Martin Lewis money news – Expert issues urgent state pensions warning & reveals how you can save cash on food shops
How St Helens has helped its citizens with the cost of living crisis
The St Helens council created the Cost-of-Living Action Group thanks to work with the NHS, police, housing associations, food banks, community centres, schools and sport clubs to “identify where support is needed.”
The group helped those that need financial support to earn government grants and they also held a drop-in event in which residents could get free, confidential and impartial advice about the crisis.
St Helens Borough Council Leader David Baines said: “We have established Warm Spaces across the borough where people can go to for support, with the aid of partners in the faith and voluntary sectors, including Halton and St Helens Voluntary and Community Action.
“These hubs are a lifeline to many local people, providing warmth, food and drink, signposting to financial support and energy saving advice, as well as activities to improve mental health and wellbeing and reduce social isolation.
“Thanks to the effort and support from local voluntary and community groups we now have at least one Warm Space in every ward.
“Our Affordable Warmth Team, Food Provision Team, Revenues and Benefits Team and Wellbeing Service attended the sessions to provide advice on how to keep warm for less, what benefits they may be entitled to and how to keep fit and healthy during the winter months.
“Local partners such as Job Centre Plus, Citizens Advice, Credit Union, United Utilities, Job Centre Plus, and Torus attended our larger sessions to provide advice on managing bills, and how to enhance their prospects. And recently we partnered with Job Centre Plus to host an event at St Helens Town Hall where 20 local partners attended to provide support.”
All you need to know about the hike of cigarettes prices
Prices for cigarettes are expected to rise in March, as the Budget on the 15th is set to increase taxes on them with inflation.
A pack of 20 cigarettes might go up by £15 while a 30g pack f tobacco for hand-rolled cigarettes would increase by £2.
The last time cigarettes hiked in price was in October 2021.
Mobile networks that don’t require financial checks
Many people get rejected for mobile contracts every year because this is a form of borrowing which requires providers to make financial checks prior to the agreement.
This is so they confirm that customers can pay their monthly bill and those with a poor credit history or a low credit score end up missing out.
However, a number of mobile networks don’t require any financial checks, such as:
- GiffGaff
- Lebara
- Lyca Mobile
- Smarty
- iD Mobile
What you need to know about providers hiking prices
BT, EE and Plusnet customers will see a rise from March 31 which might see you pay an extra £6.66 a month or £78.92 a year.
Meanwhile, Virgin Media is rising prices from either April 1 or May 1 with an average of 13.8%.
Sky already have their increase in effect, since February 14, as they charge customers £1 a month more or an average of 9% more.
On the other hand, Shell will rise prices by 13.5% from April 1 with Three doing so just a day before on March 31, with a hike of 14.4%.
TalkTalk will follow suit on April 1, hiking their prices by 14.2%.
