BRITS have started receiving their second Cost of Living Payment – but the DWP says some on Universal Credit will have to wait longer.
The DWP officially began sending out the second Cost of Living payment, worth £324, on Tuesday – bringing the total payout to £650.
But most people who are entitled to the payment did not receive the cash on November 8, with the DWP confirming that numbers would “increase significantly” between November 9 and November 23.
To be eligible for the cash, you will have to claim at least one of these benefits; Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit and Universal Credit.
Meanwhile, Martin Lewis returned this week for another installment of his Money Show, where he offered tips and tricks to stay on top of your finances and energy bills.
Read our cost of living live blog below for the latest updates…
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How to know if you pay National Insurance
The government have put in place a major cut on National Insurance, saving some Brits over £1,000 per year.
But how do you know if you pay National Insurance?
You pay National Insurance if you’re 16 or over and either:
- an employee earning above £242 a week
- self-employed and making a profit of £6,725 or more a year
It is deducted from your wages each month.
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Aldi to extend opening hours during Christmas rush
Budget supermarket chain Aldi is set to extend its opening hours as we approach the busy Christmas period.
The German company revealed that most of its shops will be open from 7 am to 10pm from December 19 to December 23.
This lines up perfectly with when the chain’s Christmas Turkeys will be put on sale, December 19!
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Full list of people who WON’T get £324 cost of living payment this month
Millions of households are set to receive a £324 cost of living payment this month, however, not everybody will qualify.
The following benefits on their own won’t qualify you for the £324 cost of living payment.
But often if you’re getting these, you could be eligible for means-tested benefits which means you could get parts of it.
- Attendance allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Child benefit
- Disability living allowance (DLA)
- Contributory, or “new style”, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Guardian’s allowance
- Contribution-based, or “new style”, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Maternity allowance
- Personal Independence payment
- State pension
- Statutory adoption, maternity, paternity and shared parental pay
- Statutory sick pay
Anyone can check if they are eligible for benefits using a simple calculator tool.
You can use a free benefits checker from Turn2Us, Policy in Practice or EntitledTo to check.
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How to get a free warm electric blanket
Martin Lewis revealed last week how Octopus provides free electric blankets to struggling Brits.
Simply head to the energy supplier’s website to claim one of these handy appliances.
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Misery for beer drinkers as Weatherspoons ups prices
It’s a dark day for beer drinkers, as British pub chain Weatherspoons announces a slew of price hikes at its London branches.
The price of a guest ale is shooting up by a whopping 29% – taking the cost of a pint from £3.39 to £4.39, according to The Daily Star.
The move has seen the beer prices in 15 central London pubs shifted upwards for now.
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YouTube mum shares top money saving tips
Liza Prideaux shared how to update a home while on a budget, proving splashing the cash isn’t always necessary when decorating a property.
The shrewd shopper revamped her utility room for just under £500.
She said: “The makeover in the kitchen cost £1367 it took about two weeks to do.
“We replaced the worktops, painted the kitchen units, spray painted the handles, changed the sink and tap and had new vinyl flooring laid on top of the existing tiles for a budget friendly transformation,” Liza told DevonLive.
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Warm Banks continue to open across the country
In a bid to support those under financial pressure, a number of Warm Banks are opening up across the region to provide residents with a safe place to stay warm this winter.
These warm spaces are usually in a heated building, which members of the public can use to help them save on their home energy bills.
You can find your nearest warm space here.
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Brit nearly looses £900 on ticket sales website – sends out warning
Mark McVitie was on the ticket selling site, Viagogo, when he was nearly slapped with a fine after the website glitched.
Now, he wants others to be careful on the website.
He had previously bought two tickets in June worth a total of £440 to a UFC show taking place in October.
Unable to attend, Mark sold the tickets ahead of the event, but they did not upload to the website.
Luckily he managed to dodge the fine, after The Sun helped him investigate what had happened.
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Descale your appliances to save on bills this winter
Limescale can make your appliances painfully inefficient, running up the cost of your bills to startling levels.
So, descaling your appliances is crucial during this expensive winter.
For a DIY approach, half-fill your kettle with water and 20ml of white wine vinegar. Leave it to sit for 15 minutes before boiling the kettle.
Tip it out, rinse and boil again with fresh water. Tip that away once more before using as normal.
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Essex University offers support for students during cost of living crisis
Essex university is extending its current hardship fund to cover travel and childcare costs, in a bid to continue to help students facing financial pressures.
The university, which has campuses in Colchester, Southend and Loughton, previously totalled their hardship fund at £489,000.
The hardship fund available to Essex University students now sits at £1.5million.
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Descale your appliances to save on bills this winter
Limescale can make your appliances painfully inefficient, running up the cost of your bills to startling levels.
So, descaling your appliances is crucial during this expensive winter.
For a DIY approach, half-fill your kettle with water and 20ml of white wine vinegar. Leave it to sit for 15 minutes before boiling the kettle.
Tip it out, rinse and boil again with fresh water. Tip that away once more before using as normal.
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Cooking tips for saving money
Lee is the head of culinary innovation from Schwartz, which commissioned the study, and said: “It is clear that people are stuck in a rut in the kitchen, and with the cost-of-living crisis a worry for everyone.”
He added: “It’s a good idea to plan your meals each week and then shop for all the ingredients you may need, including seasonings, herbs and spices which can transform a dish.
“A little goes a long way so it’ll be a while before you run out of these, so it’s a great investment in the long run and can make all the difference to your meals.”
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Which appliances should be switched off during black outs?
If the National Grid shuts off during peak times, certain electrical goods could be damaged with an abrupt shut off of power.
Don’t leave the following appliances switched on:
- Iron
- Hair straighteners
- Oven
- Electric hob
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Shoppers face £682 grocery bill rise
As food prices continue to rise, shoppers across the UK face a £682 grocery bill rise.
Grocery price inflation has now hit a record 14.7%.
Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said: “Yet again, we have a new record high figure for grocery price inflation and it’s too early right now to call the top.
“Consumers face a £682 jump in their annual grocery bill if they continue to buy the same items, and just over a quarter of all households now say they’re struggling financially, which is double the proportion we recorded last November.
“Nine in 10 of this group say higher food and drink prices are a major concern, second only to energy bills, so it’s clear just how much grocery inflation is hitting people’s wallets and adding to their domestic worries.”
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You can get free debt advice
If you’re in debt, there are plenty of services you can use to access free advice on how to manage debt.
Most of them can offer you free guidance and help in person, over the telephone or online.
- Money Helper – 0800 138 7777
- Citizens Advice – 0808 800 9060
- StepChange – 0800 138 1111
- National Debtline – 0808 808 4000
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Six payments YOU could get before Christmas
Bills have soared this year, but as we approach Christmas there are six payments on the way that could net you up to £1,399.
Here they are:
- Energy bills rebate payments begin – worth £400
- Cost of living payment – worth £324
- Pensioner cost of living payment – worth £300
- Warm Home Discount – worth £150
- Household support fund – up to £150
- Cold weather payment – worth up to £75
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Which appliances should be switched off during black outs?
If the National Grid shuts off during peak times, certain electrical goods could be damaged with an abrupt shut off of power.
Don’t leave the following appliances switched on:
- Iron
- Hair straighteners
- Oven
- Electric hob
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How can I save money when shopping at Primark?
Primark is one of the UK’s most popular retailers and millions flock to its 191 UK stores every year.
If you’re looking to save cash next time you’re there, there are plenty of ways.
Fabulous columnist Gemma Bird previously revealed her top tips for saving money including picking up cheap hair straighteners, makeup dupes and children’s colouring sets.
Savethestudent.co.uk has a handy guide on scrimping when at your nearest store as well.
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Primark boss promises not to make any further price hikes
The boss of Primark’s parent company promised not to make any further price hikes before next autumn.
He said it’s to put pressure on some of his rivals as shoppers are under strain during the cost-of-living crisis.
George Weston noted rising prices would have been bad for both the company’s sales and its reputation – and it’s naturally good news for shoppers.
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‘I’m not coping with the cost of living crisis’
Young widow Michaela Hayden, from Birmingham, has to use flasks and candles while the family huddles together in one room to stay warm when their meter runs out on Sundays.
She told Birmingham Live: “Since I lost my husband, I live day by day, I don’t plan ahead. And that’s been working so far.
“But, in all honesty, I’m not coping with the cost of living crisis. The anxiety it causes is making me unwell. By the time I’ve bought food and paid my bills. I’ve got nothing left to put into the gas and electricity meter. So I get cut off.”
She added that she is sometimes able to borrow money from friends or get emergency credit from the energy company, but most of the time she and her children just have to manage.
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Aldi and Argos sell affordable air fryers
The multi-cooker is a cheaper alternative than a traditional oven.
In fact, the Aldi air fryer is so popular, it has sold out, so fans will haev to wait till it restocks before they purchase.
Argos also sell an air fryer, costing £60, which has received glowing reviews.
One customer wrote: “I bought this multi cooker 2 weeks ago. I am very happy with my purchase. This multi cooker is fantastic.
“Lots of programmes and functions and very versatile. Makes cooking so easy and convenient. I would highly recommend to family and friends.”
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Claim National Insurance credits to boost your pension
If you’re a parent who gets child benefit for a child under 12, you’ll automatically get national insurance credits towards your state pension.
But if you’re a grandparent looking after a child so the parent can go back to work, the parent can sign a form to pass the NI credits to you.
Find out more at gov.uk/national-insurance-credits.
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Many prepayment meter customers still haven’t received vouchers
Households missing out on a vital discount on their energy bills this winter.
For many prepayment meter customers, their first £66 voucher has still not arrived.
The Government says it will do “whatever is necessary” to ensure people get the support on energy bills that they are entitled to.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said there was a “blockage” in getting vouchers out to some of the millions of customers with prepayment meters across Britain.
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Cooking tips for saving money
Lee is the head of culinary innovation from Schwartz, which commissioned the study, and said: “It is clear that people are stuck in a rut in the kitchen, and with the cost-of-living crisis a worry for everyone.”
He added: “It’s a good idea to plan your meals each week and then shop for all the ingredients you may need, including seasonings, herbs and spices which can transform a dish.
“A little goes a long way so it’ll be a while before you run out of these, so it’s a great investment in the long run and can make all the difference to your meals.”
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Martin Lewis gives urgent advice
Martin Lewis has dished out some urgent advice as 300,000 Brits urgently need to claim £150.
During last night’s Money saving show, the expert explained that a government cost-of-living payment was going unclaimed and is due to expire.
The council tax rebate has a deadline of November 30 and it is looming.
This is for council properties bracket A-D according to the money expert.
To see if you can claim money, you can find out which band you’re in by using the Government’s search tool – just enter your postcode.
