MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

Shorter days and colder weather are upon us, with higher energy bills going hand-in-hand. Winter also brings a higher risk of boiler and car breakdown - which can quickly become high-cost problems at a high-cost time of year (if you don't have cover). Thankfully, a few quick seasonal checks and tips can slash costs.

1. Take the boiler flow-rate challenge - cut gas bills by £65/yr. Many gas combi boilers' default flow rate setting (the temperature of the water that circulates) is higher than needed, making boilers less efficient. Reducing it is easy, can cut bills by 4% and you're unlikely to feel a difference. Take the boiler challenge.

PS: For far more, see our checklist of 70+ ways to save energy, a mix of hardcore savings and thrifty crowd-sourced tips.

2. Get full service breakdown cover for just £57/yr. Breakdowns spike in cold weather, and the consequences are often worse too, eg, stuck on the side of the road when it's freezing...

Roadside recovery, home start & onward travel £57. AutoAid's* been one of our top picks for over a decade. It covers you and your partner in any car you or they drive. Newbies via this link pay £57yr (£22 more if the car's 16+ yrs old, and there's a £25 call-out fee if the car's 10+ yrs old). Call-out time and service feedback is decent.

Alternatively, Eversure* at £57.50/yr is similar, though won't cover cars more than 15yrs old. Equivalent cover with the big providers can be £200+. See Cheap breakdown cover for more options.
Want a new AA/RAC policy? Cashback sites can save you 50%+. For new policies (so, if you're with the AA, go for the RAC, and vice versa) buy direct, and even basic cover can cost around £100. Yet use the right cashback sites, and it can work out as