MAKE use of the TV ad breaks to transform your finances.
Shake things up from your sofa in just five minutes, making changes that will last long after the credits have rolled.
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Whether you want to save more or spend less, The Sun’s money team and other experts have shared the speedy secrets that work for them.
Here’s our top 12 to get you started.
Ad-break admin
Lucy Andrews, The Sun’s deputy consumer editor, recommends using the ad breaks to get switched onto to money deadlines.
“Check your emails to see if you’ve missed anything important that will hit your pocket,” she says.
“Search key terms like ‘account’ and ‘important changes’. Check your spam too.
“Mark when your car insurance is up for renewal and put a reminder in to search for cheaper deals ahead of time.
“Then, do an app spring clean and ditch the ones you’re most likely to waste money on, and download others that can help you save.
“Snoop tracks your bills and will send a weekly spend report to help you keep track of your money.
“TopCashback can help you get money back on your purchases – you can earn up to £345 a year on average.
“Fill out surveys on the Vyper app and earn money in your ad break.”
Turn off temptation
Ebony Cropper from debt organisation Money Wellness suggests using your ad break to delete tempting emails.
“We’ve all got reams of marketing emails which can be one of the biggest culprits when it comes to impulse spending.
“All those sales, last chance deals and discount codes are designed to get you clicking on the ‘buy now’ button, even when you weren’t planning to.
“Take five minutes to unsubscribe from brands that tempt you, leading to less spending, less stress, and a cleaner inbox.”
Switch on your savings
Adam French, head of news at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, says that taking a few minutes to switch your savings to a higher interest account could be a game changer.
“Many savers risk missing out on hundreds of pounds if they leave their money languishing in an easy access account with one of the nation’s big-name high street banks.
“HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Santander, NatWest and Barclays all have easy access accounts paying no better than 1.3% interest – far below the current level of inflation.
“There are other easy access accounts that can give a better return.
“Look for accounts that pay interest regularly so you can make the most the best rates before they fall.
“For example, Snoop’s easy access account is paying 4.35% and pays interest daily.
“Smart savers who can afford to lock their money away may be able to do better by switching to a one-year fix account to the likes of Chetwood Bank who is currently paying 4.50%.
“If you are lucky enough to have a £10,000 savings pot and don’t need to access it in the next year, switching from a high street bank’s easy access account to a market-leading one-year fix can leave you £300 better off in 12 months’ time – not a bad return for a few minutes’ work.”
Watch the credits
Ola Majekodunmi, founder of personal finance platform All Things Money, says you can use a spare five minutes to check your credit score.
“Your credit score affects everything from mortgage rates to phone contracts so checking regularly is crucial.”
There are steps you can take if your score falls short – and it is worth doing so as, according to totallymoney research, someone with a poor credit score taking out a typical £5,000 loan could pay an extra £6,678 in interest over three years compared to someone with an excellent score.
Ola says: “You can check your score in under five minutes by visiting a free credit score checker at Experian or clearscore.”
Flip mental channels
Financial advisor Catherine Morgan, author of the book and podcast It’s Not About The Money, suggests a quick change in mindset.
“Instead of thinking ‘I want to save for a holiday’ flip it to ‘What would happen if I didn’t start saving?’
“Use that ad break to write down three specific consequences of not saving – perhaps not being able to retire, missing out on a dream holiday or staying stuck in a unfulfilling job.
“This psychological switch creates urgency rather than wishful thinking, making it far more likely that people will actually take action.”
Round up, round up
Rajan Lakhani, head of money at smart money app Plum, recommends signing up to a ‘round-up’ savings tool.
“It’s a great way to save money without even noticing.
“You can do this with an app like Plum that connects to your bank and rounds up every transaction to the nearest pound and then saves the difference.
“It only takes a few minutes to set it up, but the amount of money you can save can make a huge difference to your savings journey.
“You often won’t realise the amounts being taken out, but these small savings can really add up.”
Bring on the subs
The Sun’s chief consumer reporter, James Flanders, recommends doing a quick subscription audit.
“Open your banking app or money management tool – I use one called Emma – and look for any recurring payments for services you no longer use or want.
“Hit ‘cancel’ and watch those monthly savings add up.
“Don’t forget to check the terms and conditions first though, as if you’re still within a minimum contract period you might be charged for a missed payment or even see an impact on your credit score.”
Drive down car costs
Think refinancing your car loan is a faff? Not anymore, says Kara Gammell, finance expert at MoneySuperMarket.
“Many drivers who took dealership finance are stuck on uncompetitive rates because they didn’t compare deals in the first place.
“Refinancing lets you change that – whether it’s lowering the interest rate to reduce monthly repayments, shortening the term, or spreading the cost of a balloon payment.
On average, MoneySuperMarket customers save around £1,781 by refinancing.
“That’s not just spare change – it’s a holiday, a home upgrade, or a serious boost to your savings.
“And with the FCA cracking down on unfair car finance practices, there’s never been a better time to take control.”
Get Christmas cracked
Coupon King Jordon Cox says now is a great time to start saving for Christmas.
“Use your ad break to set up a separate savings account.
“Then, every time you get a deal on something, use a discount code online, or get money off your bills, put the amount that you save straight into it.
“Not only do you build up a little pot of savings, but it also shows you how much you are saving through deals.
“By the time December rolls around, you’ll have a very nice pot saved up to cover the costs.”
Find missing money
Senior consumer reporter Blathnaid Corless says: “Use the website Gretel to find missing money such as lost pensions, bank accounts, investments and child trust funds.
“You can get results in three minutes – quicker than it takes to make a cuppa – and you only need your name and address to sign up.
“You could also check if you could get a better deal on your household bills and insurance by using a price comparison site, like GoCompare or Uswitch.
“You don’t need to switch provider straight away, but you can normally get some quotes in just a few minutes.”
Discover hidden deals
Money writer Mel Hunter reckons you can find hundreds of pounds of hidden deals in just a few minutes.
“Look at your shopping apps to find personalised offers.
“Search for partner deals with sites like Nectar, Tesco Clubcard and Lidl.
“If you have breakdown cover or a railcard, check the apps and websites to see if you qualify for savings on days out, meals, ferries and flights.
“One note of caution, though: These deals may look fantastic, but all come with terms and conditions and you may be able to get a better deal elsewhere, so always do your homework.”
Put the kettle on instead
Dan Evans, senior deals content specialist at money-saving website hotukdeals.com, urges you to stop mindlessly scrolling and shopping from your sofa.
“Go and make a cup of tea instead of looking at your phone.
“Shopping when you are distracted is a recipe for overspending.
“Clicking ‘pay’ on something that pops up in your Instagram feed might give you an instant hit, but often with a little research you can find the same products for cheaper.
“If you have time on your side, delay spending the money and come back to it later in the week. You’ll probably find you don’t want it after all.”
