Be savvy when you shop online

These days a rising number of people are doing their shopping online, with many different people purchasing their groceries and household goods via the Internet. With so many shoppers trying to cope with various other commitments such as work and family getting the time to go to the supermarket and queue up can be very difficult. However, the Internet has given busy people an opportunity to get their shopping from the comfort of their own homes with the touch of a button and get it all conveniently delivered to the door.

There are a number of benefits available for those that do their grocery shop online. The first is that they can do their shop at any time of the day or night without even having to leave their home, providing total convenience. The second is that they can get their groceries delivered conveniently to the door at a time to suit. Finally, there is plenty of choice available online, so shoppers can quickly find what they want without having to wander around the supermarket scouring the shelves.

There are also some other very important benefit to doing grocery shopping online, and one of the most important is that potentially shoppers could make a fairly sizeable saving compared to going to the supermarket to make their purchases. There are a number of ways in which consumers may be able to save money when shopping online.

Firstly, those that shop online are less likely to be without a list or be shopping on an empty stomach, and both of these things can increase the likelihood of impulse shopping, which can really add to the final bill. Another thing to bear in mind is that there are often special offers for online customers, which can be taken advantage off to boost savings even further.

Whilst there is generally a delivery charge to have your shopping brought to the doorstep the time of day that delivery is arranged for can affect the price. Shoppers should therefore aim for off peak hours if possible so that the delivery charge is lower.

Finally, shoppers can use sites such as mysupermarket.com where it is possible to do your shopping online and then see which of the major supermarkets offers you the shop for the least amount of money, which means even greater savings for the shopper. The site also allows shoppers to switch branded items to cheaper one with the click of a button, making this a fast and easy way to make savings.

Tags: Retailing, likelihood, supermarket, saving, online shopping, Shoppers Drug Mart, shopping, shopping online

Look out for the new BOGOF deal from Tesco

As a nation Brits are suckers for special deals in supermarkets, and many of us are guilty of buying something that we didn’t even actually need simply because it was on special offer. Amongst the various offers that supermarkets have launched in the past are half price goods and buy one get one free deals, and both of these prove hugely popular amongst consumers. Read more

Tags: tesco, money saving, shopping, special offers, buy one get one free, bogof

Save yourself some money this Christmas

Whilst Christmas is now only around the corner there are still plenty of people that simply haven’t had the time or spare cash to get their Christmas shopping done as early as they may have liked to have done it. Read more

Tags: Credit card, Gift economy, shopping, Consumer behaviour, Pricing, christmas, New Year's Day, Loyalty program

Consumers becoming more comfortable with shopping online

A recent report has suggested that a rising number of consumers in the UK are becoming more comfortable with shopping online, and this is set to result in a huge boost in the number of businesses running their operations online. Read more

Tags: online shopping, surprise, internet, huge boost, shopping, woman

Christmas shoppers may be too nervous to get bargains online

A recent report has highlighted how, whilst many of the best bargains for Christmas may be available via the Internet, many consumers may be too nervous to take advantage of these offers because they are too nervous to use their credit cards online for fear of becoming a victim of credit card fraud. Read more

Tags: internet shopping, credit card fraud, online credit card fraud, online, shopping, Christmas shoppers, shopping online

John Lewis Store opening sees massive turnout

Whilst there is still a great deal of gloomy news relating to the recession, the economy, and lack of spending on the High Street, a recent store opening in Dorset saw a massive turnout, with more than a thousand customers pouring through the doors to enjoy the opening of the flagship store. Read more

Tags: High Street, dorset john lewis, john lewis, shopping, National, experience, Poole, cash

Save money by ditching branded products

Despite much talk about green shoots and economic recovery for the average household money is still tight, and the global credit crunch and ongoing recession are still hitting hard. Read more

Tags: household money, Sainsbury, green shoots, cheaper brands, cheap goods, Brits

Improvement in High Street sales seen in June

According to recently released figures June saw an improvement in High Street sales levels, partly fuelled by consumers heading out to buy new clothes following the short but significant heat wave seen during that period. Read more

Tags: High Street, shopping, homeware, official, consumer spending, addition

Credit crunch leaves High Streets more deserted

It has been claimed that the ongoing global financial crisis and the recession have resulted in the High Streets of Britain being left more and more deserted, as a rising number of shoppers decide to cut back on their spending. A recent report showed that an increasing number of people deserted in the High Street in March, as the effects of the difficult financial climate continued to take their toll. Read more

Tags: experian's senior uk, recent report, access, credit crunch, Experian Footfall UK National

Online shopping avoided by more than 50 percent of UK shoppers

Whilst the Internet has changed our lives in many ways over the years, enabling many to enjoy convenience, ease, speed, and flexibility in many situations, it has been revealed that over half of the consumers in the UK actually avoid shopping online due to concern over the risks of shopping in this way. Read more

Tags: card fraud, reason, main reason, online security, Christmas and holiday season, shopping

MP claimed consumers were wealthier than ever

Most consumers are now feeling the pinch to put it mildly with household budgets stretched to their limits due to rising living costs, soaring petrol prices, increased food costs, and high borrowing costs. Yet, according to a recent report one Labour MP has branded the British public as being miserable and has said that consumers in the UK are actually wealthier than ever. Transport Minister, Tom Harris, made the comments some weeks ago, and was slated by other officials given the financial crisis that many households are suffering. Read more

Tags: Household, prime minister, arrogance, MP, shopping, country, new level, borrowing

Food prices continue to soar

A recent report has shown that food prices are continuing to soar and add further pressure to already strained household finances, with food inflation thought to have gone up by around 7% in the space of a year. It is thought that the rate of inflation could rise even higher as a result of the increase in food prices, and many households are finding it harder and harder to keep up with costs, with living costs going up so sharply. Read more

Tags: arrangement, recent report, weekly shopping basket, way, shopping basket, basket, shopping, utility bills

Do you need additional insurance for your Christmas gifts?

With consumers across the UK clamouring to the shops to get their Christmas shopping sorted out, retailers are raking in the money despite the apparent slowdown in the economy and in consumer confidence.

Many retailers are also looking at ways to increase profits at the busiest time of the year, peddling everything from high interest rate store cards to costly insurance policies. Most people are aware of the dangers of store cards, which charge a fortune in interest if the balance is not repaid in full each month. But what about insurance cover on the gifts that you buy?

Most people will be familiar with the patter that sales employees give when purchasing certain items such as electrical gadgets. This is where the employee tries to persuade you to take out additional cover to get the item replaced if it breaks down or gets damaged within the first three years. However, this cover can be expensive, often coming to a third of the price of the actual item, and many retailers try and push this cover on items as cheap as a fiver, which could be easily replaced by the consumer in the event that anything happened.

However, experts are warning that even with more expensive items consumers should think carefully before shelling out on cover, as in many cases this cover may be unnecessary. Industry experts state that consumers already enjoy a high level of protection without having to take out additional cover, with the manufacturer’s warranty, credit card purchase guarantees under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, and the Sale of Goods Act.

Those that do wish to benefit from additional protection on the gifts and items that they purchase over the Christmas period may fare better by looking into specialist stand alone policies that provide cover for several items rather than a specific item. In addition, consumers should remember that many of the items may be covered under their home insurance policy.

Tom Smith
10th December 2007

Tags: purchases, payments, christmas, shopping, cost, extra, protect

Shopping around for credit card deals ‘vital’

Consumers are advised that carefully considering their options is extremely important when it comes to credit card deals.

With pressure being felt on the UK economy after the credit crisis, it is “more important than ever that people should shop around”, according to Cathy Neal, senior researcher for Which?

“Even if you’ve got the best credit card today, keep checking it every two months to make sure that it still is one of the best – and switch if your card has changed significantly since you took it out,” she advised.

Shoppers would be best using their credit cards on higher cost purchases as they will have better protection, although they must also take into consideration how they are going to repay their balance, she continued.

This Christmas, 76 per cent of Brits plan to spend around the same amount or more on their gift purchases than they did last year, with average spending at £397 per person in 2006.

Meanwhile, 29 per cent confess that their financial situation is tighter this year owing to the credit squeeze.

Tags: credit, senior researcher for Which?, senior researcher, shopping, business, protection, plan, Gift

Young people should ‘consider insurance options’

Young people should shop around more for life insurance providers, an industry expert has said.

According to Clare Moyles of Sainsbury’s Bank, younger people are often inclined to use the same provider for life insurance as they have to take out a mortgage.

She said: “Younger people tend to go with their mortgage lender because they might be a first time buyer and that tends to be the easiest thing to do.

“Not shopping around is a disadvantage for them because with life insurance your premiums do stay the same.”

For those who are “younger and healthier”, she added, premiums will cost less. By sticking with one lender without looking at the other options, people are missing out on possible savings.

Information from the Association of British Insurers this year showed that £160 million per day was paid out in Britain in 2005 by the UK insurance industry.

This figure comprises £17 million in death benefits and £144 million paid to pensioners and long term savers.

Tags: Types of insurance, time, United Kingdom, Title insurance in the United States, economics, shopping, expert, Insurance

Car insurance savings through shopping around

Motorists ought to be “shopping around” to get the best deal, an insurance company said today.

Sainsbury’s Car Insurance said that those drivers who are “not bothering” to check out and compare several different insurance providers were missing out on savings.

According to research released by the company, one-in-five of poll respondents obtained just one quote for the last time they took out cover.

Correspondingly, 37 per cent of those who had been with their insurance provider for three years or more claimed that their premiums had gone up, with ten per cent claiming that their premiums had gone up by over one-tenth.

Car insurance manager at Sainsbury’s Lucy Hunter said: “Only obtaining one or two quotes won’t give you a clear view of the varying price comparisons out there. We recommend getting at least four quotes so that you can compare against price and level of cover and make an informed decision on what you’re prepared to spend.

“These days you can get online quotes in minutes, so it doesn’t have to be an arduous exercise.”

Tags: Sainsbury, clear view, shopping, price comparisons, Admiral Group

Consumers advised to save for Christmas

Despite the fact summer has just arrived, consumers are being urged to start thinking about Christmas and begin to save now.

While most people will be considering what summer clothes to add to their wardrobe, Fool.co.uk suggests that people should in fact already be putting money aside to provide themselves with a healthy spending pot by the time the festive season approaches.

We are now well into the second half of the year and there are only around 130 shopping days left before Christmas.

However, most consumers are not saving anything for the festive period despite the fact that we spend more at that time of year than at any other point in the calendar.

And it’s not just presents, with a host of celebratory events meaning we spend huge sums on food and drink, whether at home or at bars and restaurants, during the Christmas period.

As a result the New Year often sees a significant increase in people suffering debt problems, meaning it is important to begin saving now to avoid the post-Christmas blues being combined with hefty credit card bills.

Tags: Opinions, debt, anything, period, summer

Happy birthday debit card

This beginning of June marks the twentieth anniversary of the debit card in the UK.

It is difficult to imagine how the nation managed without the debit card, but until 1987 this is exactly what we did. At the beginning of June 1987 Barclays launched its Connect Card, revolutionizing the way that consumers accessed their cash. Soon bank customers everywhere were able to access their money instantly and easily, as well as being able to make purchases quickly and conveniently.

Within a year of the launch of the Barclays Connect Card, a million debit cards had been circulated in the UK, and this has steadily grown over the years with nearly seventy million debit cards now in circulation, two decades after the initial launch. According to APACS around 143 purchases per second are now made through the use of a debit card in the UK, with people paying for everything from holidays and electrical to petrol and groceries with their plastic.

Debit cards are more popular than credit cards in the UK, and 85 percent of consumers in the UK have a debit card compared to 66 percent of consumers that own a credit card. Nearly seven billion transactions each year are carried out on debit cards.

A spokesman from Barclays stated: “The massive change when debit cards were introduced was that people were able to leave their chequebooks at home. It gave people the convenience to access their current accounts anywhere in the world. It was a massive convenience for the retailer as well.”

He added: “Without payments moving to an electronic platform, internet retailing could not have taken off. The ability to make a payment accurately without having to send off a cheque has created this online channel for retailers.”

Tom Smith
12th June 200

Tags: payments, bills, switch, debit, shopping, credit, pay, cards

Brits splash the cash on furniture

Brits are spending more on furniture and furnishings for their homes with the latest figures showing that we spent a combined £13.5 billion in this way during 2005.

The figure equates to an average of around £531.50 per household over the year or £10.22 per week.

Experts have highlighted that the amount spent on furniture and furnishings has rocketed by 70 per cent in the last ten years, with the average spend in 1995 being just £6 per week.

Although the amount being spent in this way is growing rapidly, Halifax says that there is no need to curb our spending as long as it is financed sensibly.

“When it comes to furnishings, we all love filling our homes with creature comforts but this shouldn’t leave you with empty pockets or paying high interest for months afterwards,” said Ken Stannard, head of Halifax Credit Cards.

The firm is encouraging consumers to make sure that they are fully aware of the true cost of any items they buy and wants people to shop sensibly.

Despite the high figures regarding the amount we spend on furniture, it is worth noting that the average person spends just one per cent of his or her disposable income on such items.

Tags: love, shopping, splash, creature comforts, empty pockets, Business Finance

Do You Have Enough Life Insurance?

Besides the thousands of people who do not have life insurance, many that do are actually underinsured. Many have children or family members that rely on them financially, and don’t realize their coverage is less than ideal. In the event of a death, a family has enough to cope with emotionally, without the additional worry and burden of paying any mortgage and bills. If a breadwinner dies without sufficient insurance, their family might ultimately have to sell their home, at the time when they most need to be recovering from the loss. Read more

Tags: ideal, shopping, month, life insurance cover, life insurance

Potential PPI refund

Consumers could save themselves large sums of money by seeking a better deal on their payment protection insurance (PPI) for a personal loan.

That is according to the Post Office, which says some borrowers may find that they could save thousands of pounds.

The firm points out that PPI that is sold alongside a loan is normally added to the total sum of the amount borrowed, meaning the consumer will pay interest on the insurance.

Customers are now being urged to challenge their lender and could find that they receive a refund for the interest charged.

“The refund could be substantial, so people shouldn’t miss out,” said Claire Oldstein, head of communications at the Post Office.

“Banks and loan providers are in an ideal position to sell insurance with their loans, but customers should challenge them to find out what the true cost of their payment protection is.

“By comparing this to standalone policies, customers can see for themselves that better value deals are available,” she added.

The Post Office has recently called for an open PPI market in response to an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading.

The organisation wants it to be mandatory that consumers are told by lenders that they can get better or cheaper policies by shopping around.

Tags: total sum, organisation, payment, shopping, head, consumer, Financial Services Authority, sum