Cost of Living

Cost of living

Illustrated image of essential toiletries. Money saving toiletry hacks. Beauty banks. Hygiene poverty - where to get help if you can afford essential toiletries

Consumer group warns shoppers to be savvy when buying toiletries after finding prices fluctuate massively

A new study has found that the price of toiletries can fluctuate by as much as 100% over the course of a year. Find out how to save on toiletries and where to get help if you can't afford essentials

Illustration of scale with coins on one side and grocery items on the other to illustrate inflation

cost of living

Inflation drops to target for the first time in three years

Inflation has fallen to 2%, reaching the Bank of England’s target for the first time in three years.

cost of living

Supporting kids’ sporting dreams is a nightmare for hard-up families

Ahead of an exciting summer of sport, we’ve been investigating how financial hardship affects kids’ sporting ambitions.

Colourful illustration of people filling up car with petrol

cost of living

Cost-of-driving crisis could force millions to sell their cars

Rising car expenses are taking a toll on UK drivers, with many saying they will have to sell their cars to stay afloat.

A daughter comforts her mum who has money worries

cost of living

Those with the least ‘hardest hit by tax and benefit changes since 2010’

As a new report finds the poorest households have been hit hardest by tax and benefit changes made since 2010, find out what help's available if you're struggling.

cost of living

“All I do is work to live”: full-time worker confronts PM in election debate

A woman told Rishi Sunak during the first general election debate that she’s finding it hard to “make ends meet”. Find out what support you can get if you’re being affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

cost of living

Nearly half of Brits dip into savings to cover everyday costs

Despite inflation falling and consumer confidence growing, households are still feeling the pinch

Illustration of an upset schoolgirl sitting on the floor hugging her knees to her chest

cost of living

Ending schools’ free period product scheme will hurt girls from the poorest families

One in seven girls struggles to afford pads or tampons and one in two have missed school because of their period. We’re calling on the UK government to extend its free period product scheme past July 2024 so that affording menstrual care is never a barrier to education.

Graphic of several colourful homes together. Will UK follow Europe in interest rate cuts?

cost of living

Could the Bank of England follow Europe’s lead on interest rates?

Find out how interest rate cuts in Europe affect your money

Illustrated image of a man in a hospital bed with a nurse next to him. More Brits paying for private hospital care

cost of living

More Brits paying for private hospital care as NHS struggles

Long NHS waiting list mean more and more people are funding their own treatment. Find out what help is available