, it depends on each individual circumstance and what you were charged. The average payout's around £3,000.
How do I do it? Don't hand 30% to a no-win, no-fee claims handler. Read the step-by-step guides to PPI Reclaiming and Credit Card PPI Reclaiming, include template letters and FAQs.
Find lost assets
Billions languish unused in old bank accounts, pensions, life assurance, Premium Bonds and investments, whether forgotten in a house move, lost through a work change, or simply overlooked in the hurly-burly of modern life.
Yet it's usually easy and, in many cases, free to reclaim cash that belongs to you or your family. This means a lost inheritance could also be reclaimed if you think a relative that's passed away had a bank account they'd forgotten about.
How much? This depends on how much you've forgotten you had. It could be anything from just a few pounds in an old junior savings account to thousands in a forgotten pension fund.
How do I do it? Use the Reclaim Lost Assets guide.
Reclaim bank charges
If you've been hit with bank charges in the past few years and are in financial hardship, you can ask for them back.
How much? It all depends on your circumstances and how the charges have affected you and caused or worsened your financial situation. But if you incurred charges of £35, four times a year for the last six years, then on average that all adds up to a huge £840 payback.
How do I do it? Use the Bank Charges Reclaiming guide. Read about other MoneySavers' experiences on the Success reports forum thread.
Council tax rebanding
The council tax system in England and Scotland is fundamentally flawed; many people are in the wrong band. It takes 10 minutes to check if you're one of them.
How much? Dropping a band can result in a saving of £200 a year, and a backdated payout from when you moved in is often worth £1,000s.
Get mortgage exit fees back
If you've moved mortgage to a new company since the late 1990s, you could have been overcharged by your old lender when you left it. Just one phone call usually gets you the money back.
How much? A refund of the difference between the fee as stated when you took out your loan, and its level when you left. This could be between £50-£300, depending on the lender.
Reclaim for flight delays
Whether the flight was last week, or six years ago, EU rules mean if you’re delayed over three hours or your flight is cancelled, you’re often entitled compensation.
How much? £100 - £440 per person
How do I do it? See Flight Delays for a full step-by-step compensation guide, including template letters on how to get your money back for free and how to stop the airlines squirming out of paying.
Car or bike damaged by a pothole? Claim for it!
Whichever authority controls a road has a legal duty to maintain it to a fit standard. If it doesn't, and your car's damaged, it should pay for repairs. Often you will only get a payout if you can prove negligence, but it's worth giving it a go.
Potholes are inevitable, particularly in winter, so the key question is whether the relevant authority could and should have fixed it before your car went clunk.
How much? Typically, car damage claims tend to be around £300-£500. Some drivers who've claimed have successfully recouped the entire amount - in other cases, they've won part of the cost.
You could be qualified to receive a $350 BEST BUY Gift Card.
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