Latest news with #MatthewParden
The Independent
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Experts offer eight easy ways to save on your food shop
With grocery costs continuing to climb, finding ways to make your money go further at the supermarket is now more important than ever. New data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-NIQ Shop Price Index reveals that food inflation has risen for the fourth consecutive month in May, with a 2.8 per cent increase in food prices compared to last year, a slight increase from April's 2.6 per cent. The surge is particularly noticeable in fresh food prices, which have climbed by 2.4 per cent since last May, up from 1.8 per cent in April. Luckily, implementing a few simple strategies can lead to significant savings, whether shopping for a family or oneself. Here are eight practical tips to help reduce food shopping expenses without sacrificing quality or nutrition. 1) Make a budget for your food shopping 'If you're able to, plan and budget your food spending,' recommends Matthew Parden, CEO of money management app Marygold & Co.'Have an awareness about what your needs are and what your spend is capped at. 'Create a separate budgeting pot for food shopping. This helps ensure that this money is parked away from your day-to-day spending. On many money managements apps you can request nudges that remind you to put money away into this separate pot on pay day.' 2) Stick to a shopping list 'Mapping out your weekly meals and sticking to a targeted shopping list helps avoid impulse buys and cuts down on waste,' says Jamie Crummie, food waste expert and co-founder of Too Good To Go. Parden agrees and adds: ' Supermarkets have a very good habit of making you buy lots of things you didn't need or didn't know that you wanted. 'You might buy those five kilogram packets of whatever, and half of it gets chucked away after a week, either because you didn't understand the best before dates, or because you're not storing it properly. So, stick to a shopping list and be careful about what you're buying.' 3) Join your local supermarket's loyalty scheme for extra savings 'Every supermarket has its own loyalty scheme where you can collect points and get a small amount of cash back on those – and that's very worthwhile,' says Parden. 'You can also often get discounts by using supermarket gift cards, and generally you can get a 3 per cent discount on those. 'For example, if you buy a £100 gift card for your supermarket shop, you might only have to pay £97 for your shop if it offers a 3 per cent discount. 'I'm always surprised that these gift cards aren't used as much, and I think part of the reason behind this is a lack of awareness about them.' 4) Look for the yellow stickers 'Often you can get the yellow label discounts on things like beef and steak which can cost a fortune,' says Parden. 'If you learn when your supermarket has yellow sticker days, or which aisle you may find them in, then certainly there's significant savings to be made there.' 5) Buy non-branded or supermarket own branded products 'In many blind taste tests, the non-branded items often come out on top, and buying non-branded or supermarket own branded products is usually much cheaper and can lead to significant savings,' says Parden. 'There's some pretty good tinned fish out there in supermarkets, and they're often overlooked, but they're actually very well priced,' says Parden. 'Tinned food can be very versatile, has a longer shelf life and can actually taste very good.' 7) Make friends with your freezer Purchasing frozen fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to eat healthier while sticking to a budget and reducing food waste. Similarly, cooking meals in bulk and freezing them for later can also help achieve these goals. 'Your freezer is an underrated hero – think of it as a pause button on freshness,' says Crummie. 'Batch cook meals like stews, curries or soups, then freeze portions for ready-to-go dinners later. 'Use stackable containers and label them with dates to keep track. Don't overlook freezing perishables either – bananas (great for smoothies), bread, even grated cheese freeze beautifully.' 8) Go to the shops just before closing time 'Local markets, supermarkets, bakeries and greengrocers often slash prices near closing time – especially on fresh items,' says Crummie. 'These bargains are great for your wallet and help support your community too. 'The Too Good To Go app can also connect you with nearby stores offering surplus food, helping you discover hidden gems at a fraction of the cost.'
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Expert tips to save on your big shop as food inflation rises
New data reveals that food inflation has increased for the fourth consecutive month in May, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-NIQ Shop Price Index. The report indicates a 2.8 per cent rise in food prices compared to last year, a slight increase from April's 2.6 per cent. Fresh food prices have particularly surged, climbing by 2.4 per cent since last May, up from 1.8 per cent in April. With grocery costs continuing to climb, it is now more important than ever to find ways to make your money go further at the supermarket. Whether shopping for a family or oneself, implementing a few simple strategies can lead to significant savings. Here are eight practical tips to help reduce food shopping expenses without sacrificing quality or nutrition. 'If you're able to, plan and budget your food spending,' recommends Matthew Parden, CEO of money management app Marygold & Co.'Have an awareness about what your needs are and what your spend is capped at. 'Create a separate budgeting pot for food shopping. This helps ensure that this money is parked away from your day-to-day spending. On many money managements apps you can request nudges that remind you to put money away into this separate pot on pay day.' 'Mapping out your weekly meals and sticking to a targeted shopping list helps avoid impulse buys and cuts down on waste,' says Jamie Crummie, food waste expert and co-founder of Too Good To Go. Parden agrees and adds: 'Supermarkets have a very good habit of making you buy lots of things you didn't need or didn't know that you wanted. 'You might buy those five kilogram packets of whatever, and half of it gets chucked away after a week, either because you didn't understand the best before dates, or because you're not storing it properly. So, stick to a shopping list and be careful about what you're buying.' 'Every supermarket has its own loyalty scheme where you can collect points and get a small amount of cash back on those – and that's very worthwhile,' says Parden. 'You can also often get discounts by using supermarket gift cards, and generally you can get a 3 per cent discount on those. 'For example, if you buy a £100 gift card for your supermarket shop, you might only have to pay £97 for your shop if it offers a 3 per cent discount. 'I'm always surprised that these gift cards aren't used as much, and I think part of the reason behind this is a lack of awareness about them.' 'Often you can get the yellow label discounts on things like beef and steak which can cost a fortune,' says Parden. 'If you learn when your supermarket has yellow sticker days, or which aisle you may find them in, then certainly there's significant savings to be made there.' 'In many blind taste tests, the non-branded items often come out on top, and buying non-branded or supermarket own branded products is usually much cheaper and can lead to significant savings,' says Parden. 'There's some pretty good tinned fish out there in supermarkets, and they're often overlooked, but they're actually very well priced,' says Parden. 'Tinned food can be very versatile, has a longer shelf life and can actually taste very good.' Purchasing frozen fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to eat healthier while sticking to a budget and reducing food waste. Similarly, cooking meals in bulk and freezing them for later can also help achieve these goals. 'Your freezer is an underrated hero – think of it as a pause button on freshness,' says Crummie. 'Batch cook meals like stews, curries or soups, then freeze portions for ready-to-go dinners later. 'Use stackable containers and label them with dates to keep track. Don't overlook freezing perishables either – bananas (great for smoothies), bread, even grated cheese freeze beautifully.' 'Local markets, supermarkets, bakeries and greengrocers often slash prices near closing time – especially on fresh items,' says Crummie. 'These bargains are great for your wallet and help support your community too. 'The Too Good To Go app can also connect you with nearby stores offering surplus food, helping you discover hidden gems at a fraction of the cost.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Independent
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Expert tips to save on your big shop as food inflation rises
New data reveals that food inflation has increased for the fourth consecutive month in May, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-NIQ Shop Price Index. The report indicates a 2.8 per cent rise in food prices compared to last year, a slight increase from April's 2.6 per cent. Fresh food prices have particularly surged, climbing by 2.4 per cent since last May, up from 1.8 per cent in April. With grocery costs continuing to climb, it is now more important than ever to find ways to make your money go further at the supermarket. Whether shopping for a family or oneself, implementing a few simple strategies can lead to significant savings. Here are eight practical tips to help reduce food shopping expenses without sacrificing quality or nutrition. 1) Make a budget for your food shopping 'If you're able to, plan and budget your food spending,' recommends Matthew Parden, CEO of money management app Marygold & Co.'Have an awareness about what your needs are and what your spend is capped at. 'Create a separate budgeting pot for food shopping. This helps ensure that this money is parked away from your day-to-day spending. On many money managements apps you can request nudges that remind you to put money away into this separate pot on pay day.' 2) Stick to a shopping list 'Mapping out your weekly meals and sticking to a targeted shopping list helps avoid impulse buys and cuts down on waste,' says Jamie Crummie, food waste expert and co-founder of Too Good To Go. Parden agrees and adds: ' Supermarkets have a very good habit of making you buy lots of things you didn't need or didn't know that you wanted. 'You might buy those five kilogram packets of whatever, and half of it gets chucked away after a week, either because you didn't understand the best before dates, or because you're not storing it properly. So, stick to a shopping list and be careful about what you're buying.' 3) Join your local supermarket's loyalty scheme for extra savings 'Every supermarket has its own loyalty scheme where you can collect points and get a small amount of cash back on those – and that's very worthwhile,' says Parden. 'You can also often get discounts by using supermarket gift cards, and generally you can get a 3 per cent discount on those. 'For example, if you buy a £100 gift card for your supermarket shop, you might only have to pay £97 for your shop if it offers a 3 per cent discount. 'I'm always surprised that these gift cards aren't used as much, and I think part of the reason behind this is a lack of awareness about them.' 4) Look for the yellow stickers 'Often you can get the yellow label discounts on things like beef and steak which can cost a fortune,' says Parden. 'If you learn when your supermarket has yellow sticker days, or which aisle you may find them in, then certainly there's significant savings to be made there.' 5) Buy non-branded or supermarket own branded products 'In many blind taste tests, the non-branded items often come out on top, and buying non-branded or supermarket own branded products is usually much cheaper and can lead to significant savings,' says Parden. 'There's some pretty good tinned fish out there in supermarkets, and they're often overlooked, but they're actually very well priced,' says Parden. 'Tinned food can be very versatile, has a longer shelf life and can actually taste very good.' 7) Make friends with your freezer Purchasing frozen fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to eat healthier while sticking to a budget and reducing food waste. Similarly, cooking meals in bulk and freezing them for later can also help achieve these goals. 'Your freezer is an underrated hero – think of it as a pause button on freshness,' says Crummie. 'Batch cook meals like stews, curries or soups, then freeze portions for ready-to-go dinners later. 'Use stackable containers and label them with dates to keep track. Don't overlook freezing perishables either – bananas (great for smoothies), bread, even grated cheese freeze beautifully.' 8) Go to the shops just before closing time 'Local markets, supermarkets, bakeries and greengrocers often slash prices near closing time – especially on fresh items,' says Crummie. 'These bargains are great for your wallet and help support your community too. 'The Too Good To Go app can also connect you with nearby stores offering surplus food, helping you discover hidden gems at a fraction of the cost.'
The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
8 smart ways to save on your food shop
Food inflation rose for the fourth month in a row this May, according to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-NIQ Shop Price Index. The report shows that food prices are now 2.8% higher than they were a year ago, up from 2.6% in April. Fresh food has seen a notable rise, with prices increasing by 2.4% compared to last May, accelerating from 1.8% in April. As grocery costs continue to rise, finding ways to make your money go further at the supermarket is more important than ever. Whether you're shopping for a family or just for yourself, a few simple strategies can lead to big savings. Here are eight smart and practical tips to help you cut costs on your food shop – without compromising on quality or nutrition. 1. Make a budget for your food shopping 'If you're able to, plan and budget your food spending,' recommends Matthew Parden, CEO of money management app Marygold & Co.'Have an awareness about what your needs are and what your spend is capped at. 'Create a separate budgeting pot for food shopping. This helps ensure that this money is parked away from your day-to-day spending. On many money managements apps you can request nudges that remind you to put money away into this separate pot on pay day.' 2. Stick to a shopping list 'Mapping out your weekly meals and sticking to a targeted shopping list helps avoid impulse buys and cuts down on waste,' says Jamie Crummie, food waste expert and co-founder of Too Good To Go. Parden agrees and adds: ' Supermarkets have a very good habit of making you buy lots of things you didn't need or didn't know that you wanted. 'You might buy those five kilogram packets of whatever, and half of it gets chucked away after a week, either because you didn't understand the best before dates, or because you're not storing it properly. So, stick to a shopping list and be careful about what you're buying.' 3. Join your local supermarket's loyalty scheme for extra savings 'Every supermarket has its own loyalty scheme where you can collect points and get a small amount of cash back on those – and that's very worthwhile,' says Parden. 'You can also often get discounts by using supermarket gift cards, and generally you can get a 3% discount on those. 'For example, if you buy a £100 gift card for your supermarket shop, you might only have to pay £97 for your shop if it offers a 3% discount. 'I'm always surprised that these gift cards aren't used as much, and I think part of the reason behind this is a lack of awareness about them.' 4. Look for the yellow stickers 'Often you can get the yellow label discounts on things like beef and steak which can cost a fortune,' says Parden. 'If you learn when your supermarket has yellow sticker days, or which aisle you may find them in, then certainly there's significant savings to be made there.' 5. Buy non-branded or supermarket own branded products 'In many blind taste tests, the non-branded items often come out on top, and buying non-branded or supermarket own branded products is usually much cheaper and can lead to significant savings,' says Parden. 6. Make the most of the tinned aisle 'There's some pretty good tinned fish out there in supermarkets, and they're often overlooked, but they're actually very well priced,' says Parden. 'Tinned food can be very versatile, has a longer shelf life and can actually taste very good.' 7. Make friends with your freezer Purchasing frozen fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to eat healthier while sticking to a budget and reducing food waste. Similarly, cooking meals in bulk and freezing them for later can also help achieve these goals. 'Your freezer is an underrated hero – think of it as a pause button on freshness,' says Crummie. 'Batch cook meals like stews, curries or soups, then freeze portions for ready-to-go dinners later. 'Use stackable containers and label them with dates to keep track. Don't overlook freezing perishables either – bananas (great for smoothies), bread, even grated cheese freeze beautifully.' 8. Go to the shops just before closing time 'Local markets, supermarkets, bakeries and greengrocers often slash prices near closing time – especially on fresh items,' says Crummie. 'These bargains are great for your wallet and help support your community too. 'The Too Good To Go app can also connect you with nearby stores offering surplus food, helping you discover hidden gems at a fraction of the cost.'
Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
DWP update about letter going out about 2026 state pension change
Key changes to state pension eligibility are coming in from next year The DWP has released a statement about an important change to the state pension coming in from next year. Starting from April 2026, the age when you can claim your state pension will gradually increase from the current 66, up to 67. The retirement age will become 67 by April 2028. In light of the change, the DWP was asked if it had notified people soon to reach state pension age of the change. A DWP spokesperson said: "People reaching state pension age between April 6, 2026 and April 5, 2028 should have already received a letter from the DWP." The department said that people reaching state pension age between these dates would have been sent the letter between 2016 and 2018. The DWP also said: "People can use the Check Your State Pension tools on at any time to find out when they can claim state pension." The Government website has a state pension forecast tool you can use to check your state pension age as well as how much state pension you are on track to receive. Officials from the DWP are also seeking to notify people of the change in the state pension age through advertising campaigns and digital tools. Fiona Peake, personal finance expert at Ocean Finance, encouraged people to check their state pension age so they can be sure when they can claim their payments. She said it's worthwhile checking so that you don't suddenly find out you have to wait longer than expected. The expert said: "If you were expecting to get that money from a certain date and it turns out you won't, you could be left with a gap of hundreds or even thousands of pounds depending on how long you need to wait. This can hit particularly hard if you don't have much in private savings or if you've already started slowing down at work - you may have to dip into your savings sooner than planned or carry on working longer to cover everyday costs." The full new state pension is currently £230.25 a week, after payment rates increased 4.1% in April in line with the triple lock. You typically need 35 years full National Insurance contributions to get the full new amount. Matthew Parden, CEO of savings provider Marygold & Co., also spoke about the importance of checking your state pension age. He explained: "Understanding your state pension age allows you to assess whether there's likely to be a gap between leaving employment and receiving the state pension. "If so, it's essential to consider how you'll cover living costs in that period — whether through personal savings, private pensions, or other income. By checking early, people can make informed decisions and avoid financial surprises later on, particularly as retirement planning often involves long-term commitments and careful timing."
