12 items that are free or cheaper during pandemic

The coronavirus chaos has brought in some discounts and freebies

Martin Lewis tells of 12 items that are free or cheaper during pandemic

People can make some major savings while the coronavirus crisis rages on.

The global pandemic has brought much fear and uncertainty to the world, though MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis has provided financial advice and tips to help people's bank balances during these unprecedented times.

While we move towards a new normal, there are still ways to bag a few freebies while also cutting down on major household bills.

From cheaper car insurance to free box sets, these are the financial positives that have come out of the vicious outbreak:

Car insurance

Some insurers have offered refunds and discounts to customers due to there being less motorists on the roads during the pandemic.

Insurer LV announced it would be giving its customers with car and motorbike policies the chance to claim a refund of between £20 and £50 but only if you've been financially affected by coronavirus in specific ways.

Car and van insurance policyholders with Admiral, and those of its other brands Bell, Diamond and Elephant, were told last week they would get a £25 refund in a move estimated to cost the company £110 million in total.

Petrol

Martin Lewis has said fuel prices have dropped to a four-year low due to the pandemic.

But he added it's still possible to save on filling up by buying in the right place and making sure your car is more fuel efficient by keeping your tyres inflated and keeping air-con off while driving at lower speeds.

To make your money go further, Martin advises finding the cheapest forecourt in your area for petrol, diesel, super unleaded or premium diesel by comparing prices using a free tool.

The finance expert suggests using website PetrolPrices.com and to register.

Once registered, enter your postcode and tell it how far you're willing to travel for fuel, up to 20 miles, and it'll list the cheapest petrol stations in your area.

Energy

The financial journalist appeared on This Morning earlier this month where he revealed now is the best time to lock in a cheap energy deal, saying oil prices were "historically low".

He claimed Brits could save £300 a year on average by switching.

Martin said: "There’s lack of demand. With people staying at home and travelling less there’s been a global sump slump for oil.

"In fact, for a day last week, staggeringly the US oil price was negative - they couldn't sell it, so instead they were having to pay to have barrels stored.

"And this low oil price feeds into switchers' prices for gas and electricity too.

"They're at their cheapest for about three years and not just small firms, but large big six companies also have the cheapest tariffs we've seen in years.

"But it's only switchers prices that are cheap, the price cap hasn't moved and all the big six standard tariffs that most people are on are still costly.

"So, now's the time for everyone to check their energy tariff and take advantage of historically low oil prices."

Cheaper broadband

Martin Lewis said millions of us blindly overpay for broadband and line rental as costs rocket once promotional deals come to an end.

The money whizz advises if you're out of your contract, now is the time to check whether you can save £100s each year by switching to a new deal.

For most, switching during the pandemic is fine as no one needs to access to your home and it can be sorted remotely.

But advice on the MoneySavingExpert says those switching from cable, like Virgin, will likely have to wait for a while because most other firms use the BT Openreach network and its engineers are only just starting a phased return of installations after they were put on hold due to social distancing.

Mortgage payment holidays

Martin Lewis explained on Twitter the FCA has put forward proposals to extend mortgage payment holidays.

The consultation period ended on May 26, meaning it should be enacted in a matter of days, with the finance guru saying: "These are almost certainly going to be rules in place by the end of May."

A mortgage payment holiday is a deferment from your mortgage repayments, so most people typically don't have to pay their mortgage for three months.

This doesn't mean you won't be subjected to interest charges, as interest will continue to accrue, and you will still have to pay the money back - just at a later date.

First time home

UK interest rates are very cheap at the moment, but it remains a tricky time to buy a property.

During an appearance on This Morning, the finance guru said: "Well I think this will be a tricky time to be buying a house."

He explained though UK interest rates are very cheap at the moment, being at 0.1% which he said was the lowest in 325 years, it can still cause financial problems later down the line - especially if buying with a 5% deposit.

He said: "To get a mortgage now, you need to have a bigger deposit. Or if you’re remortgaging, you need to have more equity in the property.

"This is quite simply because we have to factor in that nobody knows what’s happening to house prices.

"If house prices plummet, then the lenders want more security that if the house price drops, they’re not exposed too much because you've got a very small deposit.

"So getting decent mortgages on a small deposit is tough right now."

He added: "Obviously, it’s worth waiting at the moment if you haven’t made a decision.

"See what’s going to happen to house prices. There’s a possibility they come down. Not a prediction – just a possibility.

"You may be a lot better off waiting a year and building up to a 10% deposit so the mortgage is cheaper, and the house prices might be cheaper too."

He added: "I can’t tell you what to do, but I wouldn't be in a rush to be buying right now."

Free fitness advice and apps

Despite gyms being closed across the country, a lot of people still want to stay fit.

There are plenty of free apps, online tools and resources that can help you to exercise and look after your health and wellbeing at home.

The MSE team has lots of suggestions for videos and tools it's used to work out at home, and some online fitness subscriptions are now offering free access.

There are even online PE classes for kids stuck at home, like the country's PE teacher, Joe Wicks.

Free box sets and films

You can still get your boxset and film fix without subscribing to Prime Video or Netflix, as there are plenty available for free on All 4, ITV Player and BBC iPlayer.

But MoneySavingExpert points out many streaming services offer free trials, giving unlimited access for a set period.

If you're craving a film or TV series, you can jump from free trial to free trial but just remember to cancel before each trial's up.

You can still get a 30 day free trial to Amazon video, though while Disney+ and Now TV offer a free seven day trial.

Free Kindle books

There are plenty of Kindle books on offer which are either permanently free or just 99p.

You may have to do some digging to find books which suit your tastes, but you can bag a bargain if you put in the work.

Play games for free on iPhone or Android

Many games consoles have been selling out while there are more of us spending time indoors.

Games can be rather pricey but the MoneySavignExpert site has tips on how to play games without racking up a big bill.

You can play plenty of games for free on your phone, and often from well-known game franchises everyone has heard of.

MoneySavingExpert has revealed some of the biggest and most popular games you can play right now, including Mario Kart Tour, Pokémon Masters and Call of Duty: Mobile.

Free online courses

If you're bored in lockdown, there are plenty of free courses to try out to learn a new skill.

There are tons of free online and app-based resources to help you learn and develop new skills in a fun way, from free courses to tutorials and quizzes.

MoneySavingExpert's Laura B picked some of her favourites – including language courses, hair and beauty tutorials and Open University qualifications.

Free theatre 'visits'

As theatres have had to shut their doors while the pandemic continues, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has been putting recordings of some of his biggest West End musicals, including big hits Cats and Phantom of the Opera, on a new YouTube channel for anyone to watch for free.

A different show is released at 7pm every Friday but is only available to watch for 24 or 48 hours.