Are you getting the best Isa deal?

Ruth Jackson find the best place to open a tax-free individual savings account, plus four more money-saving tips.

National Savings and Investments (NS&I) has doubled the rate of interest it pays on its cash Isa. Its Direct account now pays 2.5%, up from 1.3%. But it's still not a best buy. Intelligent Finance's instant-access cash Isa pays 2.75%, whilst Standard Life's Direct Access Isa offers 2.65%.

Cheap flights never seem to end up being as cheap as you expect, due to all the hidden charges. For example, "how on earth can 'paying for the flight' or 'checking in' be deemed added extras"? asks Martin Lewis in The Daily Telegraph. But there are still ways you can cut the cost. Make sure you opt out of the travel insurance many budget airlines will automatically opt you in for. Scan the page, find the relevant box and uncheck it. And while you'll need some form of travel insurance, check you have not already bought multi-trip insurance for an earlier trip. Failing that, you can get a single-trip policy cheaper elsewhere (try Moneysupermarket.com).

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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.