From practical tips for dealing with escalating fuel prices to explaining why a favourite treat just got a little more expensive, here are just some of the ways publishers have helped readers make their money go further
Keeping energy costs low
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sending already high energy prices through the roof, saving energy and coping with escalating bills has been one of the biggest issues at the top of this year’s news agenda.
The Evening Standard’s ‘The Leader’ podcast gave an overview of how to save more energy as well as glimpse into how the National Grid might tackle energy demand in the future.
The Telegraph’s Twitter thread showed saving energy need not be a daunting prospect, giving readers easy tips that can be implemented with the flick of a switch.
When an economic crisis hits, we often hear repeated mantras about showers over baths and turning off the telly to keep energy costs down. The Times’ George Nixon explored whether these tips really do save money and what readers might be better off doing instead.
Stories about energy prices have often referred to powering homes and businesses, but the price of fuel has also seen record highs for dirivers. The Guardian’s Instagram infographic gave readers handy tips on how to eke out a couple more miles to the gallon.
Making budgets go further
However, rising costs have not stopped at household bills. Supply chain issues and a world getting to grips with post-pandemic society have also caused price shocks. The i and Metro gave tips to those eager to find ways to bring their monthly budgets under control.
Meanwhile, The Sun’s ‘Squeeze Team’ created a handy A-Z checklist for readers looking to beat the bills and the Express’s Jill Foster investigated which inexpensive gadgets can help readers best cut home energy use.
The analysis behind the crisis
Many readers might have noticed the cost of living suddenly increasing without understanding the economic and political reasons behind it.
In the wake of the markets’ reaction to former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget, the Mirror used TikTok to explain its effects on interest rates and what that would mean for readers.
Meanwhile, The Times’ ‘Story of our times’ podcast explored to what extent certain industries have been able to profit from the crisis and whether or not these profits are fair.
Feeling good for less
While the crisis means many households are worrying about whether day-to-day essentials will still be affordable, it also means many are looking to cut back and economise on treats and self-care.
With Boots launching its ultra-low cost skincare range, the Express’s experts put together an essential cheat sheet for how to look and feel good for less. Elsewhere, the Daily Mail’s double-page spread shows how readers can keep a tighter budget and still feel fashionable.
Cheesed off
Finally, not even readers’ guilty pleasures have been safe from rising prices. When McDonald’s put the price of its famously 99p cheeseburger up to ÂŁ1.19 earlier this year, The Independent and the Guardian used video to explain why the crisis had taken a bite out of the saver menu.
