Household Bills
Pets face a leaner Christmas as the credit crunch bites
Pets will feel the pinch of the credit crunch this Christmas as owners decide not to buy them their usual festive gifts.
Brits aim to cut the cost of Christmas by imposing spending cap
Many of us are tightening our belts this year by imposing a cap on Christmas present spends, according to research by Halifax. Almost a third of us (31%) admitted we had agreed a spending cap with friends and family.
Credit crunch Christmas, what credit crunch Christmas?
More than a quarter of people questioned in the Fairinvestment.co.uk Christmas poll are not worried about money this Christmas, despite rising unemployment and living costs.
Mr & Mrs Credit Crunch Christmas
Women will be taking control of the family purse strings for a Merry Thiftmas whilst men are more likely to carry on with the traditional increase in seasonal spending, reveals new research from Waitrose.
Homeowners warned of carbon monoxide poisoning risk
Carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of faulty household gas appliances could present a deadly threat to older people in the UK warns Age Concern Energy Services developed in conjunction with E.ON. Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that has no taste, smell or colour and is often referred to as the ‘silent killer’.
Consumers still ripped off by charges hidden in small print
At a time when every penny counts and households are looking to cut down bills, research from moneysupermarket.com shows almost 4.5 million households have been stung with hidden charges that line the providers' pockets with over £160m worth of extra revenue.
Shops get your rights wrong
Sales staff at high street retailers are giving incorrect information about extended warranties they sell alongside new products, says which.co.uk.
How the crunch stole Christmas
Over two-thirds of children in the UK (68%), equivalent to 5.4m kids, are aware that there is a ‘credit crunch' on, and understand what it means in the run up to Christmas, according to research by investment, pensions and insurance group LV=.
Household budgets tighter than ever
According to research carried out for the Bank of England's Q4 2008 quarterly bulletin, unsurprisingly, households in the UK have experienced a reduction in disposable income after meeting household bills.
It's an energy Christmas cracker
Gareth Kloet, head of energy at Confused.com, comments on the new Online Version 6 tariff from EDF Energy: "In recent months we have seen mounting criticism, in the market, over energy companies failing to pass on reductions in wholesales gas and electricity prices.
International Christmas calls needn't cost the earth
Last year the British public spent a staggering £3.5 million making international calls to wish their friends and relatives overseas a
Budget brands take centre stage this Christmas
Extravagant spending is becoming a ghost of Christmas past as Brits rein in their expenditure on festive food and gifts this year, new research by Abbey Credit Cards has revealed.
Downturn makes people postpone key life plans for 2009
The economic downturn is tightening its grip on everyday life. According to new research from CreditExpert.co.uk, 36 million (75 per cent) UK adults have put or are planning to put on hold key life plans for 2009, such as moving jobs and having a baby.
Standard deliveries that arrive express
People ordering gifts online this Christmas could find that the free or standard delivery option is just as good as paying extra for premium or express delivery, says which.co.uk.
Despite drop in average inflation, elderly still face rate of 6.7%
As latest figures show a drop in average inflation, Alliance Trust's ongoing monthly study of age related inflation has found that the over 75 year olds continue to face an inflation rate that far exceeds the official rate.