Financial news

• Friends with benefits: how referral schemes can really pay off

  31-01-2026 12:00 via theguardian.com
  Earn money and other rewards by linking friends and family up to companies you use, from banks to energy firmsHow much do you love your energy company – enough to recommend it to a friend? How about if £50 was up for grabs?Richard from Suffolk is a customer of Octopus Energy, and now eight of his family and friends are, too, after he recommended the provider to them all through its referral scheme. “I really think [referral schemes] are a good idea. It’s an incentive to s
  
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• UK new car buyers drive a bargain as average discount nears £6,000

  31-01-2026 08:00 via theguardian.com
  Motorists benefit as industry offers deals of up to 18% off to attract buyers for petrol, diesel and electric modelsIf you are considering buying a new car, now might be the time to act as new data shows manufacturers and dealers slashing prices by more than 10%, with the average discount close to £6,000.The typical discount available across all petrol, diesel and electric cars sold in the UK is 11.4% of the on-the-road price – the equivalent of £5,911 – according to Insi
  
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