Matthew Wall, Tuesday May 20, 2008
The credit crunch is taking its toll on the nation's finances. Petrol prices have broken the £1.10 a litre barrier and energy bills have climbed 15% - yet you don't have to go without. Keep control of your cashflow with our 20 best money-saving tips
The price of life's essentials is rising across the board - the cost of petrol at the pump has risen to a record high of £1.10 a litre and homeowners have been hit with double-digit price hikes for gas and electricity bills since the turn of the year.
And there's worse to come. The soaring price of crude oil - currently at an all-time high of $135 a barrel - raises the prospect of an additional £700 being added to the average family's fuel bills.
Fortunately, there is action you can take. With prices rising everywhere, we give you 20 ways you can cut your monthly outgoings.
1: Learn to cook
Pre-prepared, packaged foods are far more expensive than raw, seasonal ingredients bought
from a local market. For example, a large free-range chicken costing £7 or £8 can feed a family of
four for at least two days - if you use the leftovers to make soup or a chicken curry. Planning
meals can also help reduce food waste.
