Spending Habits
Brits reveal turmoil over financial worries
With consumers battling the rising cost of living and a reduced level of disposable income, new research from moneysupermarket.com reveals the biggest financial concerns for households at the moment.
Hard-pressed customers switch how they pay
As economic pressures on households and businesses mount, people are thinking harder about the ways they pay for things they buy and retailers are investing more in preventing losses to card and cash fraud.
Spending on DIY falls to twelve year low
Total spending by UK households on DIY has fallen to its lowest level since 1998, according to new research by Lloyds TSB.
80% of UK population have money worries
The majority (80%) of UK adults are worried about the state of their finances, with all areas of family finances being scrutinised with a view to save money, according to research by the Co-operative Bank.
Child care costs soar by £276 million a year
Families across the UK are forking out an additional £276 million this year to meet rising child care costs compared to twelve months ago, according to research by Family Investments.
Brits splash out £500 a year on major celebrations
As the nation's cake and confectionary queen Delia Smith celebrates her 70th birthday today, NS&I is highlighting the importance of financial planning to avoid a bitter-sweet experience when attending friends' and family's celebrations.
Plan your holiday spending now
With less than six weeks until the start of the school summer holidays, N&P (Norwich and Peterborough Building Society) is urging parents to act now to save themselves money when they go overseas this summer.
Sun and the feel-good factor help to boost confidence in May
The warmest April on record, combined with the feel-good factor of consecutive bank holidays and the Royal Wedding, helped push up the Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index by 11 points in May.
High inflation tips breaking point for UK household finances
Today's announcement by the Bank of England that inflation remained at 4.5 per cent, offers some respite for consumers from another sharp jump in the cost of living and the ‘squeezing' effect of rising prices on household budgets.
Consumers make significant spending cutbacks
The new "Big Money Index" from AXA reveals that 40 per cent of consumers (up to 20 million people) have made significant spending cutbacks in their daily lives since the end of last year.
Carry £208 in cash and the jitters set in
£200 in cash - or £208 to be exact - is the maximum amount we are prepared to carry around in our pockets or wallets without feeling too nervous to do so, according to research released by Pay YOUR way, the campaign helping people benefit from modern payment methods.
Rates, rents and big retailers are killing our High Streets
The Government review, spearheaded by retail guru Mary Portas and designed to breathe new life into Britain's ailing High Streets, cannot come soon enough according to a new report by uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service, in conjunction with research company, EasyInsites.
Nearly a quarter of Brits have never switched
Nearly a quarter of Brits have never switched any of the 20 most common financial products including their car and home insurance, energy provider, bank account, mortgage or credit card provider.
Brits hide money problems from partners
Not sharing a money problem with a partner is more common than you think, says Payplan.
Britain's biggest ‘little rip-offs' revealed
Being charged extra for not paying bills by direct debit has topped an MSN Money poll of our users' most hated ‘little rip-offs'.