Cost of Living

Cost of living

image of a group of children dressed up in Halloween outfits taking sweets off a lady

Warning - the cost of Halloween could spook you!

The average family will spend over £300 on Halloween this year according to our research. Find out how to keep the cost down but still have a frightful night!

benefits

Foodbanks bracing for busiest winter yet

The Trussell Trust says it expects to give out a food parcel every eight seconds this winter.

cost of living

‘Ask for Ellen’ is back at Morrisons this October half term

Morrisons and Warburtons have teamed up again tis October half term to offer free crumpets to anyone who 'Asks for Ellen'

A mother and her young daughter stand in the doorway of their home

cost of living

Cost-of-children crisis – one in five parents in serious financial difficulty

Action for Children is urging the government to do more as one in five families with children found to be in dire financial straits.

Image of a chime picking up some broccoli and putting it in her mum's supermarket trolly

benefits

Thousands of families to get food vouchers over half term – do you qualify?

Here's all you need to know about supermarket vouchers for low income families over the October half term

Image of an older couple huddled together with the wide showing her husband the bills

benefits

Pensioners set for an 8.5% payment rise next April after figures were confirmed today

ONS figures out today confirm pensioners are set for bumper pay rises next April but will the government honour its commitment to the triple lock guarantee?

Image of two phone screens; one with an online casino open and the other with an online betting site

cost of living

More NHS support to be made available to gamblers

More people will be able to access support for gambling addictions after a new levy was imposed by the government. Find out what support is available

Image of a little girl dressed up as a witch making a scary pumpkin out of cardboard

cost of living

Cheap October half term days out to keep the kids busy

There's lots of spooktacular free - or cheap - Halloween half term activities going on for kids all over the country. We've pulled together a list of days out to keep the kids entertained without breaking the bank

Two pairs of hands cradle a paper cutout of a family

benefits

Struggling households urged to check local cost-of-living support

The government is urging struggling households to find out what help is available through their local household support fund.

Old woman warming her hands over an electric heater

benefits

A quarter of older people in London living in poverty

A report by Age UK London has found 24% of over 50s living in the capital are living in poverty.