Two decent saving bonds

Two savings bonds offering decent returns have recently been announced. Ruth Jackson has the details, plus the rest of the week's personal finance news, including why Monarch Airlines is dropping debit-card surcharges, where to find the best priced petrol in your area, how to claim back on that gym membership you never use, and why now is the time to think about replacing your boiler.

Sainsbury's Finance has launched a best-buy savings bond. Their one-year bond pays 3.4% interest, making it a decent choice for anyone who can afford to lock their money away for 12 months. The only drawback is that the minimum investment is £5,000. Barnsley Building Society also offers a 3.4% rate on a one-year bond, but the minimum investment on that account is £1,000.

Monarch Airlines has broken ranks with other budget airlines and scrapped debit-card surcharges. The airline is currently undergoing a major rebranding and is making moves to win business from rivals Ryanair and Easyjet. By scrapping charges on debit cards and announcing a flat £10 charge per booking for credit-card payments, the airline is making a clear move to distance itself from its rivals. Hopefully the move will prompt more companies to end the practice of using processing fees to boost profits.

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Ruth Jackson-Kirby

Ruth Jackson-Kirby is a freelance personal finance journalist with 17 years’ experience, writing about everything from savings accounts and credit cards to pensions, property and pet insurance.

Ruth started her career at MoneyWeek after graduating with an MA from the University of St Andrews, and she continues to contribute regular articles to our personal finance section. After leaving MoneyWeek she went on to become deputy editor of Moneywise before becoming a freelance journalist.

Ruth writes regularly for national publications including The Sunday Times, The Times, The Mail on Sunday and Good Housekeeping, among many other titles both online and offline.