Money making plans

More rights for renters and cutting soaring inflation hamstringing British households were among the big money changes unveiled in today's Queen's Speech. Other big changes include more rights for social housing tenants and plans to fast-track benefits for the terminally ill. However, there was no fresh help for people struggling with high bills, as energy costs could hit £3,000 a year per home. More than 2million adults in the UK have gone without food for a whole day over the past month because they cannot afford to eat , with 2.6million children also affected. Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group Alison Garnham said: "Government offered no short term comfort for parents struggling to feed their kids in the face of rocketing prices, and no long term vision for ending child poverty. "Ministers must respond now to the scale of the current living costs crisis by committing to an increase in benefits in line with inflation from October." … [Read more...] about Queen’s Speech: 7 changes that affect your money including more rights for renters

Weddings are rarely cheap. The average cost for the big day plus the engagement ring was $33,900 in 2019, according to Statista. After a pandemic lull, costs are expected to rise again this year . This might explain why more and more engaged couples are asking their wedding guests for money rather than gifts—whether it's to help pay for the celebration or the honeymoon, or for their future life together. It's a tricky topic, though. Cash gifts are common in a number of cultures, but some people find the idea unromantic or even vulgar. One bride's "best friend" went viral on social media last month after recounting how she defied the couple's request for money, because she was so convinced they would love the "gorgeous gift" she had found. Although some Mumsnet users came to her defence, the vast majority disapproved of her decision to ignore her friend's wishes. Newsweek has asked two brides—one who had her wedding last month and another who is about to celebrate hers—why … [Read more...] about Brides on asking for money instead of wedding gifts

We’re not going to join the ranks of patronising politicians telling you that the cost of living crisis is no big deal, and that you just need to cook meals at home or cut down on takeaway coffess. We know that’s simply not the case. Calling this is a crisis is no hyperbole – the rising costs of bills puts many in a perilous position, both financially and mentally – and we need those at the top to take action. But while we wait for change, the truth is that we’ll have to cut curb spending wherever we can. One place to focus? The big weekly food shop. Shopping savvier isn’t a magical fix that can replace governmental action, but it’s still a wise thing to do. With all this in mind, here are some tips for cutting down on costs when it comes to food. Make a plan Planning out your meals for a week is an excellent way to cut the costs of the weekly shop . It helps to ensure that you only buy what you need and aren’t tempted by other products. There are many … [Read more...] about Tricks to cut down the price of your food shop amid the cost of living crisis

With food costs rising and many of us feeling the pinch, a good place to look to save money is the weekly food bill. Although many families are cutting back on things, nutritious, healthy food needn’t be a sacrifice you have to make. Here are my top tips for grocery shopping on a budget and cutting the costs on this big expense from your monthly budget. Use apps to tackle food waste Around 7 million tonnes of food and drinks are wasted each year. That’s good quality food unnecessarily wasted – not great for our wallets or the planet. There are some fantastic apps these days that can help you find some delicious food at for free or much reduced. Olio connects you with millions of people who are giving away food and household items – help your neighbours and stop food waste. Too Good To Go tells you when restaurants and shops are ditching food for a fraction of the cost, just because it has not been sold on time. Grab a bag of goodies from Costa for just £3 or a … [Read more...] about 20 easy ways to cut your food bill by a third

With summer fast-approaching, social occasions on the up and prices for basic necessities are becoming more and more unmanageable – so it’s no surprise if all you can think about right now is your budget . Even seasoned budgeting veterans are likely to be rethinking their every move at the moment. With endless ways to save and spend, it can feel like navigating a minefield trying to work out the most practical way to budget – whether it’s monthly or weekly. We asked a budgeting expert to share the best way to go about setting your budget. This is what they had to say… Should you have a weekly or monthly budget? The annoying answer to the question of whether you should organise your finances by week or month is that it truly depends on how much disposable income you have left after your bills. ‘If you’ve got a decent amount of cash left over after your bills you can work on a monthly basis,’ says Jasmine Birtles, CEO of self-help money site MoneyMagpie . … [Read more...] about Should you budget weekly or monthly? An experts shares everything to know

As we kick off another new week, it’s time to find out what the stars have in store. The Lunar Eclipse is encouraging the signs to take things slowly today. Try not to rush into any new romances, Taurus and Cancer, no matter how intense. Don’t be afraid to cause a stir, Virgo. Ahead, you’ll find all the star signs’ horoscopes for May 16, 2022. Read on for your forecast. Aries March 21 to April 20 Change might be good for you, even though it can be unsettling. And it could push you to make a break from something that is no longer useful. A potent lunar phase might allow you to see a matter with greater clarity and to understand why it occurred at all. Moving on is the best thing for you. Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries Taurus April 21 to May 21 Ready to let someone know how you feel? If their actions have caused some discomfort, you’ll be keen to say it like it is. A relationship that has been mired in … [Read more...] about Your daily horoscope for Monday, May 16, 2022

Liz Truss stands firm as EU threatens trade war Starmer will not resign if he broke rules but isn’t fined Crackdown on espionage unveiled in Queen’s Speech Telegraph Politics WhatsApp group: Sign up for latest news here Russia-Ukraine latest: PM signs historic deals with Sweden and Finland B oris Johnson has ordered his Cabinet ministers to “go faster” as they try to come up with policies to tackle the cost of living crisis. The Prime Minister convened a committee meeting of senior figures last night to discuss the ways Whitehall departments can alleviate the growing pressure on household finances. Ministers were instructed weeks ago to develop low-cost ideas which could be rolled out to take the sting out of rising energy bills and soaring inflation. But no new measures have yet been announced and Downing Street said Mr Johnson yesterday told his ministers to speed up their efforts. The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said: “The Prime … [Read more...] about ‘Go faster’ to tackle cost-of-living crisis, Boris Johnson orders ministers

More than 100 'partygate' fines now issued, Met announces Civil servants revolt against back-to-office directive We're not budging on Northern Ireland Protocol, EU tells UK Nadhim Zahawi: Going to school ‘non-negotiable’ Comment: Patel channels her inner Professor Snape Russia-Ukraine latest: Kremlin blasts Nato expansion B oris Johnson has said a windfall tax on oil and gas giants to help tackle the cost of living crisis is not the "right way forward". The Prime Minister did not rule out introducing a levy on the excess profits of energy firms but he made clear his opposition to the policy. He told LBC Radio: “I don’t like them [windfall taxes]. I don’t think they are the right way forward. I want those companies to make big, big investment.” The Government has argued that imposing an additional tax on the companies would damage their ability to invest in crucial new energy sources for the UK. But there is increasing evidence of a split … [Read more...] about Split between Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak emerging over tax on energy firms’ excess profits

The Cabinet meeting in Stoke-on-Trent yesterday will have been a counsel of despair. The idea was to brainstorm solutions to the cost of living crisis, but ministers have no tools: they can’t control inflation any more than they can control the weather. They can control taxes and try to stoke economic growth. But lockdown left Britain with the worst economic hit in Europe and one of the slowest recoveries – made all the slower by what is, now, the highest tax rate for 71 years. Far worse is to come. The Bank of England thinks inflation will soon pass 10 per cent , with almost no growth for the next three years. It envisages a future of rising unemployment and, perhaps, outright recession (the economy contracted in March). Already, the statistics are translating into stories of real human misery: yesterday, we heard of a woman who asked to be evicted so she could qualify for social housing. A food bank manager in Rhondda Cynon Taf in Wales said he had seen three months’ worth of … [Read more...] about Boris has reached peak ‘cakeism’ – and all of us are paying the price

Rishi Sunak will put Britain's energy security at risk if he imposes a windfall tax on oil companies , the head of BP has warned as the country battles soaring fuel prices. Bernard Looney said that a tax raid on his industry would make the UK a less stable environment for investing and potentially hold back plans to wean the UK off its dependence on foreign oil and gas. It came as experts warned of a looming surge in the price of diesel because refineries are struggling to keep pace with demand after supplies from Russia were cut off . Mr Looney said that BP plans to reinvest all of its profits from the North Sea over the next decade, following months of high wholesale gas prices which have led to record profits for producers. He added: "What’s our view on windfall taxes? A stable and competitive fiscal environment is an important element in any investment decision. – and that is what we have in Britain today. “By definition, windfall taxes are unpredictable – and so … [Read more...] about Sunak is endangering Britain’s energy security with windfall tax, warns BP chief