Our expert Rebecca Gamble helps make your cash go further
READER QUESTION
Q My son has recently passed his driving test and the car insurance quotes he’s found are extortionate. Will black box insurance reduce the policy costs?
A Black box insurance, also known as telematics insurance, enables insurers to monitor a motorist’s driving patterns and behaviour, such as how they steer, brake, take corners and how fast they drive. If your son can prove he drives safely and responsibly, he may save cash on his premiums. However, there are also penalties for bad driving; some insurers may increase premiums or even cancel cover. For more on this and other ways to save on car insurance, visit gocompare.com.
Go green for less
Doing home improvements or maintenance and need some tools? Wilko has launched a hire service called Wilkohire (wilkotoolhire. com). You’ll find a range of equipment, from carpet cleaners, to drills and hedge trimmers.
3 easy ways to...save on train travel
Travelling by rail can be expensive – can you save cash with these tips?
1 GET ORGANISED
Know when you need to travel? Then plan ahead to get hold of the cheapest tickets. Train companies generally make advance tickets available around 12 weeks ahead of the travel date. However, some firms release them earlier. You can set up a Ticket Alert at thetrainline.com and you’ll be emailed when advance tickets for your trip go on sale. If tickets are already on sale, it’s usually best to book them as soon as you can, as prices tend to become more expensive nearer the travel date.
2 BAG DISCOUNTS
Travelling as a party of three to nine? Check if you can save a third on off-peak adult tickets with GroupSave tickets. Find out more at nationalrail.co.uk. In addition, consider if you’d save by buying a railcard such as the Two Together Railcard. It costs £30 for a year and gives you a third off fares when you travel together from 9.30am Monday to Friday or any time at weekends and bank holidays. For more details including T&Cs and about other available railcards, visit railcard.co.uk.
3 SEEK OUT EXTRA SAVINGS
You might expect a return ticket to cost less than two singles, but that’s often not the case so be sure to check. Furthermore, you may be able to save cash by ‘splitting your ticket’: instead of buying one ticket for your whole journey, you buy tickets for its constituent parts. There are websites that help you find these fares. There’s more information and the rules you’ll need to follow if you do this
