Whether the deal auto-renewed without your knowledge or you forgot a free trial had ended, try asking for your money back How many subscription services are you signed up to? It may be more than you think. According to recent research from Citizens Advice, the amount consumers are spending on “accidental subscriptions” has risen sharply: it estimates unused subscriptions cost us £688m in the past year. The charity found that many of those affected said the subscription “auto-renewed” without their knowledge, or they signed up for a free trial but forgot to cancel later ..read more

From simple lifestyle changes to choosing the right bedding and gadgets that can help Dr Nicola Cann, a sleep consultant and psychologist, says sleeping is a natural process “that our bodies are primed for”, so there is a lot you can do to improve it without spending anything ..read more

Some Britons are aiming to cut their mortgage costs and lower stress levels by moving to a smaller property When Richard Wise* moved from London to Margate in Kent three years ago, he did not expect to move again any time soon. But the music industry manager and his partner are planning to downsize from a four- to a three-bedroom property after their mortgage rate quadrupled. “After Liz Truss’s bombshell [the September 2022 mini-budget that led to rising mortgage rates], our mortgage repayments doubled last year,” the 40-year-old says ..read more

The best tips and tricks for getting the lowest possible fares in England and Wales If you regularly travel by train, you can’t fail to have noticed that ticket prices in England and Wales rose by 4.9% earlier this month. The increase added hundreds of pounds to many commuters’ annual travel costs, and represents an unwelcome price rise for those who use trains to get around for leisure purposes or to visit family. The above-inflation increase follows a 5.9% increase in March last year. Motorists, meanwhile, were given a budget boost last week when the chancellor said fuel duty would remain fr ..read more

Want to be fashionable? Talk about your spending limits, turn down costly invitations and always have a packed lunch. And yes, it’s much more fun if you’re rich Name: Loud budgeting. Age: New for 2024 ..read more

There are ways to eat well for less, with discount schemes and rewards to enrolling as a mystery diner Many restaurants, usually high street chains, offer two-for-one deals and money off for holders of discount cards. The best known of these is Tastecard, which offers you 25% off the total bill, two-for-one deals and 50% off food deals, depending on the chain. However, there are conditions such as being limited to certain days of the week and having to ring ahead. Zizzi, for example, offers two-for-one deals from Sunday to Thursday, while Beefeater offers 25% off the total bill on the same day ..read more

The lowdown on the best deals, plus how to secure and future-proof them It’s cold outside, so it’s little wonder that in January, many people’s thoughts turn to holidays. Travel agents have already reported a strong start to the year – Skyscanner, a website selling flights and hotels, says it had record demand in the first week of 2024. If you haven’t yet booked a break but are considering doing so this month, here is our guide to getting a good deal on a holiday – and what you can do to future-proof your booking ..read more

From deciding what you want, counting the cost and expressing your wishes to family and friends A traditional send-off will cost an eye-watering £9,658 on average, according to the latest SunLife Cost of Dying report. This includes £5,077 for a burial, or £3,795 for a cremation, plus probate fees, extras such as flowers, and a wake ..read more

As many lenders cut their interest rates, switching can save you cash – and look out for credit card perks There was some much-needed good news this week for homebuyers and those whose current mortgage deal is about to come to an end. A mortgage “price war” has intensified, with HSBC, Halifax and TSB among the many lenders cutting the cost of their new fixed-rate deals during the last few days ..read more

As we struggle with the cost of living crisis, here are practical tips on how to shrink your bills If you need to buy a particular item, switch to a new service, book a trip or take out insurance, look for a deal that comes with cashback. From TVs and T-shirts to baby milk and broadband, there are a vast number of products and services where you can get “free” cash ..read more