Latest news with #MoneySupermarket
Daily Mirror
18-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Warning over 'life-threatening' bacteria living on an object in your pocket
The study found that the most common bacteria on car keys was Staphylococcus epidermidis - a bug normally found on the skin but known to cause life-threatening infections in hospital settings Brits are being warned that a commonly used item is harbouring alarmingly high levels of bacteria - and it's probably in your pocket right now. While many of us are fastidious about cleaning our bathrooms or wiping down surfaces, it appears we're neglecting one everyday essential: our car keys, according to MailOnline. New research by Money Supermarket has revealed that car keys contain nearly four times more bacteria than a mobile phone or a computer keyboard – making them one of the grimiest items we carry around. Despite the disturbing findings, a third of drivers have never cleaned their car keys, even though a quarter have had them for over five years. While it's already well known that the steering wheel, gearstick, and dashboard are breeding grounds for germs, experts warn that the keys themselves have been perilously overlooked, reports the Express. "Washing our hands, wiping down surfaces, scrubbing our bathrooms are common cleaning tasks," the experts say. "But what about those small essentials we handle multiple times a day, like our car keys?" "They're with us everywhere, from restaurant tables to gym floors, to the depths of our bags, but they're often overlooked when it comes to cleaning." The team surveyed 2,000 UK motorists about their cleaning habits and car types. They also sent swabs of various items to a lab, including phones, keyboards, and a toilet seat – long seen as one of the dirtiest household objects. The findings were shocking. Mobile phone screens had an average bacteria count of 66, with computer keyboards slightly higher at 68. However, car keys clocked in at a staggering 241 – nearly four times filthier than either device. Unsurprisingly, the toilet seat took the top spot with the highest reading of all at 1,100. Dr Joe Latimer, director of Microbe Consulting Ltd and a microbiologist at the University of Salford, led the analysis and suggested that the bacteria levels on keys might still be underestimated. The most prevalent bacteria identified on car keys was Staphylococcus epidermidis – a bug typically found on the skin but known to cause life-threatening infections in hospital environments, especially post-surgery. Alarmingly, this bacterium is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, raising additional health worries. While many of the bacteria were skin-based, researchers also discovered traces of gut bacteria on at least one set of keys. "While unlikely to pose a problem, they can have the potential to carry disease under the right conditions," Dr Latimer cautioned. Experts are now advising drivers to regularly clean their car keys using a soft, damp cloth and mild soap solution. Bleach should be avoided as it can corrode the metal, and keys should never be submerged in water due to potential damage to key fobs and electronic components. Motorists are also shelling out hundreds for key replacements, with one Fiat owner reportedly paying over £900 - typically due to lost or misplaced sets. Shockingly, 15 per cent of drivers confess to not having a spare set of keys at all - leaving them in a pickle if their main set goes missing. Fiat drivers were most likely to only own one set (27 per cent), followed by Land Rover owners (23 per cent) and Toyota drivers (20 per cent). On the flip side, BMW drivers were found to be the most hygiene-conscious, with 57 per cent cleaning their keys weekly or more often. Mercedes-Benz owners followed at 55 per cent, then Land Rover (46 per cent), Audi (43 per cent) and Toyota (41 per cent). The full results of the study can be found on the Money Supermarket website.
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Urgent warning to drivers as scientists reveal essential car item is RIDDLED with germs
We toss them into bags, shove them in our pockets and drop them down the sides of seats. But although we barely give them a second thought, car keys are riddled with infectious germs, a new study reveals. Experts at Money Supermarket reveal car keys contain almost four times more bacteria than mobile phones and computer keyboards. What's more, a third of drivers have never cleaned their car keys, despite a quarter on average having owned them for over five years. The steering wheel, gearstick and dashboard are known to be high-touch areas of the car harboring bacteria, previous research has shown But until now, the car key's tendency to spread microscopic bugs may have been overlooked. 'Washing our hands, wiping down surfaces, scrubbing our bathrooms are common cleaning tasks,' the experts say. 'But what about those small essentials we handle multiple times a day, like our car keys? 'They're with us everywhere, from restaurant tables to gym floors, to the depths of our bags, but they're often overlooked when it comes to cleaning. The researchers at Money Supermarket surveyed 2,000 motorists in the UK on their key cleaning habits and their type of car. A small proportion of the respondents also had swabs from their car keys submitted for lab analysis at Microbe Consulting Ltd, led by director Dr Joe Latimer, a microbiologist at the University of Salford. For comparison, a toilet seat – typically a household item with high bacterial contamination – was also swabbed, along with a phone and a computer keyboard. Overall, phone screens had an average bacteria count of 66, while the computer keyboard had a slightly higher average of 68. Car keys, meanwhile, had 241 bacteria on average – nearly four times more bacteria than the phone or computer keyboard. Unsurprisingly, the toilet seat by far had the highest bacteria count (1,100). But the experts fear that the amount of bacterial contamination on car keys is underestimated. If you haven't cleaned your car keys, a quick wipe down can help get rid of any unwanted bacteria (file photo) How to clean your car keys To clean your keys, use a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap solution. For stubborn dirt or grime, use a toothpick or cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean crevices and between the keys. But do not use bleach. Modern car keys, especially key fobs (the small electronic devices usually connected to a key) contain electronic components and circuits. Bleach, a strong chemical, can corrode or damage these components, leading to malfunctions or complete failure. It's also important to not submerge the keys into water, as again this can cause issues with any electronic components and circuits. Source: Money Supermarket The most common bacteria species on car keys was Staphylococcus epidermidis, a natural resident of human skin. S. epidermidis is normally harmless for healthy people but it is a major cause of life-threatening infections after surgeries in hospitals. The bacterium is becoming increasingly dangerous due to 'antibiotic resistance' – where bacteria evolve to become immune to substances designed to kill them (antibiotics). While a lot of the bacteria were skin-based, researchers also found that one of the keys tested showed signs of bacteria that may have originated in the gut. 'While unlikely to pose a problem, they can have the potential to carry disease under the right conditions,' said Dr Latimer. The experts advise regularly using a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap solution to wipe down car keys, but to avoid using bleach, which can corrode or damage metals parts. It's also important to not submerge the keys in water, as again this can cause rusting or issues with any electronic components and circuits in key fobs (the small electronic devices usually connected to a key). Drivers are paying hundreds of pounds for key replacements – more than £900 in the case of one Fiat owner – although this is usually because they're lost or misplaced. One in six (15 per cent) of drivers don't have a spare set of car keys – leaving them stranded when they can't find them. When it comes to car brands, Fiat drivers are the most likely not to own a spare set, with 27 per cent revealing they only have one set, followed by Land Rover drivers (23 per cent) and Toyota (20 per cent). The research also found that 57 per cent of BMW drivers clean their car keys weekly or more often – more than any other car make. This was followed by 55 per cent for Mercedes-Benz drivers, 46 per cent for Land Rover, 43 per cent for Audi and 41 per cent for Toyota. The full results of the study have been published on the Money Supermarket website. From muddy boots, sweet wrappers and used wet wipes, dumping your rubbish in your car may seem like a harmless thing to do. But scientists reveal that the inside of your car is dirtier than the average toilet, and is home to a thriving community of harmful bacteria. The researchers, from Aston University, took samples from car interiors with 'varied ownership histories', to establish bacterial contamination levels. Overall, the car boot had the most bacteria, followed by the driver's seat, the gearstick and the back seat. But all six points swabbed within the cars were shown to have more bacteria than dirty toilet seats, they found.
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Expert tips on getting cheaper travel insurance: from comparing quotes to buying an annual policy
Comparing travel insurance is essential before going on holiday. Having travel cover in place protects against major problems, from flight cancellations to theft and injury. And with the cost of holidays for summer 2025 up 4.2 per cent on average, according to Which? Travel, many Britons will be considering ways to cut costs. Getting cheaper travel insurance is one way to do so. But there's much to consider when buying travel cover: What are your requirements? Will a cheaper policy provide the cover you need? What are the implications for buying cover if you have pre-existing medical conditions? You might also be wondering whether you need travel insurance in the first place. Our view is it's unwise to scrimp on buying cover. Travel insurance is widely available, generally affordable, and it's quick to compare travel insurance from major providers online. Here's what you need to know. How to compare travel insurance: Our top tips 1. Shop around by using two or more price comparison websites Alicia Hempsted, travel insurance expert at MoneySupermarket, says comparing quotes online is the best way to assess different options and find the best deal. Using a price comparison website allows you to shop around and get several quotes at the same time, meaning you can check all your options quickly. It's best to check more than one price comparison website when comparing travel insurance. Not all insurance companies appear on every price comparison website. Using at least two websites should mean you've compared as many options as possible. This might feel onerous, but it can help you secure the best deal. How to compare travel insurance The quickest way to save money on travel insurance and compare the best policies is by using a comparison site. It's worth checking a couple of price comparison websites, because the results can be slightly different across each. We suggest using: However, those with pre-existing medical conditions may struggle to get appropriate travel insurance at a reasonable price using price comparison websites. People in this situation can find travel cover using the find a broker tool from the British Insurance Brokers' Association or by calling the organisation on 0370 950 1790. 2. Check quotes with the travel insurance provider directly Comparison sites are great for checking options for travel insurance quickly, but it's also worth comparing prices directly with the insurer. Keep in mind not all insurers are on price comparison websites, so you may have options outside of the quotes you're given by these services. And if you have specific needs, going to a broker is a good bet. For example, those with pre-existing medical conditions may still be able to find cover from a travel insurance intermediary or broker, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Declaring pre-existing medical conditions It's important to declare pre-existing medical conditions when buying travel insurance. Your cover could become invalid if you don't. The decision about whether to offer insurance – and at what price – depends on the insurer. They'll take factors like your age, medical history, destination and activities you'll be doing into account. 3. Check other policy options You can buy travel insurance solo, as a couple, as a family or as a larger group. 'If you're going on a holiday with multiple people it's worth checking if a group or family policy could be cheaper than individual cover,' says Alicia Hempsted. She also told us that a multi-trip policy can work out best if you take more than three trips a year. 4. Find out whether you already have travel insurance elsewhere Some bank accounts and credit cards offer perks that sometimes include travel insurance. This means one way to save money is to check whether you're already covered. But even if you've already got travel insurance through an existing financial product, it's a good idea to scrutinise what it actually covers so you're not caught out while on holiday. You may still need additional protection, for example if you're planning on taking part in riskier activities. 5. Make sure travel cover offers the protection you need Using a price comparison website is a quick way to check all your options for travel insurance, but it's important to look beyond the cheapest option or the one that shows at the top of your quote results. 'When you're looking for travel insurance, medical, lost luggage and cancellation cover are the key things to check the level of cover for,' Alicia says. 'Remember, the cheapest option isn't always the best fit, so be sure to read the policy details and assess your travel needs before buying your policy. 'If you have any type of existing medical condition, it's vital that this is declared on your travel insurance prior to booking to ensure your policy isn't invalidated should you need to make a claim.' 6. Make sure you would be able to afford the excess Increasing the excess you'd be prepared to pay when making a claim can result in cheaper travel insurance. But it's vital to check all the fees involved in making a claim. If you can't pay, the excess may be deducted from the payout or your claim may be rejected altogether. You may have to pay multiple excesses when claiming for a single incident, if you're protected by more than one type of cover. For example, if you're injured in a mugging and you turn to your policy to cover both emergency medical expenses and stolen cash, you may have to pay excess for each claim. If a policy can give you the peace of mind that you wouldn't have to fork out a considerable amount in fees when claiming, it could be worth paying slightly more. 7. Don't pay for more travel insurance than you need Overestimating the amount of cover you need will result in a higher price for your travel insurance. For example, you're normally asked how much cover you need for baggage and cancellation. You'll be covered up to a set amount – the cover limit – and so you should make sure you buy a policy that's at least the amount you need. However, if you've got £3,000 of baggage cover but the value of your belongings is just £1,000, it's possible you could've bought a cheaper policy. Just keep in mind that cheaper policies will usually ask that you pay more excess when making a claim. What is travel insurance? Travel insurance can protect you from the numerous risks involved with going away, both large and small. It can cover: lost or stolen luggage medical treatment delays and cancellations lost or stolen passports When you hit a problem that's covered under your travel insurance policy, the payout ensures you're not significantly out of pocket. Travel insurance is especially important when it comes to emergency medical expenses, because a bill abroad can end up being tens of thousands of pounds. And people who get seriously ill or injured will need to be repatriated, which involves returning home while still receiving expert care, or because specialist care isn't available. Types of travel insurance There are different types of travel insurance policy you can choose from. The price varies by type, but certain policies can work out cheaper in the long run, for example a policy that covers multiple trips rather than just one. Here are some examples: Single or multi-trip travel insurance: If you're going on several trips over a year, check the cost of multi-trip travel insurance. It can work out cheaper than a policy that covers a single trip. Individual cover or cover for multiple people: You can buy cover solo, or you can buy it as a couple, family or larger group. It can sometimes – but not always – be cheaper to buy joint or group policies, so make sure you check your options if you're not travelling alone. Cover for more specific trips: Backpacker insurance covers longer trips, for example if you go travelling for 12 or 18 months. There's also sports travel insurance for riskier activities such as skiing, sailing and cycling. We've covered buying cheaper policies for other types of insurance, including: Do you need travel insurance? Flight delays, cancellations and medical emergencies can leave travellers thousands of pounds out of pocket, so travel insurance is worth it for peace of mind. Buying travel insurance isn't a legal requirement, but Government guidance recommends you purchase it as soon as possible after booking an international trip. Citizens Advice also says it's essential – especially for solo travellers, who'll find it more difficult to get support when things go wrong and can end up getting stranded. Travel insurance is also important to buy even if you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the EHIC. These schemes cover medical emergencies at state-run hospitals in the EU. However, they don't replace travel insurance. For starters, not all healthcare in the EU is free, plus neither the EHIC nor GHIC covers repatriation, rescue, or cancellation. Is it possible to find cheaper travel insurance? Travel insurance can be expensive depending on your requirements. The best way to get the cheapest deal is by entering your details into a price comparison website, which allows you to compare quotes from major providers quickly and with minimum fuss. Our tips for comparing travel insurance are: compare quotes on two or more comparison websites check the price directly with the providers look at the excess costs carefully – it may be worth paying slightly more for a policy that means you'd pay less excess when making a claim Even though you might want to cut costs, it's important the cover will pay out when you need it to, so check the policy information carefully before buying. For example, if you have an expensive phone that gets stolen while you're on holiday, it might not be covered as standard. Insurance for gadgets is often an optional add-on. And more importantly, what are the terms and conditions around paying out for medical expenses, or a lost passport? You should be careful when it comes to the excess you'd need to pay in the event of a claim. Insurers compete on price comparison websites by offering low prices. But when you dig into the terms, it can be costly to claim on one of these policies. How much is travel insurance? According to MoneySupermarket data, the average price of travel insurance in 2025 is £16.15. This figure is the median price of travel insurance sold through the website in May 2025. You can compare the cost of travel insurance at these price comparison websites:
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
How to get cheaper home insurance: Our top tips to save money
Many people across the country will be wondering how to get cheaper home insurance given that premiums have been increasing sharply over the last few years. Home insurance prices have shot up in part because of an increase in adverse weather events. High inflation has also played a role, with repairs costing more now than they did several years ago. So if you're looking at an increased bill at renewal, here are straightforward steps you can take to make your home insurance cheaper. Quick links: Save money on home insurance It's quick and easy to save money on home insurance by using a comparison site to compare the best buildings and contents policies. You'll need to know your home's rebuild cost for buildings insurance and details of previous claims or subsidence. For contents you'll need to know the overall sum to be insured and any high value or special items. Remember the cheapest policy isn't always the best, so compare features carefully. Results and prices are likely to be similar across most comparison sites but may differ enough to make it worth checking a couple. We suggest checking: MoneySupermarket * * Uswitch * Also check Direct Line, which does not always appear on comparison sites. *Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. This does not affect our editorial independence. Compare home insurance quotes Comparing quotes and switching insurer is often the best way to get cheaper home insurance. If your monthly bill has been going up every year, shop around to see if you can get a better price. It's likely your policy is set up so it renews automatically each year. Auto-renewal keeps customers insured continuously, but it also takes advantage of the fact that many prefer the convenience of sticking with their current home insurer rather than shopping around and switching. And while Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules mean that home and motor insurers can no longer charge renewing customers more than new ones, other providers may still be able to offer a better price. This information can help you negotiate with your current buildings or contents insurance provider for a reduced price if you want to stick with them, or you can go ahead and switch to a new home insurance policy. Just make sure your new policy starts as soon as your old one finishes so you're not left with a gap in your cover. Comparing quotes mid-term could still bag you a cheaper deal Standard home insurance policies last for 12 months. You may have to pay a fee to cancel your policy mid-term and switch to another provider, but you could still save money overall if you find a deal that undercuts your monthly bill significantly. If you've paid annually for your home insurance and haven't made a claim, your insurer should refund you for the months you haven't used when you cancel. Keep in mind that if you have made a claim, you won't be given a refund. Pay for your home insurance policy upfront You can usually choose to either pay your home insurance in one go when you take out the policy or spread the cost over 12 monthly instalments. Spreading the cost is often more expensive because some insurers charge interest when paying monthly. This means your policy will probably be cheaper if you can afford to cover the premium upfront. If you'd still rather spread the cost, comparing the monthly price from a few home insurers is the best move – different insurers charge different interest rates and you may find one that doesn't charge interest at all. Check you have the right level of home cover It's important to accurately estimate how much it would cost to replace your belongings or rebuild your property so you have the right level of cover. Being underinsured is worse than being overinsured, because having too little cover could lead to your insurer refusing to pay out or only paying a fraction of your claim. Being overinsured means you're paying for cover you don't need. Your insurer should pay out in the event of a claim, but your premiums may be more expensive than necessary. Check your policy documents to find out what level of cover you have for your buildings and contents insurance. If the figures seem too high or too low, carry out a fresh valuation of the cost of replacing your belongings or rebuilding your property – and update your insurer. What happens if you're underinsured? When you're underinsured the original level of home cover you purchased may not be enough for the insurer to fully pay out in the event of a claim. You'll be out of pocket because you'll need to cover more yourself. Underinsurance has been a big topic over the last few years. Inflation has been pushing up prices, meaning it costs more to rebuild a property or replace belongings. You could also be underinsured when you buy new things and don't update your cover. What's more, policyholders can be caught out by the average clause. Where this applies, insurers won't pay out in full even if you're claiming for less than the level of cover. For example: You've estimated the rebuild cost of your home at its market value of £300,000 when it would really cost £500,000. A storm hits that causes £30,000 worth of damage to your property. You're underinsured by 40 per cent, so the insurer will only pay out £18,000 (60 per cent of £30,000). All this means it's worth reviewing how much it would cost to rebuild your property and the value of your possessions each year at renewal. Underinsurance and market value vs rebuild value It's common to insure a home for its market value rather than its rebuild value. But this can lead to underinsurance, as in the example above. While expensive, the best way to work out your home's rebuild value is to hire a chartered surveyor. Otherwise you can use this calculator from the Association of British Insurers (ABI). You have to sign up to use it and keep in mind it won't be as accurate as a survey. Consider combined buildings and contents cover If you own your home and want both buildings and contents insurance, consider getting a combined quote. It can sometimes work out cheaper to buy both from the same insurer because it cuts their costs. Compare all your options – buying two separate policies from separate insurance providers may still work out cheaper. Renting your home? You won't need buildings insurance – this is your landlord's responsibility. But it's not your landlord's responsibility to cover your possessions, so you should still think about buying contents insurance. Choose to pay more excess Increasing your voluntary excess can net you cheaper premiums. There are two types of excess you'll need to pay when making a claim on your home insurance: Voluntary excess: Set by you when you get a quote for home insurance. Compulsory excess: You can't change this because it's set by your insurer. Voluntary excess is only voluntary in the sense that you can choose the level at which it's set. If you were to claim, you must be able to afford both. When comparing quotes, check how much cheaper your home insurance would be at different levels of voluntary excess. You can choose the sweet spot between a cheaper premium and your ability to pay the excess in the event of a claim. Cut down on add-ons Add-ons increase the cost of your home insurance policy, so you should check whether you still need them. Add-ons are sometimes worth the extra cost if they're important for your peace of mind. For example, if you have children, accidental damage can reduce worry about spillages and other mishaps. But if you've bought extra protection for a bicycle you no longer have, for example, removing it from your policy should make it cheaper. And triple-check that add-ons actually cover what you want them to cover. It's no good to pay extra only to find out you can't make a claim anyway – for example, some accidental damage policies exclude damage caused by pets. > Could you save money on your mortgage? Check the best rates based on your home value Boost your home security It's good practice to review your home's security and check that everything matches what you told your insurer and is up to its standards. For example: Do you have the right locks on windows and doors? If you told your insurer you have a certified burglar alarm, is it working properly and do you set it every time you go out? Are you storing particularly valuable items in a safe? Keep in mind security measures like installing burglar alarms don't always make your home insurance cheaper, because each insurer works out risk in different ways. It's most important to make sure that everything you've told your insurer about your home's security is accurate. This can avoid problems when it comes to making a claim. And either way, the right security reduces the risk of your needing to make a claim in the first place – and should give you peace of mind. In a similar way, you should check that your fire alarms are working, guttering is tidy and water pipes are insulated. While all of this won't necessarily make your home insurance cheaper, measures like these reduce the risk of damage to your property. Common questions about home insurance What does home insurance cover? There are two main types of home insurance: Buildings insurance: protects the structure of your property, such as the walls, roof and windows, plus other permanent fixtures. Contents insurance: protects non-permanent items in your property such as the furniture, curtains and white goods. A useful rule of thumb is that if you can carry an item out of your property it would be covered by contents insurance rather than buildings insurance. When it comes to exactly what home insurance covers, all policies vary. You should read the policy documents carefully when deciding on what cover you need. What is the average cost of home insurance? The average cost of combined buildings and contents insurance for Q4 2024 was £403 according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). This was down from the previous quarter but £39 higher than Q4 2023. How much your policy costs depends on a whole range of factors, including the type of property you're insuring, where you live and the level of cover you're after. Do you have to have home insurance? You're not legally required to have home insurance. However mortgage providers usually require you to have buildings insurance as a condition of lending. Buildings insurance can be essential even when you own your home outright. Paying out of your own pocket isn't possible for most due to the large sums involved. It's also important to think about buying contents insurance, because the cost of replacing your clothes, furniture and other belongings quickly adds up.
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How much do YOU spend on bills each month? Cities with highest - and lowest
Households are spending over two-thirds of their wages on essential bills and daily expenses, new data shows. Comparison website Money Supermarket's latest Household Money Index found that the average household spends £1,524.37 a month on essentials between January and March 2025. In a 30-day month this is the equivalent of £50.81 per day. It accounts for 69 per cent of the average take-home pay of £26,480 after tax, or £2,207 per month. This figure doesn't take into account pension contributions and student loan repayments, meaning many people will have less. The data shows that higher spending on essentials leaves households with an average disposable income of £682 per month, equivalent to £22.73 a day in a 30-day month. The monthly cost of bills and essentials is also likely to rise after 'Awful April', when huge increases in water, energy, broadband and council tax took effect. The data shows that where you live can make a big difference to how much money you'll have left after essential spending. In Manchester, households spend around 84 per cent of their income (£1,967) per month on essential bills, higher than in London, where people spend 71 per cent of their income (£1,869). At the other end, Edinburgh residents spend just 63 per cent (£1,276) followed by Nottingham where people spend £1,294, also 63 per cent. What is driving up bills? One of the biggest drivers of higher costs has been an increase in gas and electricity bills, which Money Supermarket says increased from £102 to £110 per month, between the last quarter of 2024 and the first of 2025. The wholesale energy market has been increasingly volatile amid growing geopolitical tensions, which sent the January price cap to £1,738. This increased again in April to £1,849, but it is likely to fall in July when demand on the grid is lower. Similarly, the average amount spent on rent each month risen from £223 to £235 a month, while mortgages have gone from £236 to £248. However, this figure includes people who don't have a mortgage or pay rent, for example those who have paid off their mortgage. At the same time, gross annual income has fallen from £32,246 to £31,889, with monthly income after tax falling by £22 to £2,207. These higher figures have been partly offset by a fall in grocery spend - from £175 to £164 - and petrol costs - from £50 to £45. The most recent CPI inflation reading found that food inflation fell from 3.3 per cent to 3 per cent in March 2025 as supermarkets continued to slash prices. Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at Money Supermarket, said: 'With the cost of living still front of mind for many households, it's never been more important to understand where your money is going - and how it compares to the rest of the UK. 'Our latest data shows just how wide the regional differences are, and highlights the value in regularly reviewing your household bills to make sure you're getting the best deals on essentials like energy, insurance and broadband.' Can you save money on energy bills? Check the best fixed deals When energy prices spiked most households slipped energy price cap tariffs, but it is now possible again to switch to fixed rate energy deals that can save you money. This is Money's recommended partner uSwitch lets you compare the best energy deals for you, based on your home and gas and electricity costs. > Compare the best energy deals with uSwitch* By entering your address and energy usage, you can search for energy deals that can cut your costs and suit how you live. Switching energy provider can also help the planet, if you move to one of the green deals offering electricity from renewable sources and more environmentally-friendly gas. *
