Utilising your savings in the weekend’s money sections

The focus of this weekend’s money section was set firmly on savings with a dose of utilities thrown in for good measure.

The Sunday Times looked at how savers can spend themselves to a higher savings rate by getting an attractive cash-back credit card, paying their child’s mortgage and a number of other clever ploys.

But the big news in the savings world this weekend was Halifax’s new pledge to start paying interest on ISA transfers from the day it receives a completed application form. This went down favourably with the weekend press including Guardian, Independent and Telegraph, which said it has ‘thrown down the gauntlet’ to its rival banks. Keeping on the ISA theme, the Independent on Sunday noted how the increased ISA limit has sparked record deposits, while the Mail on Sunday looked at fears the Government could cut the annual limit.

And so to utilities. The Guardian looked at new proposals from Ofgem which would require gas and electricity suppliers to give 30 days’ notice before increasing prices. The Sunday Times also looked at this subject, stressing that many households were unaware of which tariff they were on as suppliers change them without notice, and urged consumers to get out of costly packages and save money.

The Times concentrated on the news that npower has agreed to pay £70 million compensation to its customers who were overcharged for gas. This battle does not yet appear to be over as some customers believe this amount is not enough. The npower payout was also the subject of David Budworth’s column this week as he highlights how long it took for this result to come about.

And the scores on the doors this week are: