Household Bills
Shopping safely on-line this Christmas
You can ease the crunch on your credit and beat those banking blues by shopping online this Christmas, says IMRG the industry body for e-retailing.
Despite drop in average inflation, elderly still face rate of 7.1%
Alliance Trust's ongoing monthly study of age related inflation has found that the over 75 year olds continue to be hit the hardest by rising inflation. Even though headline inflation has dropped to 4.5%, this age group saw their inflation rate decline from 7.8% to 7.1% in October.
Consumer inflation down to 4.5%
Consumer Prices Index (CPI) annual inflation – the Government's target measure – was 4.5 per cent in October, down from 5.2 per cent in September.
Age Concern: Conservative fuel poverty proposals
Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, said: "Strong and decisive action is needed to tackle the fuel poverty crisis, in order to help the poorest pensioners and families who are struggling to afford to heat their homes.
‘Ten Rules of Christmas Commerce'
Last Christmas it was estimated that four out of five people had received unwanted presents worth a whopping total of £78bn. During Trading Standards Institute's (TSI) National Consumer Week, Citizens Advice outlines its ‘Ten Rules of Christmas Commerce' so that people know their rights when it comes to taking back unwanted gifts.
Women fearful about finances while men remain unconcerned
Women are significantly more worried than men about their finances, according to a recession survey by consumer finance website moneywise.co.uk.
Over three million commuters start cycling to keep costs down
As a result of the current economic climate, many people are looking to save money by using bicycles to get to work as opposed to cars or public transport.
Free the 0800
moneysupermarket.com is urging Ofcom to look into the regulation of call charges from mobiles to Freephone numbers. Not one mobile provider offers all 0800 calls for free, even though calls to 0800 numbers are often essential.
moneysupermarket.com urges people to stay safe online
In support of get safe online week James Parker, commercial manager of mobiles and broadband at moneysupermarket.com, offers advice on how to stay safe when using Wi-Fi networks and how to avoid the dangers of spam:
New rules for online shoppers
From next month, internet shoppers will no longer have to pay customs duty on non-EU purchases worth up to £105.
ASDA's low cost / low price strategy delivers market out-performance
ASDA has announced it had delivered its tenth successive quarter of outperforming the market with comp sales (like-for-like), excluding petrol, increasing 6.9% (up from 6% in Q2 and 5% in Q1).
Confused.com: Falling energy prices
Gareth Kloet, energy expert at Confused.com, comments on falling energy prices: "Confused.com urges customers not to become complacent about their energy bills.
Potential energy price cuts next year
Scottish and Southern Energy has revealed that it hopes to cut household energy prices early next year if wholesale prices continue to drop.
Brits seek ways to fund festive season
As the UK braces itself for Christmas in the wake of the credit crunch, more than 18 million (39 per cent) UK adults intend to recycle old presents, like unwanted CDs and toiletries, given to them in previous years.
Eleven-year study confirms - we've never had it so bad
With Britain's economy almost definitely in recession, Alliance Trust's ‘Financial Reality Index' shows that the third quarter of 2008 has seen the UK's household finances deteriorate to a record low.