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Recession Session A- Level Home Economics
Teachers Conference Philippa McKeown Senior
Consumer Affairs Officer The Consumer Council
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Look after the pennies
This 10 minute presentation could save you a
minimum of 3,772.40 a year 314.36 per month
www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Tackling the Rising Cost of Living
Tips on managing your money food shopping
motoring public transport, running the home
Check oil prices in your area. Updated Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays
Ready-made budgeting presentations, quizzes and
other downloads
See how much more you're paying this year for
essentials ie mortgage, heating, electricity and
food compared to this time last year.
www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Tackling the Rising Cost of Living
www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Money - where does it all go????
Money Leakage
www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Where does it all go???
A survey of 1,000 people revealed that the
average adult spends 33 every week and cant
remember what they spent it on. Source Visa
study, London Reuters, Burrows, D. 210706
www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Where does it all go???

• Spending diary
• Receipt wallet
• Weekly allowance
• Save the difference

www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Food for Thought
Source The Guardian, Friday April 15, 2005.
Prudential Insurance, based on a survey of more
than 1,000 households.
www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Food for Thought
A third of all food we buy ends up being thrown
away. Almost ten per cent is still in date 1 The
average UK household throws away 8 of leftovers
a week 2
1 Newsletter article 2008 2 http//news.bbc.co.uk/
1/hi/uk_politics/7492573.stm 2008
www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Food for Thought

• Source www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/about_food_waste
  

www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Food for Thought
How to rescue foods that get thrown away most
often www.beyondbakedbeans.com/articles/20080709
www.cookingbynumbers.com/
www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Food for Thought
We spend approx. 12.70 weekly in Northern
Ireland on takeaway food.
Source Family spending 2008 edition, Office of
National Statistics
www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Cutting the food bills

• Before you shop
• Plan your meals
• Decide your maximum budget
• Visit www.mysupermarket.com
• Eat first!

www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Cutting the food bills

• At the supermarket
• Out-smart supermarket psychology
• Reach to the back
• Take the Downshift Challenge and save approx
  800 a year
• www.moneysavingexpert.com
• www.supermarketownbrandguide.co.uk/

www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Deal or No Deal?

• Best to BOGOF?
• If its something you were going to buy anyway
• If theyre non-perishable
• Whats the worst deal?
• A) Buy 2 get 1 free
• B) 33 discount
• C) 40 extra free

40 extra free
buy 2 get 1 free!
33 discount
www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Fast Fashion Culture
This amounts to 12,810 worth of unworn clothes
over the average working life
305 worth of unworn clothes in the wardrobe
Buying new clothes throughout the year NI
consumers were the worst offenders at 94
Each item costs an average of 21.82
Source Churchill Home Insurance Jan 06
www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Fast Fashion Culture

• The so-called "Primark effect", has seen an
  estimated two million tonnes of clothing ending
  up in landfill every day.

www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Keeping House

• Shop around for your house insurance try
  online comparison sites first then hit the phone
• Direct Debit pays
• - Phoenix Supply Ltd 22.05 a year
• - Firmus Energy 20.00 a year
• - NIE Energy 40.00 for monthly
  26.00 for quarterly

www.consumercouncil.org.uk
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Keeping House
Action Saving
Turning off lights 806.00
Switching off appliances 2296.00
Turning off mobile phone chargers 426.00
Turning down central heating by one degree 5779.00
Total 9307.00 over a lifetime
Source Daily Telegraph 27.08.08
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Knowing your consumer rights
Knowing your consumer rights can save you 180.00
a year
Source Office of Fair Trading, Detriment Report
2008
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If all else fails!
Free service from the British Bankers
Association, the Building Societies Association
and National Savings and Investments.
www.mylostaccount.org.uk
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Look after the pennies
Action Annual Saving
Keeping hold of that lost 33 a week 1716.00
Stop binning 8 leftovers a week 416.00
Take away the takeaways 660.40
Downshifting brands 800.00
Knowing your rights 180.00
Total saved 3772.40