Spending Habits
‘Bargain-hunting’ Brits left exposed by their impulse buying habits
UK consumers’ love of impulse buying is costing them dear as they fail to shop around or read the small print on returning unwanted items, according to online insurance company, swiftcover.com.
Consumers ignoring worsening financial reality
Alliance Trust’s unique measure of consumer financial wellbeing shows worrying fall in the fourth quarter of 2007 as pressure mounts from rising prices, increased debt and slowing house price growth.
5 million Brits spend more than they earn
2007 saw the UK ‘spendemic’ spiral out of control.4.8 million adults spent more than they earned, 9 million just broke even and on average consumers had just £157 left at the end of every month.
Thousands wasted on unnecessary insurances
People could be wasting thousand of pounds on useless and expensive insurances, says the new Which? Money Saving Handbook.
Brits spend £34bn on annual trips abroad
British holidaymakers spend £34.4 billion on annual trips abroad, with £23.3 billion spent while overseas, according to findings by Alliance & Leicester Personal Loans.
Green money-saving website: no excuses
All homes and businesses can now benefit from free energy audits, thanks to OneWorldEnergy, in a bid to change consumers' approach to being green.
Not sure which sofa to buy? British families let their pets decide
Decisions about holidays, home furnishings and cars have always been tricky for British families, but, to complicate matters further, another factor is increasingly being taken into consideration: the needs of the family pet.
Make 2008 a green year
For those with New Year's resolutions to lead a healthier lifestyle in 2008, it might be a good time to think about the health of the planet and what consumers can do to reduce their individual impact on the environment.
Credit crunch making us smarter
The credit crunch is starting to have a positive effect on the loan and card applications and credit ratings of many Brits.
Inflation remains unchanged despite higher food and fuel prices
Alliance Trust’s independent study has found that the inflation rates facing all five of its identified age groups remained unchanged over the month.
Inflation rate unchanged at 2.1 per cent
Consumer prices index (CPI) annual inflation was 2.1 per cent in December, the same as November’s figure, according the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Unpaid bills pile pressure on household budgets
Household budgets across the country are being squeezed to breaking point with millions of bills going unpaid in the past six months alone, according to new research by MoneyExpert.com.
Consumer confidence remains subdued in spite of rate cut
The Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index dropped one point to 85 in December – the lowest level since February 2007.
Ensure your insurance provides value
Insurance is a vital product for Brits but there is no need to pay too much for it. Price comparison site moneysupermarket.com reveals ten simple steps to save a typical family over £1,300 each year.
New Royal Mail postage prices for April 2008
Royal Mail said today the price of a First Class stamp for a standard letter weighing up to 100g would rise 2p to 36p from April 7 2008 in line with the price controls set by the regulator, Postcomm, in 2006.