Household Bills
UK smokers burning a hole in their pockets
UK smokers who’ve carried on puffing since ‘National No Smoking Day’ in March last year have seen almost £12.5 billion of potential savings go up in smoke.
The financial expectation of a ‘hopeful’ generation
NatWest has published the first report from the MoneySense Panel – the most extensive research project ever conducted in Britain, which focuses on young people and their financial attitudes and behaviours.
Average wage goes up by 3.4%, but cost of living shoots up by 9%
Two days before the budget, a new report by independent price comparison and switching service, uSwitch.com, reveals the average pay rise in the UK this year is only 3.4% against a 9% rise in bills.
Downloading on the up
We are a nation of download addicts, with eight in 10 (80 per cent) Brits having downloaded from the internet in the last 12 months.
Fuel poor not benefiting from social tariffs
Britain’s 4.5 million fuel poor are paying the price for the Government, energy industry and regulator’s lack of ‘joined up thinking’ on fuel poverty, according to uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service.
Brits feel ripped off by energy giants
The gas and electricity price rises of the past two months from five of the big six energy providers have left Brits fuming. Ninety-five per cent say they are being ripped off by energy companies.
Family finances are a joint affair but mother often knows best
While men continue to be the primary income earners in the majority of families (74%), new research from Norwich and Peterborough Building Society has revealed that women appear to take the lead in family finances.
Brits fear we’re already in a recession
Credit crunch chat and talk of a looming recession has got the nation into a state of panic; one in six Brits (17%) believe we’re already in a recession, while one fifth (20%) find the slightest suggestion ‘fills them with fear’.
UK consumer confidence falls further
The Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index fell to a new low in February. The index fell three points to 78 in February driven mainly by weakened confidence in the current economic situation.
Average cost of supporting Premiership club £1,331
The average regular fan of a Premiership football team forked out £1,331 supporting their side in 2007, according to new research from Virgin Money.
Women tightening the purse strings
Results from the latest Legal & General MoneyMood Survey show women seem to be feeling the pinch more than men, with the mood for spending amongst women down 18 percentage points since last month, and the lowest for over a year.
Money can buy you love
If you're a single man in London, you may well be twice as likely as any other Brit to be propositioned today, with women free to take a leap of love and pop the question.
Honeymoon habits
Extravagant newlyweds are shelling out more than £1,600 on their honeymoon - £1,000 more than just 20 years ago, according to new research.
Curbing unfair additional charges on consumers’ bills
Ofcom has announced proposals to curb unfair additional charges levied by communications providers on consumers’ bills.
Ofcom proposes to curb unfair bill charges
Following uSwitch.com’s report that consumers are losing £237 million a year in additional charges on their phone bill, Ofcom has announced proposals to rein in charges being levied by communications providers on customers’ bills.