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The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
Grocery price inflation falls slightly to 5% in August
Supermarket inflation fell slightly this month but remains 'well past the point at which price rises really start to bite', according to latest figures. Grocery prices were 5% higher than a year ago in the four weeks to August 10, according to market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator, which was recently renamed from Kantar. However, this was down from July's 5.2%, which represented a rise from inflation of 4.7% a month earlier and marked the highest level since January 2024. Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel, said: 'We've seen a marginal drop in grocery price inflation this month, but we're still well past the point at which price rises really start to bite and consumers are continuing to adapt their behaviour to make ends meet. 'What people pay for their supermarket shopping often impacts their spending across other parts of the high street too, including their eating and drinking habits out of the home.' Mr McKevitt said casual and fast service restaurants especially had seen a decline in visitors over the summer, with trips falling by 6% during the three months to mid-July 2025 compared with last year. Despite the ongoing cost pressures, customers still appear to be seeking to include treats in their baskets, with sales of branded grocery items growing by 6.1% this month, ahead of own-label alternatives which were up by 4.1%. Branded sales mad up 46.4% of all grocery spending but were particularly popular across personal care, confectionery, hot drinks and soft drinks, where they accounted for more than 75% of money through the tills. Sales of premium own-label products also rose by 11.5% this period. Worldpanel's data also shows that more than half of households bought a box of frozen fish fingers over the last year, ahead of the product turning 70 in September. Mr McKevitt said: 'The humble fish finger remains as popular as ever and nearly one billion were sold in the past year, with more than half of households grabbing a box.' He added: 'The average home cook now spends three minutes less preparing the evening meal than they did in 2017 at just under 31 minutes. 'We can see this trend in the growth of things like microwaveable rice, ready meals and chilled pizza too, which have grown by 8%, 6% and 5% respectively.' Lidl and Ocado were tied for top spot as the fastest growing grocers over the 12 weeks to August 10, with sales at both retailers up by 10.7% compared to the same period last year. Tesco enjoyed its largest monthly share gain since December 2024 as its hold of the market rose by 0.8 percentage points to 28.4%, driven by sales growth of 7.4% compared to last year. Asda and Co-op both saw sales down on a year ago, by 2.6% and 3.2% respectively.
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
Everything inside the £250 Harrods beauty advent calendar 2025
Harrods is renowned for many things, from its Grade II listed building to its green-robed doormen and its over-the-top Christmas decorations. But another thing stands out at Christmas: the brand's beauty advent calendar. It sounds ludicrously early, but every August, the big luxury department stores drop the first glimpses of their beauty advent calendars for the festive season ahead. This year, Liberty was the first to debut its Christmas countdown (in July, no less), with Harvey Nichols, Selfridges (explore my full list of 2025's best beauty advent calendars) and Harrods following shortly after. Last year, the retailer's 25-day beauty haul came wrapped up in its signature green hue, but one year on, the brand has taken things down a notch with minimalist taupe packaging, complete with subtle gold accents. However, there are some similarities to 2024's advent calendar, with return appearances from fan-favourite brands including Augustinus Bader, 111 Skin, La Mer and more. Plus, if you like a bit of a shake-up, you'll be pleased to discover an extra seven products in 2025's line-up – all for the same £250 price point ( Scroll on for all the juicy details, including my honest review of everything inside. Spoilers ahead. How we tested Receiving the Harrods calendar on 29 July (22 days before its market-wide dispatch on 20 August), I've had three weeks to explore the 32 products within, testing them as part of my day-to-day skincare, make-up, fragrance, haircare and body care routines. While unboxing and reviewing them, I noted the following factors: Packaging – Some of the appeal of a luxury advent calendar is often the possibility that you could repurpose the packaging the following year, so I wanted it to look good and feel robust. I also weighed up the pros and cons of the brand's neutral colour choices versus a traditional Christmas theme. Sizing – I considered whether or not the number of full-size and mini formulas was impressive for the retail price, and judged the sizing of each item relative to its use. For instance, is an 8ml SPF cream an asset or just clutter? Brands – I considered the worth of the brands included and their quality. Ideally, I want a healthy mix of buzzy beauty and timeless brands. I wanted both practical, effective beauty as well as some extravagant, luxury products. Performance – After using the products included, I recorded any that wowed me, and any that felt like fillers. Distinctive qualities – Compared to other beauty advent calendars on the market, I took time to assess whether or not Harrods' offering stands out from the crowd or is much the same as competitors. Lucy Smith has been writing about the best beauty advent calendars for several years, covering 2024's Sephora advent calendar and 2025's Charlotte Tilbury, Boots and Space NK calendars. Having worked in the industry for more than five years, she's seen many Christmas countdowns and knows the brands – like Mac and Rodial – that are frequently featured, plus the ones making a splash in new offerings for 2025. Given that she is constantly testing the latest and greatest brands (such as her tests of the new K18 heat protectors and Clinique nude honey lipsticks), Lucy is across all the trending products to expect in advent calendars this Christmas. Here's what she thought of Harrods' latest iteration.
The Sun
16 minutes ago
- The Sun
We quit our £42K jobs to live for just £8 a day in a caravan – we'll never go back to a ‘normal' home or pay bills again
A COUPLE who quit their day jobs to live off-grid in a static caravan say it costs just £8.87 a day and has made their relationship stronger. Libby Ramsden, 25, and her partner, Ollie Blackwell, 26, made the switch to fully off-grid life in September 2023 to save money and allow them to leave their jobs and run their soap business. 8 8 8 They say it now costs them just £8.87 a day to live or £269 a month - including rent, council tax and heating. They live fully off-grid - with no TV or WiFi - and collect rainwater, use a log burner for heat and power their home with a tractor-driven generator. Libby worked as a laboratory assistant on a £24k salary, while Ollie was a farmer and tractor mechanic - earning £20k a year. The couple wanted their own space and lower living costs than the average rent and bills of £1k-a-month in their area - to enable them to start their company. Libby, business owner, from Silsden, West Yorkshire, said: "The best part is not relying on anybody at all. "Nobody dictates to us what our electric bills are, we are not tied to any contracts in any way. "We rely on ourselves. It's just the freedom to live how we want to live." Before going off-grid, both were living in normal houses with parents, paying them rent, and wanted to move in together cheaply. The idea came after their goat's milk soap and honey business, Herd and Hive, started to grow rapidly. Libby began making goats' milk soap after being given a goat named Mary by a neighbour - and her dad, Matthew, 53, started keeping bees as a hobby. I bought a 1997 static caravan for £5k & am transforming it into my dream tiny home with DIY & Dunelm buys When they combined the two at a market, they sold out and demand kept increasing. Six months later, they needed someone full-time in the business - and living inexpensively was the only way to make it work. Ollie's dad, Terry, 60, a farmer, offered to rent them a piece of land and they bought a static caravan for £11k - setting it up off-grid. They collect rainwater from a barn roof, filter it for the caravan and their animals, and run a tractor-powered generator for an hour each night to cook, shower and charge phones. Heating and cooking is done on a log burner. The couple are soon hoping to install solar panels, to reduce costs further. As they pay council tax, they get regular bin collections - and Ollie dug a septic tank so the couple have a flushing toilet. Libby said: "People think that because we live off-grid we are not connected to the world in any way or we live uncomfortably. "People think that we go to the toilet in a bucket and carry it out." 8 8 CHEAP COSTS The running costs of their unique off-grid home are just £8.87 a day, working out at £270 a month. Libby, who documents their off-grid journey on the TikTok account @herdandhive, said: "Before we moved we looked at renting, or getting a mortgage for a house and in the area that we live you're looking at anything up to £1,000 a month. "It was a no brainer if we wanted to quit our jobs." 8 Their day starts at 5.30am milking goats, feeding sheep, and caring for five rehomed donkeys before heading to their unit to make soap, jar honey and tend to bees. In the evening, they return to feed the animals again, light the fire, and run the generator for an hour before switching it off for the night. Libby said: "Most people in the evening will sit down and watch TV, we're not in that routine, so we feel a little bit more connected to each other. "We have a better relationship because we actually sit and talk in the evening. "It's definitely improved our relationship, we feel more connected to each other than if we had a lot more distractions in our life. "We don't have a TV so we generally read or keep each other company talking. "People love that we have no TV and no WiFi." But sometimes the couple do miss the ease of modern life. 8 Living costs before and after The couple's costs per month before Board to parents - £100 Food - £200 Total - £300 The couple's costs per month now they're off grid Land rent - £166 Council tax - £83 Tractor fuel - £20 Logs - £0 Rainwater - £0 Total - £269 Average costs for 'regular' living in the area Rent - £755 Bills - £200 Council tax - £83 Total - £1,083 TOUGH PARTS Libby said: "Sometimes I miss the ease of being able to flip a light switch on or plug your phone into charge, that type of thing. Just the ease of things. "Sometimes in winter I miss it when you've had a hard day but the benefits definitely outweigh it." Winter is the toughest time - the caravan is on top of a windy hill and keeping warm is a challenge - but the couple want to stay off-grid for good, eventually upgrading to a wooden chalet. "We do see ourselves living off grid forever," Libby said. 'We don't want to go back to living in a house and having bills to pay, but we definitely want to improve our off-grid life." 8 How much does it cost to live in a caravan? LIVING in a caravan can be an economical and flexible lifestyle choice in the UK. Here's a breakdown of potential costs: Initial Costs Caravan Purchase: £8,000 - £40,000 (depending on size, age, and condition) Caravan Insurance: £200 - £800 per year Ongoing Monthly Costs Pitch Fees: £150 - £600 (varies by location and facilities) Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water): £40 - £120 Maintenance and Repairs: £20 - £80 Internet and TV: £20 - £50 Gas for Heating/Cooking: £15 - £40 Other Potential Costs Waste Disposal Fees: £8 - £25 Transport Costs (if moving locations): Variable, depending on distance Optional Add-ons (Awning, Solar Panels, etc.): £400 - £1,600 (one-time) Sample Monthly Budget Pitch Fees: £400 Utilities: £80 Maintenance and Repairs: £40 Internet and TV: £40 Gas for Heating/Cooking: £25 Total: £585 Annual Estimated Cost Total Monthly Costs: £585 x 12 = £7,020 Insurance: £500 Maintenance and Repairs: £480 Total Annual Cost: £8,000 Tips to Save Off-Peak Pitch Fees: Look for lower rates during off-peak seasons. DIY Maintenance: Handle minor repairs yourself. Energy Efficiency: Invest in solar panels to reduce utility costs. While initial setup costs can be significant, ongoing expenses for living in a caravan can be relatively low, making it a viable option for those seeking an affordable and mobile lifestyle in the UK.
