Cost of Living Archives

October 19, 2026 — No Comments

Warm Home Discount 2026/27: Who Gets the £150 and How

Last updated: 18 October 2026. I checked every date and rule in this Warm Home Discount guide against GOV.UK on 18 October 2026.

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

This is not financial advice. The Warm Home Discount is a government scheme, so your electricity supplier and GOV.UK decide whether you qualify. Check your own case with them.

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Energy billsWinter 2026 to 2027

£150 off your electricity bill, if you are on the right benefit

The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 taken off your electricity bill this winter. Your supplier applies it, so the money never lands in your bank account. In England and Wales it usually arrives automatically. You qualify if you or your partner got Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit on 23 August 2026. In Scotland, however, some people have to apply to their supplier instead.

Published by Stiv in Energy, Money saving, Personal finance

Tags: Cost of Living, energy bills, energy price cap, help with energy bills, Ofgem, prepayment meters, save money on bills, VAT on electricity, Warm Home Discount

September 14, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Huel vs Real Food: Is Meal Replacement Actually Cheaper?

Last updated: 14 September 2026. Every figure in this Huel vs real food comparison was priced on huel.com and tesco.com on 7 September 2026.

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

Trying Huel for the first time?

New customers get £20 off a first order over £60 through my referral link, so I keep the current terms on one page.

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Meal replacement2026 edit

The shake costs 56p more than the sandwich

I have been drinking Huel for years, so Huel vs real food is not a thought experiment in this house. Instead it is what happens at about half past twelve on a working Tuesday. So I priced both sides properly. A Huel Powder meal costs £1.59 at Huel's own subscription price, while the cheese sandwich I would otherwise make costs £1.03 at Tesco. Then I checked what happens to that £1.59 when you order one bag instead of two, because delivery quietly changes the answer.

Published by Stiv in Comparisons, Cost of living, Foodie

Tags: Cost of Living, food, food budget UK, Huel, Huel powder, meal replacement, nutrition, Tesco

March 22, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Energy Profits Cap UK: Why It’s Time to Cap What Energy Companies Earn

Last updated: 27 August 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

The idea of an energy profits cap in the UK just got its most high-profile backer yet. Lord Richard Walker, the government's Cost of Living Champion and executive chairman of Iceland, has called on ministers to impose a temporary cap on the profits of energy and petrol companies to stop them cashing in on the Middle East crisis. With bills forecast to rocket again by summer, we think he's absolutely right. In fact, we'd go further.

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Published by Stiv in Cost of living, Energy, Money saving

Tags: Cost of Living, electricity prices, energy bills UK, energy nationalisation, energy profits cap, gas prices, Middle East energy crisis, Ofgem price cap, renewable energy, Richard Walker

November 26, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

UK Budget 2025 Explained: What It Means for Your Money

Last updated: 20 October 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser before making any financial decisions.

This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Update, 20 October 2026. The next Budget is on Wednesday 28 October 2026, the first from Chancellor John Healey. My Autumn Budget predictions cover every rumour so far and which of the 2025 changes below are already law.

The UK Budget 2025 landed on 26 November, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing a package of measures that quietly raise the tax burden on millions of households. So while headline Income Tax and VAT rates stay put, the Autumn Budget 2025 freezes thresholds, cuts the cash ISA allowance and raises taxes on dividend and savings income, hitting earners, savers and investors in ways that are easy to miss at first glance.

Here is what changed, when it takes effect, and what it could mean for your finances.

Published by Stiv in Finance, UK Made

Tags: Cost of Living, isa, Pension, personal finance, Taxes, UK Budget 2025