Latest news with #livingcosts
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Turkey Plans to Skip Minimum-Wage Raise in Boost for Investors
Turkey's government plans to skip a mid-year increase in the minimum wage, according to people with knowledge of the matter, resisting political pressure to alleviate rising living costs. Such a move would likely be viewed positively by investors, who see restrictions on salaries as a means to gauge the willingness of Turkish officials to tackle persistently high inflation.
RNZ News
17-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Consumer confidence perks up slightly
Photo: 123rf Consumers are slightly less pessimistic, but still struggling in the face of high living costs and yet to feel the benefit of lower interest rates. The Westpac McDermott Miller consumer confidence index rose two points to 91.2, but remained firmly entrenched below 100, which is regarded as pessimism. Westpac senior economist Satish Ranchhod said it has been bumpy and uncertain, and the survey reflected nervousness about the economic outlook. "Domestically, economic conditions have remained mixed. At the same time, increased global tensions and the related volatility in financial markets are casting long shadows over the outlook." The survey showed more households reporting their own financial position had deteriorated, but there was a lift in those expecting a future improvement. All groups, except those on the highest incomes, were firmly pessimistic, although men were less downbeat than women, while there had been a notable fall in sentiment among young people. Ranchhod said households were still struggling with high living costs and were yet to get the benefit of interest rate falls. "While it will take time for those cuts to pass through to borrowers, many households will see a boost to their disposable incomes over the coming months. In some cases, the drop in their borrowing costs could be substantial, with some fixed mortgage rates down around 200 basis points compared to this time last year." He said about a third of respondents had cut back on discretionary spending, and were still not inclined to buy a big ticket item. The survey mirrored others showing the regions, especially those with strong agriculture production such as Bay of Plenty, Northland, Canterbury, and Southland, much more upbeat than the main centres. "The firmness in commodity price, especially in the dairy sector, has seen a welcome lift in earnings in many communities," Ranchhod said. "On top of that, growing numbers of international visitors will be helping to boost conditions in Queenstown and other tourism hotspots." The Bay of Plenty was the only region of the 11 to be above the 100 confidence level. However, Wellington's pessimism deepened to multi year lows. "While restraint in government spending will be one reason for that weakness, it's not the only reason ... households in Wellington have faced some tough financial conditions in recent years," Ranchhod said. He said Wellington was neither benefiting from high commodity prices nor the rise in international tourism.
Al Jazeera
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Jazeera
Are Gen Z lazy or just unlucky when it comes to money?
Gen Z are facing serious financial headwinds. Caught between soaring living costs and stagnant wages, many young adults find themselves moving back in with their parents just to stay afloat. Covering basic expenses – rent, bills, groceries – has become a growing challenge. So what does this mean for their financial future? How did it come to this? And is it fair for older generations to label them as lazy? Presenter: Stefanie Dekker Guests: Jamie Lynch – Content creator Rumi Robinson – Content creator
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Single and Worried About Retiring? You're Not Alone
If you're single and stressing about retirement, you're definitely not the only one lying awake at night doing mental math. In fact, a new survey from Allianz found that Americans are literally more worried about running out of money than death. That's kind of a big deal to be losing sleep over. Whether you're flying solo by choice, circumstance or somewhere in between, figuring out how to retire comfortably on one income can feel daunting. According to Chris Heerlein, CEO of REAP Financial, saving for retirement is more challenging for single individuals because they lack the dual-income advantage that married couples or partners typically have. Find Out: Read Next: 'Without this financial support, single individuals need to shoulder all saving and investing responsibilities on their own, which can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with higher living costs.' The good news? Plenty of people are in the same boat — and there are smart, doable ways to navigate it. Here's what you need to do to prepare. Contributing to retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs is crucial, said Heerlein, and if an employer offers a match, taking full advantage of it should be a priority. Building an emergency fund of three to six months' worth of living expenses is also essential to avoid dipping into retirement savings during unexpected financial setbacks. Dennis Shirshikov, professor of finance at City University of New York and head of growth and engineering at Growth Limit, agreed that single people should make an effort to maximize their personal savings vehicles, like a 401(k) or an IRA. 'The beauty of compounding means even if the amounts are small and consistent, it can grow big over time,' he said. This is because automating how funds are invested in retirement accounts via payroll deductions can help guarantee a more constant stream of contributions to your future retirement. Be Aware: According to experts, you need to come up with a plan for long-term healthcare costs and consider investing in long-term care insurance. By staying disciplined with savings and working with a financial planner to develop a strategy, it's possible for you to overcome challenges and secure a financially stable retirement. Shirshikov noted that another thing to keep in mind is establishing achievable goals according to your own specific situation. For example, figuring out a reasonable retirement goal should account for your lifestyle aspirations, potential medical expenses and other factors. Financial planners often recommend that singles should be saving a bare minimum of 15% of their pay or more, depending on their income and goals for retirement. As a single person, you will have to come up with a customized plan for saving for retirement that takes into account your current financial situation and long-term plans. As Shirshikov wisely noted: 'Through discipline, consistency and being strategic, any person, whether they are married or not, can lay a solid financial groundwork for the retirement golden years.' More From GOBankingRates 4 Affordable Car Brands You Won't Regret Buying in 2025 These 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle This article originally appeared on Single and Worried About Retiring? You're Not Alone Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Tesco launches wedding gift registry as couples ditch fine china for toilet roll and bin bags
Tesco has launched a wedding gift registry, as newlyweds say they want more practical presents. The service, available on the registry site Prezola, offers couples a range of packages covering everything from everyday essentials to Tesco Finest products. The bundles have been curated by Married At First Sight expert Mel Shilling and include items like toilet roll, bin bags and toothpaste. Cost increases mean the average couple now takes a year to pay off their wedding, which could be behind their desire to receive household essentials rather than luxuries. Research by the supermarket shows that 2 in 5 couples are ditching items typically associated with wish lists, like fine china and furniture, in favour of more practical items. Nearly half of the engaged or recently married couples Tesco surveyed said this was mainly due to rising living costs. Just 10 per cent of couples surveyed said they would ask for crockery, and another 10 per cent for towels. Only 8 per cent would add fine china to their list. A quarter said they'd prefer to be given dinner dates, and 18 per cent said they'd like to have their weekly shop taken care of for a year. Shilling says: 'The key to setting up newlyweds for success is creating a foundation for everyday wellbeing and resilience so the romance can flourish. 'When the basics are taken care of, couples can prioritise their relationship and focus on creating moments that bring them closer. 'That's why the Tesco wedding gift registry is genius. Setting aside expectations around "traditional" wedding gifts, Tesco has listened to what couples today actually want and created something that will help build the foundations of a strong marriage. 'Whether that's a champagne toast to celebrate a win, a cup of tea together in the morning or a home-cooked meal to share - it's the little things that make a big difference.' Tesco is offering newlyweds six bundles to choose from until 18 November. There's 'the really useful stuff' bundle which covers everyday essentials for six months, including toilet roll, toothpaste, bin bags and bathroom products and will set you back £63. Shilling adds: 'Acts of service can go a long way in relationships, little things like making sure that you're replacing the bin bag when it's full, or not leaving an empty loo roll for your partner to discover. 'Having the basics taken care of can help build the foundations of a relationship, allowing couples more time to focus on each other and get their married life off to a great start.' Tesco is also offering couples a 'dine-in date' bundle, which costs £72, and for the tea-lovers an 'I love brew' bundle for £39. On the pricier end, the 'toast to love' bundle, which costs £156, includes six of Tesco's finest premier champagnes. Tesco's wedding bundles 'Really useful stuff' - £63 Tesco Luxury Soft Toilet Tissue 12 Double Rolls x 5 Tesco Essentials Cavity Protect Toothpaste 100Ml x 2 Tesco Extra Strong Drawstring Refuse Sacks 50 Litre 20 Pack x 2 Tesco Kitchen Towel 4 Roll x 2 Tesco Extracts Magnolia Antibacterial Handwash 500ml x 2 Tesco Extracts Shampoo - Apple 500ml x 2 Tesco Extracts Tropical Conditioner 500Ml x 2 Tesco Extracts Pink Pink Grapefruit & Basil Shower Gel 500Ml x 2 A toast to love - £156 Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut Champagne x 3 Tesco Finest Premier Cru Rose Champagne x 3 The perfect hosts - £95 Birra Moretti Lager Beer 18 x 330ml Tesco Finest English Sparkling Wine x 2 Spritzi Blood Orange Tesco Finest Pinot Grigio Blush Tesco Finest Pina Colada Mocktail 250ml Tesco Finest Mojito Mocktail 250ml Tesco Finest Passion Fruit Mocktail 250ml Tesco Finest Floreal Sweets for my sweet - £66 Tesco Finest Peru Dark Chocolate x 5 Tesco Finest Dine In Melt in The Middle Chocolate Fondants 310g x 5 Tesco Tiramisu 2 x 85g x 5 Tesco Sticky Toffee Puddings 2 Pack 235g x 5 Tesco Finest Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream 480ml x 5 Dine-in dates - £72 Tesco Finest Dine In Al Forno Lasagne 700g x 3 Tesco Finest Dine In Golden-baked Potato Dauphinoise 400g x 3 Tesco Finest Sauvignon Blanc 75Cl x 3 Tesco Finest Dine In Mixed Berry Trifles 2x150G x 3 Tesco Finest Dine In 30 Day Matured British Ranch Steaks With Wild Garlic Butter 323G x 3 Tesco Finest Dine In Triple Cook Chips with Cornish Sea Salt 400g x 3 Tesco Finest Malbec 75Cl x 3 Tesco Finest Dine In Salted Caramel Profiteroles 6pk x 3 I love brew - £39 Tesco Finest 80 English Breakfast Tea Bags 250g x 3 Tesco Finest 80 Earl Grey Tea Bags 200g x 3 Tesco Finest Gold Loose Leaf Tea 250G x 3 Tesco Finest Milk Chocolate Florentines 105g x 3 Tesco Finest Free From White Chocolate & Cranberry Cookies 150g x 3
