11 million look to take advantage of free services

11 million Brits agree that the best things in life are free. That's according to new research from Abbey Savings which has discovered a growing number of people on the look out for free goods and services. Amazingly the average person is reducing their outgoings by as much as £246 - 12 per of the average persons monthly earnings.

The research found that almost one in four adults (24 per cent) have cut their leisure costs by visiting public libraries and museums for free in the past year - saving an estimated £77 per month each.

Brits are also looking to cull monthly subscriptions with almost one in ten people (7 per cent) swapping their gym membership for a jog in their local park or the cycle to work. A further 8 per cent have traded in their TV subscription for Freeview.

Even foreign holidays are being reconsidered with almost 21 per cent of Brits now considering trading a holiday abroad in favour of staying at home and visiting free public attractions.

Reza Attar-Zadeh, Director of Savings and Investments at Abbey: "Britons are finding more and more ways to make their cash go further and it's now even being reflected in our leisure time. Clearly having fun doesn't have to cost money! But for those people making savings the question is now how to make this money go further. With Abbey's new issue Fixed Rate Monthly Saver, savers can enjoy rates of 4.50% gross/AER fixed for one year, while the Super version provides a return of 6.50% gross/AER."

Fixed Rate Monthly Saver (Issue 9)

A great fixed interest rate of 4.50 per cent gross p.a./AER interest for 12 months when you make no withdrawals, as long as you pay in between £20 and £250 a month by standing order and don't touch your money.

Super Fixed Rate Monthly Saver (Issue 6)

Offers savers 6.50 per cent gross p.a./AER fixed for 12 months provided no withdrawals are made and savers deposit between £20 and £250 per month by standing order. To qualify for the 6.50% rate, savers must take out a regular investment, pension or ersonal protection plan with Abbey.