Has the Iran war made you change your behaviour?

Since the start of US-Israel war in Iran, households in the UK have been genuinely worried about how it will hit them financially.

Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz - a key shipping route for oil supplies - after the conflict started, and the US has since put its own blockade in place too.

But around one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait, so the closure has led to oil prices soaring.

And that’s led to real concerns about the cost of essentials like food, energy and petrol going up over the next few months.

So it’s perhaps no surprise that many of us are already taking a look at our daily habits and thinking about what we can do differently.

Motorists leaving the car at home

Drivers in particular are changing their habits.

According to Ipsos, nearly one in four people (24%) are already using public transport more often - and 14% are thinking of doing so.

Meanwhile, almost one in five (17%) are refuelling their cars more frequently, and 16% are considering it.

If you’re worried about how much you're paying to fill up, it could be worth making a few small changes to how you drive.

We’ve put together a list of 50 ways to cut your fuel costs to help you save some money.

Brits changing their holiday plans

Soaring oil prices affect the cost of jet fuel, and airlines will often pass these higher costs on to customers.

So many people are reconsidering where they go on holiday - or even if they should go at all.

Nearly one in five (18%) people are planning to take their holidays in the UK this year, rather than go abroad.

A similar number (22%), meanwhile, said they’re thinking of having a domestic break instead of going overseas, but haven’t booked it yet.

Of course, many people still plan to jet to another country this year.

But one in ten (10%) said they’ve booked flights further in advance - perhaps to beat potential price hikes that might be on the way.

And as the war drags on, some are also thinking of cancelling a holiday they’ve got booked.

Concerns that fuel supply interruptions could make it harder to return home have prompted 5% to cancel their holiday - and 10% are looking at doing possibly doing the same.

If you want to head away this summer and you’re worried about the cost, check out our tips on how to keep the cost of a holiday down.

Nine in ten Brits worried about impact of rising prices

Nearly nine in ten Brits (87%) are worried about how the rising price of food and goods will affect them personally.

And with good reason.

Inflation rose to 3.3% last month - up from 3% in February.

And according to the Office for National Statistics, the increase was driven partly by the biggest increase in fuel prices in more than three years, as well as rising air fares and food prices.

“From early on, Britons were seeing the conflict in Iran not as a distant geopolitical event, but as the latest threat to their household budgets,” said Gideon Skinner of Ipsos.

“The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is doing nothing to shake these perceptions.

“We are seeing a level of general economic anxiety that rivals any period in Ipsos’ nearly 50 years of trends.”

What can I do if I’m worried about rising costs?

If you’re struggling with the increasing cost of living, there are a few practical steps you can take.

Use our household bills calculator

Our free and interactive household bills calculator gives you a personalised forecast of how your monthly costs could change.

That means you can see the bigger picture more easily and that there’ll be no surprises when new bills arrive.

It only takes a couple of minutes to use, and the results are tailored to where you live.

Get on top of your budget

Make sure you know how much money you’ve got coming in and where it’s going.

Taking a proper look at your income and expenses can help you prioritise your spending, so you know you’ve got money available for vital costs like bills.

Check out our guide to how to create a budget to get started.

And give our budget planner a try - it’s free and easy to use.

Check what benefits you can claim 

You might be eligible for financial support to help you with your living costs.

Use our benefits calculator to see what you could be entitled to claim. 

It’s possible that you’re eligible for more help than you think.

Get help with your debts

If you’re feeling the pressure of debt, contact us for confidential, practical and impartial debt advice.