THIS IS MONEY

Money - Cost of living & bills

UK households are spending over two-thirds of their wages on essential bills and daily expenses, new data from Money Supermarket shows. read

Sainsbury's has ramped up its price war with Aldi and added 100 further products to its Aldi price matching scheme. read

Last year my wife Helen and I finally installed solar panels on our home, which means that sunny days boost our bank balance as well as my mood. read

There are fears that the clash between the company and ministers could leave Britain without sufficient gas reserves for this winter. read

After the energy price cap went up again this month, homeowners are looking to safeguard their bills against the ups and downs of the unpredictable energy market. read

In recent months, the most common problem readers have been writing to me about is phones they have ordered being 'lost' in transit. read

The Government's Help to Save scheme will be open to 550,000 more people, HMRC announced today. read

The price cap rose to £1,849 in April, an increase of £111. Fixed energy deals have been gradually returning to the market, so are there any that beat the current cap? read

Retired judge Stephen Gold outlines your rights if the wrong item shows up, it is broken, it never arrives, and more... read

The tariff is open to all customers, and offers up electricity at close to half-price between 2am and 5am, as well as cheaper rates at other non-peak times. read

There are a large number of customers coming to the end of fixed energy deals at the moment - and they could end up paying more unless they switch. read

Of those set to be shuttered, 16 will be closed on Wednesday 16 April, with one branch in North Yorkshire, to be closed on 14 May. read

With the help of Celia Rumbold, energy expert at utility firm Ovo, we explain what those moving into their first home need to know about EPC ratings and energy improvements. read

I've been trying to log a complaint with Evri, but there's no way of doing this without a reference number, which I don't have because it's not my parcel. read

Lucy* was left with debt markers on her credit score after Octopus Energy made a billing mistake with her freehold property. read

For months after Daphne Wood had spray foam roof insulation installed, she was surprised to receive cold calls from firms offering to remove it. read

It mirrors the collapse of smaller energy firms at the peak of the energy crisis when wholesale prices hit new highs but the firms could not pass on the price to consumers. read

When dad-of-two Matthew Pollen from North London realised he had been handed a CCJ without his knowledge, he undertook the painful task of getting it removed. read

Ofgem has proposed that any household with a broken smart meter should be paid £40 compensation if their supplier doesn't fix it within 90 days. read

Damning official figures reveal that as many as 3.5 million smart meters are currently operating in 'dumb' mode. read

Citizens Advice ranked the country's biggest suppliers on their customer complaints, and how long they took to answer calls and emails. read

The standing charge postcode lottery means that some households pay significantly more than the average because they live in a certain area. read

The hotel is claiming the offer to write off the bill was an error because the member of staff's first language was not English. read

The number of parents who have borrowed from illegal lenders is more than double the national average, data has revealed. read

The headline and core rate of inflation have both fallen. What does this mean for your finances and where does it leave the Bank of England on rate hikes? read

Rachel Reeves will deliver her inaugural spring statement on Wednesday and give up an update on the country's finances. read

For a family with two children, the benefit is worth up to £2,212 per year, while if you have three children, it could be worth up to £3,094. read

This is Money explains what tariffs are, how they work and are implemented and how they could affect the cost of living, savings, investments and pensions for people in Britain. read

If you're not happy with the service you're receiving, it's a good idea to shop around particularly as broadband providers are offering some generous perks to switch. read

The scheme can help pay for approved childcare for children aged 11 or under, including nursery, childminders and breakfast clubs. read

Energy suppliers ramped up efforts to move households onto smart meters but the number of installations fell in 2024, according to new figures. read

Advocacy group Nugget Savings said it had been notified of errors by more than 200 women. It remains unclear how widespread the issue is. read

Amazon told me the cards, which I received as a bonus from work, were revoked because they had been 'reported lost or stolen by the purchaser.' read

We take a look at all of the essential things you should know about cutting down your energy bill. read

Awful April is just weeks away and households are bracing themselves for huge increases in their bills. We explain why prices are rising and how you can cut your bill. read

The Blue Light Card, which offers discounts to emergency workers, has since expanded to include other professions, including education. read

Some 53% of parents will happily accommodate grown-up offspring as swathes of young adults return to childhood bedrooms. read

Claimants of this benefit have until next month to apply for Universal Credit - or risk missing out on payments. read

Households living near newly-installed pylons could save up to £2,500 on their energy bills under new government plans. read

Some 41% of men are prepared to contest a will if they believe they deserve a larger share, compared with just 30% of women, the survey for law firm Lime Solicitors found. read

The tariff would save the average household £207 from April - and deals are available from other suppliers, too. read

Suppliers are offering generous fixed and tracker deals to beat the April price cap, but with the energy market still volatile is it a good idea to take one? read

Tesco has partnered with Easyjet to offer members who book a holiday a points boost, with the offer running until 13 April. read

I kept the game from my childhood and it was in good condition - so it is very rare and hard to replace. I suspect it was stolen. read

The rise in the total value of our possessions is also being driven by bikes and books, according to Aviva. read

Greg Jackson is a solitary figure in utilities. Beyond his eco credentials and social media presence, people now recognise him on the street. read

Almudena Bernabeu earns a hefty pay packet, but compares herself against friends and peers earning millions of pounds each year. read

I switched LPG supplier more than two years ago and have no idea why the gas turned up. I don't think I should pay as I didn't order it. Do I have to? read

Households that control their central heating more economically will cut costs, but there's another simpler way that might save you over £100 a year. read

If net zero targets face delays, these savings could rise to as much as £5billion per year, according to a report by Octopus Energy and FTI Consulting. read

Most Britons think you need to earn £213k a year before they can be considered wealthy, according to HSBC Premier's new research. read

Energy regulator Ofgem's average price-capped bill, currently £1,738 a year, will rise to £1,849 from 1 April 2025. read

Old perfumes from the 1990s are suddenly fetching up to £500, while an early bottle of Chanel No 5 sold for £13,000 last month. read

Standing charges are set by energy suppliers and rack up daily, regardless of how much energy you use that day. read

The column's aim is to help put things right for readers who struggle to resolve matters on their own. read

Households face higher energy bills after Ofgem revealed a bigger than expected jump in the price cap - could you save money with a fix? read

Pistachio is the 'Colour of the Season', the John Lewis sages have decreed, and many of its new homewares come in the pale mossy shade, read

A spokesperson for Sainsbury's told This is Money on Wednesday that, as of today, the number of items covered in the Aldi Price Match scheme was 606. read

The energy price cap is set for its third consecutive rise in April as volatile markets push bills higher, according to a leading forecaster. read

Among the wealthy, confidence in the economy has fallen to 48%, down from 84% just six months ago, the latest Saltus survey shows. read

Until January Nuffield Health have stuck with our original price/agreement. But they recently wrote to say they were putting up my fees. read

Jackson said companies had 'heard positive words on reform' and now needed to see the action plan. read

Divorcing couples who can afford it are increasingly turning to private judges to reach financial settlements, say legal experts. read

Honey isn't as straightforward as you'd think and a lot on sale in the UK is blended and not the real deal. read

The regulator said TalkTalk had seen an increase in complaints in the third quarter of 2024 to top the list of broadband firms, while O2 continued to be the most complained about mobile provider. read

Virgin Media O2 says it is spending up to £1m a day on customer service after lagging behind its rivals. We speak to customer service boss Alan Stott. read

The 'hidden epidemic' of financial abuse often doesn't come to light until after a vulnerable person has died, according to the Step body of inheritance advisers. read

I have Ring doorbell footage of how they unload my items, which I sent to Anyvan, where you can clearly see how unprofessional the movers are. read

Last week, six councils were allowed to increase council tax above the usual 5% threshold, putting more of a burden onto households. read

Currently, the price cap is set at £1,738, which applies to a home with average energy use, on a variable-rate energy tariff and paying by direct debit. read

HMRC ramped up its warnings ahead of the 31 January deadline, but the number of taxpayers who filed late nearly doubled to 1.1m taxpayers. read

If you live in an area with hard water - usually in the south East because of the chalk and limestone in the region - it could be making your appliances less efficient. read

The tree's roots have warped the fence post and caused one panel to fall out. The fence belongs to me - so can I ask my neighbour to contribute? read

A £1,872 claim was rejected after Aviva got a third-party contractor to examine photos of the damage without an on-site visit. read

Keir Starmer should intervene before more damage is done to UK plc, consumers and under-siege smaller businesses. read

I've had my fair share of experience working on disputes involving pets, says family lawyer Kirsten Tomlinson, pictured, of Brabners Personal. read

The investment vehicle was set to pay out at the end of the 35-year term in 2024 - but Santander needs to confirm I paid off the mortgage and says it no longer has the records. read

Households will have to shell out even more than anticipated on their energy bills from April when Ofgem's price cap changes, according to new predictions. read

A survey of over 4,700 car insurance claimants has found that many firms are prolonging the ordeal of making a claim for motorists. read

Supermarket discounting helped to relieve pressure on consumers in January as grocery inflation slowed, according to new data. read

The average cost of car insurance has fallen by 23% annually new research from Compare the Market shows. read

Ebay customers will have to shell out for extra charges when purchasing items from private sellers this week. read

It said the decision to cut its standing charges rather than unit rates 'ensures all customers benefit equally from predictable cost savings'. read

If you end up being named on Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines, the ramifications for you or any business you own could be considerable and for some time. read

Demand for no and low alcoholic drinks is up again over the past year, as consumers look for alcohol alternatives beyond January. read

The median total wealth of those aged 65 to 69 jumped by £112,567, or 46 per cent, between 2010-11 and 2019-20, shows. read

When I removed it from the box I realised it was not a real phone. All of the ports are moulded shut and it has no slot for a charger or sim card. read

Reverend Jane Held, pictured with Money Mail's Toby Walne, has seen her church's electricity bills shoot up from £15 a month to occasionally more than £1,000. read

What should have been a simple payment, led to a protracted months-long battle with the country's biggest energy supplier. read

The review affected my 100% rating and was a slur on my character. I sought legal advice and was told the it could be libelous - but Ebay won't take it down. read

From this month, providers must tell their customers how much price rises will be in pounds and pence in a prominent way, and when any changes to prices will occur. read