Copy article

What's in your basket?

ended 24. September 2025

Cost of living alert: How small swaps can make a big difference

With inflation stubbonly at 3.8% and the cost of living crisis still hitting households hard, we’re asking a simple question: What’s in your basket — and could you swap it to save money?

From supermarket shelves to energy bills, the choices we make every day can add up to big savings. We want to hear directly from you — and from experts — about the smart substitutions and money‑saving strategies that really work.

We need your input

Experts — what swaps do you recommend?
Which changes make the biggest difference without sacrificing quality or comfort?

2 responses from the Newspage community

Copy all

Star Quote
Copy

Editor
Scott Gallacher
Director at Rowley Turton
Regardless of your income, most of us are feeling the pinch — but there are savings to be had at almost every level. Like many families, we’ve cut back on going out and opted for dining in instead. Two M&S meal deals at £15 each might not sound cheap, but at £30 for the family it’s far better value than eating out, which can easily cost £100 for four (including two adult children).

Another saving came when dropping our eldest off at university. A same-day return wasn’t practical, so we stayed over. By checking if we could access the student accommodation a day earlier, we shifted our trip from Saturday to Friday, saving around £100 on the hotel.
Copy

Kundan Bhaduri
Entrepreneur, Investor and Landlord at The Kushman Group
Smart shopping during inflation requires ruthless pragmatism, not brand loyalty or aspirational purchases. I have switched from premium branded cleaning products to supermarket own-label equivalents that perform identically at half the price, saving over £200 annually. The biggest wins come from bulk purchasing non-perishables during sales, meal planning to eliminate food waste, and choosing seasonal produce over imported luxuries.

We have also installed smart heating controls across our property portfolio that reduce gas consumption by 20% through precise timing and zoning, while LED lighting conversions deliver immediate electricity savings. For households, the shift from premium energy suppliers to competitive fixed-rate deals can save £300-500 annually, money that compounds far more effectively in ISAs than utility company profits.