Childcare
Save up to £1,195
Who to talk to
Ask your employer if they offer the childcare voucher scheme; if not, try providers like not-for-profit employersforchildcare.org
How much you can save
A basic-rate taxpayer parent can save £962 a year, a higher-rate taxpayer £1,195. Two parents together can double this.
Watch out for
· Companies aren't obliged to offer the vouchers but, in many cases, a straightforward request will work as the administration is not too onerous, and the employer benefits too from lower National Insurance payments.
· You can't claim vouchers if you are paying a relative, nanny or other person who's not registered with the government-approved childcare list.
Child trust funds
Save £1,000s
Who to call
You receive a child trust fund voucher worth £250 when you receive child benefit. Call 0845 302 1470 if you don't. Pick up an additional £250 if your household income is below £15,575 in 2008-09. Then start saving more with top-ups of up to £1,200 a year - perhaps from grandparents and doting aunties and uncles. All the money saved is free of tax. Full details at childtrustfund.gov.uk
How much you can save
Thanks to compound interest, your baby's tax-free savings pot will grow speedily. Virgin Money calculates that if parents top up the fund by £10 a month, the amount saved by the time your child turns 18, assuming 7% growth a year, would be £5,210 - compared to £1,410 if just the basic £500 were left in the fund.
Watch out for
· Choose your child trust fund quickly; many parents wait a year or so and lose out on returns.
· Cash v stocks and shares. The cash funds are completely safe, but you may earn better long-term returns by investing in a stocks-and-shares CTF.
Student grants
Save up to £4,000
Where to click
Try scholarship-search.org.uk, which has a huge database of grant and bursary-awarding bodies for students entering full-time higher education. Don't forget to tell them if you already get Educational Maintenance Allowance (many awards are for students from low-income families) and where you live (some grants and bursaries are for students from specific areas).
How much you can save
Awards can be as little as £100 or as much as £4,000 a year.
Watch out for
· The generosity of the awards is particularly high in science and engineering, to encourage more people into these subjects.
· Students who come from homes with an income of less than £25,000 a year are automatically entitled to a bursary from their university.
Dental tourism
Save £1,400+
Where to click
Visit websites like revahealth.com or vitaleurope.co.uk.
How much you can save
Consumer body Which? says a dental implant and crown that would cost £2,200 in the UK could set you back just £750 in either Poland or Hungary. Average savings are 50% on the equivalent treatment in the UK.
Watch out for
· If something goes wrong, be prepared for costly (and painful) return flights.
· It's not impossible to find a free or low-cost NHS dentist. Try nhs.uk/servicedirectories
Pension credit
Save £100s
Who to call
The Pension Credit helpline, for free, on 0800 991234. You'll need to tell them about any existing pension income you have plus the size of any savings, as this is needed to calculate your eligibility.
How much you can save
Depending on how much you already receive every month, it could be hundreds of pounds - if not thousands - a year.
Watch out for
The pensions credit is notoriously complex, and is made up of two parts: a "guarantee" credit that tops up your income if you're 60 or over, and a "savings" credit for those who are 65 or over and who have other income or capital. Be patient when applying, as it takes time to understand what you're entitled to.
