Deal of the Week

The iPad finally went on sale in Ireland on Friday and those lucky enough to get their hands on one will be signing up to 3G data plans to ensure they can play with their new toy while they are on the go. Three companies are in the market for business, O2, Vodafone and 3, and it is the latter that is offering the best deal. At €19.99 for 15 gigabytes with no contract required, 3's deal is much better than O2's (€19.90 for 5GBs) and Vodafone (€20 for 5GBs). It also gives users peace of mind that they aren't going to go over their limit and land themselves with a massive bill.

Tip of the Week

Online auction giant eBay reckons that the average Irish household is sitting on about €500 worth of saleable items and you should bear that in mind if you are in the market for something new. Sell your unwanted items online to offset the cost of your new gadgets so you can get what you want without being out of pocket. A recent eBay survey found that 'shopping neutral' is increasingly popular in Ireland with shoppers from Meath more likely to do it than anywhere else in the country.

Bad Value of the Week

Money Talks recently had the misfortune of having our iPhone stolen. A hassle, yes, but not a disaster because insurance would replace like with like in a speedy fashion. Or so you would think. In fact, having submitted the claim to Phonecover promptly, it took two weeks before a replacement phone was sourced. Still, that didn't stop them charging for the excess just three days after the claim was submitted. It would have been nice to actually have the handset, having already been charged for it. Hardly the kind of experience that would make you feel positively towards mobile phone insurance.

Recession Rates

Optical options

Laser eye surgery

Optilase: from €495 per eye (including health insurance discount and rebate)

Optical Express: from €369 per eye (including health insurance discount and rebate)

Permanent (implant) contact lenses

No fixed prices available, but is an alternative for people who are not suited for laser eye surgery.

Glasses

If you were to buy two pairs a year: €150 - €300 annually

Contact lenses

Daily disposables: 45-day supply from €40

Weekly lenses: 21-day supply from €18

Monthly disposables: 90-day supply from €20

www.mortgagebrokers.ie