Half-term. That magical week when the kids are home, you've got a quieter work schedule, and time moves differently. You could spend it binge-watching Netflix (no judgment), or you could spend a few hours on some genuinely profitable money moves that'll put real cash in your account.
The beauty of half-term is that these tasks don't require much effort—they just require time. No heavy lifting, no complicated setups, just smart moves that work while you're doing other things. Even if you've only got a couple of hours spare, there's money to be made.
Let me walk you through what's worth doing right now, why it matters, and how to prioritise if you're short on time.
Bank Switching: The Easiest £1,200
Let's start with the obvious one: bank switching bonuses are the lowest-effort way to earn money right now.
If you haven't switched banks in the last three years, you're basically leaving money on the table. The current market is offering £1,200 switching bonuses across several accounts, and the process is dead simple—most of it happens automatically.
Here's how it works:
You pick a bank offering a bonus (we've got them listed on our live offers page). You complete an application—takes maybe 10 minutes. The bank's switching service handles everything else: it tells your old bank to close the account, moves all your direct debit guides and standing orders, transfers any remaining balance. Takes about 7 working days, and you don't have to do a thing except wait.
At the moment, Nationwide FlexDirect, TSB Classic Plus, and several others are all offering £1,200 bonuses. That's not a typo. That's just free money for opening an account.
The catch? There's a small one: you've got to move at least £1,500 into the account to qualify for the bonus. And sometimes there's a minimum time you've got to keep it open (usually a few months). Check the small print on whichever account you're going for.
If you've got £1,500 spare sitting in your current account (or a savings pot you're willing to move temporarily), this is genuinely the quickest route to earning serious money in a single sitting.
Getting it done during half-term
Monday: Pick your bank, apply online. Takes 10 minutes.
Tuesday–Friday: The switching service does its work. You might get asked to confirm a few things, but it's minimal.
By the time half-term ends, your bonus should have hit your account.
Pro tip: If you've got a partner or spouse, they can switch too. That's £2,400 in one go from the same couple. Check the eligibility checker to make sure you qualify.
Stoozing: Let Credit Cards Earn You Interest
Here's the one that sounds weird until you realise how clever it is: 0% credit card stoozing.
The basic idea is this: you get a 0% credit card, you move money from that card into a savings account, and you earn interest on the savings whilst paying zero interest on the card. It's not cheating—it's just how 0% periods work.
Right now, plenty of 0% credit cards are still available, and interest rates on savings accounts are actually decent compare bank bonusesd to what they've been. If you've got £3,000–£5,000 you can afford to lock away for a few months, this works nicely.
Example: You get a 0% card with a 12-month interest-free period. You move £4,000 onto it (balance transfer or as a cash advance, depending on the card's terms). You stick that £4,000 in an easy-access savings account earning 1.5% AER. Over 12 months, that's roughly £60 in interest, paid to you, whilst the card charges you nothing. You then pay off the card before the 0% period ends, and you've essentially earned free money.
The maths get even better if you pick a regular savers alongside your stoozing—more on that in a minute.
The main thing to remember: set a calendar reminder for when the 0% period ends. You need to pay the card off before interest kicks in, or the whole thing goes backwards quickly.
Want the full breakdown? We've got a stoozing guide that walks you through it properly.
Regular Savers: The Lazy Win
If you're not comfortable with stoozing (and fair enough, it takes a bit of nerve), regular savers are your friend.
These are savings accounts where you deposit money regularly—usually monthly—and get a higher interest rate in exchange. Right now, you can get accounts offering 5–7% AER on your regular deposits. That's genuinely decent money for just putting aside what you've already budgeted to save.
Example: You set up a regular saver and commit to saving £250 a month. Over a year, that's £3,000 saved. At 5% AER, that's roughly £75 in interest. Not life-changing, but it's real money, and you were going to save that anyway.
The beauty is it requires zero ongoing attention—it's a standing order, so the money goes in automatically every month. During half-term, you could spend an hour setting up multiple regular savers across different banks and lock in these higher rates across several pots.
And here's the kicker: you can combine regular savers with stoozing. If you're earning interest on both fronts, suddenly you're making meaningful money from money you were already planning to use.
Your Half-Term Money Checklist
If you're not sure where to start, here's what's worth doing in order of effort-to-payoff ratio:
Priority 1: Bank Switch
- Takes: 10 minutes to apply, 7 days to process
- Earn: £1,200 (or £2,400 if you and a partner both switch)
- Effort: Minimal
- Deadline: Do it now if you haven't switched in three years
Priority 2: Set Up a Regular Saver
- Takes: 15 minutes to open, then it's automatic
- Earn: £75–£100+ per year, depending on how much you save
- Effort: Minimal
- Deadline: No deadline, but sooner means more interest earned
Priority 3: Explore Stoozing
- Takes: 30–60 minutes to set up properly
- Earn: £50–£200+ depending on amount and card term
- Effort: Moderate (you've got to manage it)
- Deadline: Only if you're comfortable with credit cards and can pay them off
Common Questions
Is bank switching safe? Completely. The Automated Clearing House (ACH) switching service is designed specifically so that nothing gets lost in the transfer. Your old bank and new bank are both liable if anything goes wrong. In practice, millions of people switch every year and things go smoothly.
Can I switch if I'm in my overdraft? Yes, but the balance transfers with you. If you're overdrawn by £500, your new account starts overdrawn by £500. The switch process doesn't change that. However, switching to a bank with better overdraft rates might actually save you money long-term, so it's still worth considering.
Do I have to keep the money in the account after I get the bonus? Not always. Check the terms of the specific account you're switching to—most require you to keep at least the qualifying deposit (usually £1,500) for a few months before you can move it. After that, you can pull it out guilt-free.
Can I do a 0% balance transfer instead of stoozing? Yes, and it's actually easier for some people. A 0% balance transfer means you move debt from an expensive card to a free card. That's brilliant if you've got credit card debt. Stoozing is for when you don't have debt and just want to use the 0% period to earn interest—it's a different game.
What if I've got joint accounts with my partner? Each person can switch separately, so you can both get bonuses. Just make sure you're both opening individual accounts (not a joint account) to unlock both bonuses. Our switching guide covers this in detail.
Final Thought
Half-term is usually something we endure. Time off work with the kids at home can feel chaotic. But it's also the perfect window to get boring, important money stuff done—the kind of thing you never have headspace for during normal weeks.
Spend a few hours on these moves, and you're looking at £1,200+ of real cash landing in your account over the next month or two. That's not theoretical—that's money that pays for half-term activities, covers part of your holiday fund, or just goes into a pot you're building towards something better.
If you're new to all this, start with the bank switch. It's the path of least resistance, and the payoff is immediate. Everything else is bonus.
Enjoy your half-term. And make it count.
Want to find out which banks are offering the best switching bonuses right now? Check our live offers page.