How you get ripped off every day
Do you have a sneaking suspicion you’re being ripped off on a daily basis? Well, you may be right.
Whether it’s at the petrol station, supermarket or on the high street, prices keep going up and are now bordering on extortionate.
We’ve figured out some simple ways in which you can combat these hikes and dramatically cut your daily budget.
Cut the cost of your commute
If you drive to work, you may well start the day by being ripped off at the petrol station.
The current average cost for a litre of unleaded petrol in the UK is 134.68 pence and 140.40 pence for the same amount of diesel, according to petrolprices.com.
In November 2010, the AA reported that the average price for a litre of petrol was 119.10 pence, so we’ve seen a 13% increase in the cost of fuel in the past year alone.
There are a few credit cards that can help you to make the most out of your forecourt spending.
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With the Tesco Clubcard Credit Card, for example, you can gain double Clubcard points on petrol purchases. These points can then be spent in store, online or converted into vouchers and used for activity days, meals out and many other rewards.
Alternatively, the Santander 123 Cashback Credit Card offers 3% cashback at petrol stations. However, there is a monthly spend cap of £300 and you also have to pay £24 per year just to own the card.
For those who get pubic transport to and from work, you might want to consider buying a weekly, monthly or even yearly pass.
Getting ripped off or paying more than you need is one of our pet peeves at BeatThatQuote.com and it’s surprisingly easy to become a victim.
With that in mind, we’ve rounded up seven questions on some of the most frustrating financial rip-offs and loopholes.
These usually work out cheaper than buying a new ticket every day or every journey. However, this is not always the case, so do some sums before you pay out.
From nine to five
If you buy lunch everyday from a canteen or shop, chances are you’re spending somewhere between £3 and £10 just on that meal.
Try buying food from the supermarket, making your own sandwiches or salads at home and bringing them into work with you the next day.
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If you also take your own coffee or teabags into work, rather than hitting Starbucks everyday, then you’ll save a considerable amount of money.
Many supermarkets are currently locked in a price war, with Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco all slashing the cost of a large number of products. Look out for special offers and you could make some major savings.
Beat rising energy prices
Now that winter is officially here, you’ll probably start putting your heating on during the evening. Once you start doing so, you’ll notice just how expensive energy has become.
There are a number of ways in which you can reduce your bills. First of all, see if you could save money by switching providers or tariffs.
Some suppliers offer discounts if you pay by direct debit and manage your accounts online and it is often cheaper to get both electricity and gas from the same supplier.
Simple habits such as turning lights off when you leave a room and switching TVs and DVD players off completely, rather than putting them on standby, can also help to reduce your bills.
Take all of these tips on board and you could end up with a lot more money in the bank to spend on something special.
**This material is for information purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. We strongly encourage our readers not to rely solely on this content, but to seek independent advice when making financial decisions.**
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