Household Bills
Are Brits burning a hobby hole in their pockets?
The average cost of an active hobby in the UK is almost £280 a year, according to research from Yorkshire Bank.
Inflation expectations hit 5 per cent
Inflation expectations for the year ahead continued to rise in August, despite the recent falls in oil prices and mortgage rates, according to the latest Consumer Barometer from Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets.
UK households £2,500 worse off this year than 2007
A new report by uSwitch.com into the nation's disposable income shows the extent of Britons' rapidly declining spending power in the last 12 months since the start of the credit crunch and the Northern Rock crisis.
Get your increased winter fuel payment before Christmas
Older people are being urged to claim their Winter Fuel Payments, increased for this winter, to help them with higher energy costs.
Sidestep mobile phone charge increases
Mobile phone costs will rise by a third for Vodafone Pay As You Go users from next month. On 1 September, contract customers who exceed their monthly allowances will pay 25% more for every minute used over their agreed usage.
Brits hold Governments to blame for high energy costs
Despite recent price hikes announced by energy suppliers Eon and Scottish and Southern Energy, almost half of the population (46%) blames Government for rises in energy costs.
Scottish and Southern announces price hike
There was a double whammy for British consumers today with two major household energy suppliers announcing price increases.
Scottish and Southern and E.ON both increase prices
Commenting on Scottish and Southern and E.ON both increasing their gas and electricity prices, Scott Byrom, utilities manager at price comparison site moneysupermarket.com, said: "Energy bill payers will have little to cheer about this bank holiday and beyond.
E.ON puts energy prices up
E.ON has become the third major energy supplier to announce a second price rise this year. The giant is putting its prices up again by 26% or £167 for gas and 16% or £67 for electricity coming into effect on 22nd August.
Supermarket slashes PAYG tariff to Britain's lowest flat rate
ASDA has unveiled a new flat rate UK pricing structure for its Pay As You Go mobile phone service, which is set to save 45million UK PAYG users £2.38billion a year. Calls will be slashed to 8p a minute and texts to just 4p, making it Britain's lowest PAYG operator.
Brits holiday despite credit crunch
Despite pessimistic reports that the travel industry faces tougher times ahead as the credit crunch bites deeper and fuel surcharges push up flight costs, the latest Post Office Holiday Money Monitor of foreign currency purchases confirms what successive consumer surveys suggest: that holidays are proving one of the last ‘luxuries' to be jettisoned.
It's crunch time
As the current economic climate faces further uncertainty, 46 per cent of Which? members surveyed reveal that they will be reducing spending in the coming year.
Inflation pushes student grocery bill up £127
Students heading to university this year will have to find £127.40 more than they did last year for their first year grocery shopping bill, according to research from Abbey Banking.
Kitting your kids out for school will cost you dear
Parents will be feeling the pinch as ‘Back to School' fever sets in this week because kitting out a child for the start of the new term in September could cost a massive £1623, according to Sheilas' Wheels home insurance.
Parents forecast ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ will last for decades
Lumbered with their children’s debts and the prospect of housing their offspring well into their 30s are amongst the top fears keeping parents across the UK awake at night, according to a new report from long-term investment provider Skandia.