Martin Lewis Money Show

Money Saving Expert – MSE – is founded by Martin Lewis

Money Saving Expert (MSE) has urged people to visit Boots before boarding the plane. While talking about easyJet specifically – although it may work for any airline – MSE urge people to “avoid sky-high food prices” and “pack a mile-high picnic instead.” They explain on their easyJet tips blog: “Mid-air picnics are perfectly within the rules. It’s only liquids over 100ml that are banned for security reasons.”

Because of this, MSE, founded by Martin Lewis, writes: “When we checked, an Easyjet meal deal (sandwich, soft drink and snack) cost £9.75. Even at inflated airport prices, a Boots meal deal is around £5.” MSE’s blog was updated on July 27, 2026, easyJet’s prices are subject to change.

Finding that a meal deal at Boots or other supermarkets like Sainsbury’s, Tesco, or Morrisons could be cheaper than what you get on board the plane, it notes that “bringing your own food may mean you win on taste as well as price” – and it doesn’t have to be boring, either.

You can make it part of the holiday by tailoring it to your destination. Think chorizo and olives for Spain, cold pizza for Italy, sausages and sauerkraut for Germany. The list is endless.

Save your pennies by planning ahead, says MSE as part of its pre-holiday tips list. Picking up snacks in advance can work out far cheaper than paying airline prices, or even the cost of food and drink in the shops after security.

30 days

In further helpful advice, the MSE team have said that easyJet passengers can check in earlier than most. And it could help people secure a better seat.

It explains: “Unlike other airlines, Easyjet lets you check in and allocates you a seat 30 days before you fly, free. You’ll have to pay if you want a specific seat, but the earlier you check in, the more likely it is that you get allocated a better seat.

“If you don’t want to take the risk and would prefer to reserve a seat when you book, Easyjet charges “from 99p” for a basic seat on a short flight. We’ve seen it cost up to £39.99 to stretch out in the front row on a longer trip (for a list of costs, see Easyjet’s fees and charges).”

Whether you’re paying for a seat or using the free check-in 30 days before, passengers are urged not to leave it to the last minute. By then, many seats may already be taken, increasing the chances you’ll end up separated from your family, partner or friends.

MSE concludes: “The best bet is to check in online (and secure your seats) as early as possible.”

For a full list of easyJet tips and tricks, visit the MSE blog here.

In the UK around 14 million people are still paying ‘too much’

Personal finance expert Martin Lewis has told anyone with an iPhone or Android mobile to text a four-letter word. In a new video on Youtube, the ITV and BBC star said millions of people continue paying sky-high prices on contracts which are no longer binding.

He said that in the UK around 14 million people are still paying too much – often for deals which got them a new handset – and can save hundreds. People were told to check their contract status by texting ‘INFO’ for free to 85075.

Mr Lewis explained: “There’s a way to find out if you can save on your mobile bill just by typing five digits into your phone. All you got to do is text the word info info to 85075. This is a service the regulator mandates mobile phone networks to offer. It’s totally free. They then have to reply with whether you have any early termination or early cancellation charges.

“If it says you don’t, so 0 early termination, it means one of 14 million people who are out of contract and you’re therefore free to ditch and switch and the vast majority of people who are out of contract are seriously overpaying on their phones. So what do you then do? Well, just go on to a comparison site like money-saving experts cheap simfinder and see what’s available.

“Couple of quick notes. If you’re on three smarty or ID mobile, then when you do the text, it will reply back asking you for your date of birth, which is just an ID check. And I should Also note if you’re on a multiple phone contract like couple of different handsets on the contact on the contract it can’t do this. So then simple rule of thumb if you’ve been on the same deal for more than two years you’re almost certainly out of contract. Do check it out.”

If the “Early Termination” or “Cancellation Charge” reads £0, meaning your contract has run out, the MoneySavingExpert founder said, “go to a cheap SIM comparison site”, where a selection of suppliers will offer the same SIM allowance for a fraction of the price.

“If you’re on a multiple-phone contract, you won’t be able to do this”, he added.

He has previously explained how the cost of getting a new SIM has plunged – meaning people could get the full service on their handset for a lot less. He said previously: “Prices have been going up and up. At the same time the cost of new customer SIM deals have been plummeting. For 50gb two years ago you’d have been paying £9. Now you can get it as cheap as about £3 a month.”

Pointing to a diagram on screen Mr Lewis said: “Look at that dispersal – you’ve got existing customers going up and up and up and new customers going down and down and down.”

Mr Lewis went on to explain his three steps for mobile customers to cut costs. He said: “14 million people are out of contract on their mobile phone bill which means you are free to switch.”

He said there is an ‘easy’ way to find out if you are one of those out of contract. Mr Lewis explained: “You text ‘info’ for free to 85075 to check.” He added that people on Three would need to then enter their date of birth. He said that those in contract would still have to pay a termination fee, but otherwise people are free to switch: “You’re a free agent – you can go and get the cheapest deals, you can cut your costs.”

He added that once people decide to switch if they want to keep their number, all they have to do is text PAC (Porting Authorisation Code) to 85075 and give that code to your new provider which will than be able to take the number. According to the MSE founder, the best deals aren’t found by going directly to the big operators – instead he said that if someone is out of contract they should go to comparison sites.