A number of energy providers recently launched new one-year fixed rate energy tariffs which undercut October's rising energy price cap. British Gas, EOn Next and Outfox The Market have unveiled deals which, on an annual basis, fall below £1,717. Locking into a one-year fixed rate deal could help some households save money on their energy bills. Most households are currently on a standard tariff, with prices dictated by the energy price cap
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Solar panel installations in Britain slump with a cold summer to blame - but nearly 5% of all homes now have them
Over 80,000 solar panels were installed on UK homes throughout the first seven months of 2024, a 19% reduction on the 106,000 installed during the same period of 2023. The dip in installations in 2024 could be due to the UK having the coolest summer since 2015, while 2023 was one of the warmest summers on record.
What measures have supermarkets introduced to help tackle shoplifting? From security boxes to self-checkout CCTV and body cameras
Retailers are taking matters into their own hands as they introduce new, wide-ranging measures to crack down on organised criminals targeting their stores. With this has also come some outrage from shoppers who feel inconvenienced by the introduction of security tags on basic items, and the increased use of CCTV. We look at what measures the major supermarkets have taken to stop the scourge of shoplifting.
Reform tax and benefits in the Autumn Budget or living standards for middle earners will be 'weak,' Labour told
The Resolution Foundation has warned of a 'weak' living standards outlook for middle-income households in a report published on Thursday. The left-leaning think tank claimed the prospects were 'even worse' for poorer families, who could lose out if ministers press ahead with benefit cuts set by the previous Conservative government. Rachel Reeves will announce her first Autumn Budget on 30 October. Speculation is mounting that significant changes could be made to capital gains tax, pensions and inheritance tax.
Parents switch to second hand school uniforms as kitting your child out for the new year costs an eye-watering £422
More parents are shopping second-hand for uniforms in order to cope with the cost of their children growing out of them and changing schools. As many as 47% of parents are buying, or have previously bought, second-hand school uniforms, with another 28% willing to do so in future, data from parcel delivery firm Yodel reveals.
Energy price cap hike could raise bills by over £550 for least energy-efficient homes, says Rightmove
Some of Britain's least energy efficient homes could see their annual energy bill rise by more than £550 from the start of October, according to Rightmove. The average home currently pays bills of £1,568 a year, with prices limited by the Ofgem energy price cap , but this will rise to £1,717 from 1 October. However, those in poorly-insulated homes could see much larger increases.
EXCLUSIVESupermarket battle for customers has been fierce in the past decade - we reveal how Aldi and Lidl have taken a huge bite out of Asda and Morrisons
The worsening economic conditions have also pushed supermarkets to focus on value, with budget retailers like Aldi and Lidl the main beneficiaries.While Tesco and Sainsbury's still have a stronghold on the market, Asda and Morrison's have lost ground. So what's behind the big changes in market share and how much could change in the next decade?
What's YOUR 'grandparent salary'? Calculator reveals how much childcare help during the school holidays is REALLY worth
With school summer holidays in full swing, parents can find themselves hard-pressed to juggle the stresses of work and childcare without spending considerable sums on professional help. Unsurprisingly, many grandparents find themselves the first port of call for childcare during the holiday period - and a new calculator suggests their 'work' could be worth an average of almost £11,000 per year.
Can parents dodge Labour tax on private school fees by paying in advance? HEATHER ROGERS replies
I understand Labour will enact a policy whereby they can retrospectively charge VAT on any school fees paid from the date the policy starts, giving them time to put a framework around the VAT charging and claw back backdated VAT. Is this the case and if so how likely is challenging it to be successful?
Half a MILLION taxpayers caught in the 60% tax trap as they earn more than £100,000 a year
More people than ever are being stung by the 60 per cent tax trap , which affects those earning between £100,000 and £125,150 a year. While the official top income tax rate is 45 per cent for earnings above £125,140, the removal of the personal allowance above £100,000 means an even higher marginal rate just below that.
CRANE ON THE CASE: Our Octopus smart meter went dumb, and we can't do manual readings as we're disabled - now our bills are rising
My wife and I have had nothing but problems with our Octopus smart gas meter. There is a problem with the connection, meaning it is not 'smart' and readings don't get sent automatically. We are disabled and due to the meter's positioning, we cannot read it - so unless Octopus sends someone to read it for us, our bills are based on estimated usage. I already complained to the Energy Ombudsman and Octopus promised to send a meter reader every three months, but that hasn't happened. Now our bills are rising again and we've been told we owe £1,423.
How much YOUR water bill will rise in the next five years - and what you can do NOW to help prevent higher costs
Water bills are due to rise for almost all of the country - and residents of just one lucky region will see these costs drop. The water bill changes are laid out in proposals by regulator Ofwat, which has analysed the spending plans of English and Welsh water companies. But there are some things you can do to cut water bills, especially if you have a water meter fitted.
Got a water meter? Getting a new toilet could save you £109 a year on your bills - as waste now costs some homes £300
Households could save £300 on their water bills each year by cutting down on waste and thirsty appliances - and getting a new toilet could save more than £100. Moving from a traditional flush toilet to one with a dual flush saves £109 a year on average, the research found - with toilets using 22% of all water used in a home. However, they will need to be on a water meter in order to benefit.
Which companies have the best customer service? Survey shows top 10... but most are falling FAR below expectations
Customer service levels at the country's biggest companies have deteriorated, according to a report. The latest UK Customer Satisfaction Index by the Institute of Customer Service asked 60,000 people what they thought of the customer service at 275 major firms - and found that satisfaction was at its lowest level since 2010. Retailers top the customer satisfaction list, with seven of the top 10 organisations in that sector.
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