Laura Howard

Use vouchers for your Valentine’s treats

The time of year for buying flowers, chocolates, perfume and champagne has come around again. You can make this year cheaper than last without compromising on quality by using the range of discount codes and vouchers available on these and other Valentine-related products. Simply search online.

Pay less for your ski insurance

If you are heading to the ski slopes this season and require winter sports cover as part of your travel insurance policy, premiums can rocket when you are over 50. Check out Saga’s travel insurance which specialises in this age group. It also offers cover for most pre-existing medical conditions and provides 5% discount if you apply online.

Keep warm cheaply

Old fashioned silver reflectors, which are simply stuck down the back of each radiator, might seem old-fashioned but they bounce back 95% of energy that would otherwise be lost through the wall, according to manufacturers, Radflek. The company is running its end-of-season sale for two weeks from Sunday February 12 with 15% off all products. Visit Radflek.com for more details.

Don’t pay interest on Christmas debt

If you have a credit balance still languishing from December’s spending splurge, it could easily be attracting rates of around 18% APR. But you can opt to pay nothing by switching your balance to a 0% balance transfer credit card. The Saga Platinum credit card offers 0% on balance transfers for the first nine months (with a 3% fee) and a much lower-than-average APR at 11.9% thereafter. However, it’s always a good idea to shop around.

Take a bundle

The best broadband deals on the market typically only apply if you take the home phone offering too. Next time your contract comes up for renewal, consider switching both to the same supplier. And this way, if you encounter a problem, it may also be easier to solve.