Do Local Election Results Reflect Rise In Cost Of Living?

Written by Paul on Friday 2 May 2008

Calls For Government To Help With Cost Of Living

With the Government facing potential embarrassment over today’s local election results in England and Wales, awkward questions will now be asked about how the damaging effect of the rise in the cost of living to peoples’ budgets can be lessened.

Rise In Cost Of Fuel

With perpetually increasing fuel prices at the pump, electricity, gas and oil prices in the home, and a rise in food prices across the board, many struggling families will be looking for new ways to save money. Being thrifty and making the most of what they already have could be the answer to many families’ personal ‘credit crunch’.

Ditch or Sew?

One way in which people appear to be trying to reduce their cost of living has been a possible cut in the purchase of new clothing and trends towards thrifty behaviour are manifesting themselves in a recent rise in the sale of sewing machines. Both Argos and Woolworths High Street stores have recorded significant rises in their sales during the last couple of years by as much as 50%, according to the Telegraph (21st April). For those with sewing skills, the use of a sewing machine is certainly an excellent way of making savings on living costs.

For those who are unable to sew, or who are simply out of practice, there is plenty of sewing advice available online.

Costs of Living

Payplan agree that there is plenty of money to be saved by repairing clothes that are past their best, to help save on the cost of living. Clothing costs account for an important and substantial part of a person’s yearly expenditure, about £240 per person per year, however, with recent rises in the cost of living (the average cost to fuel a typical family home, for example, has risen by an estimated £100 per year, almost half of a typical person’s clothing budget), there is less money available from peoples’ already stretched budgets to spend on essential clothing items.

Payplan Free Budgeting advice

If you need budgeting advice, then please call Payplan for free on 0800 280 2816. Payplan provide free debt management plans which can help bring debt under control, allowing successful budgeting for essential and priority costs. You can submit your details online for free debt advice using Payplan’s Debt Calculator.

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