SMART MONEY SUNDAYS – This Week’s Money News (Full Rundown)

 

By ClaudiaLifestyleBlog

Welcome back to another Smart Money Sundays, where we break down the week’s finance news in a simple, friendly way — no jargon, no stress, just real information for real people. Whether you’re a mum budgeting for the week ahead or someone trying to build a stronger financial future, this is your five-minute catch-up.

Let’s get into what’s happening with money this week across the UK ⬇️

1️⃣ Petrol, Food & Bills – What’s Changing This Week?

⛽ Petrol & Diesel Update

Fuel prices are slowly climbing again due to rising wholesale oil costs.

Here’s the current UK average:

• Petrol: around £1.55 per litre
• Diesel: around £1.65 per litre

Tip: Use the PetrolPrices app or ASDA/Tesco stations for cheaper fuel.

🛒 Food Prices: Still High, Slowly Stabilising

Food inflation hasn’t gone back down — but increases have slowed.

Key pressures this week:

• Fruit & veg prices rising (import + transport costs)
• Bread, cereal & dairy steady but still elevated
• Meat & poultry up in some regions

Where to save:

Wholesale markets are still the BEST value:

📍Smithfield Market (Meat & Poultry)

EC1A 9PS — open early morning

Prices often 40–70% cheaper than supermarkets

📍New Covent Garden Market (Fruit & Veg)

SW8 5BH — fresh produce, bulk buys

These two places stretch your food budget dramatically.

⚡ Gas & Electricity Bills

Energy bills are expected to edge up slowly as winter demand rises.

Smart move this week:

• Compare energy deals on Uswitch
• Try MoneySavingExpert’s Cheap Energy Club
• Check if a fixed tariff may be cheaper for winter

2️⃣ Cold Weather Payments – Who Gets Help This Winter?

The UK government issues Cold Weather Payments to help vulnerable households with winter energy costs — but they ONLY apply if:

✔ temperatures fall below 0°C for 7 consecutive days in your area

✔ you receive certain benefits (e.g. Universal Credit, ESA, Income Support, Pension Credit)

Payment amount:

💷 £25 per qualifying seven-day cold spell

Paid automatically to your bank account.

Important note:

This payment is NOT the same as the previous £900 cost-of-living support.

This is a separate winter scheme.

3️⃣ Child Trust Fund – What Many Adults Still Don’t Know

A lot of people don’t realise they HAVE money waiting for them.

What is a Child Trust Fund?

It was a government savings scheme for children born between:

📅 1 September 2002 – 2 January 2011

Every eligible child received:

• £250 OR £500 (depending on income)
• Additional top-ups at age 7 for some households
  This was placed into an investment or cash account.

Why people are confused today:

• Some parents forgot about the account
• Some moved homes
• Many don’t know the provider
• Many children turned adults can’t trace it

How to find your Child Trust Fund:

You MUST write to HMRC or use their online tracing service — there is NO phone number to call.

Important:

Many people have hundreds, even thousands, sitting unclaimed.

1. Search Direct Gov on Google 

2. Search child trust fund 

3.endure you have your National Insurance child’s/parent name depending on who’s claiming 

4. Complete form wait for letter and email with the the name of providers and the next steps.

📽️ Watch: How to Find Your Child 

4️⃣ This Week’s Positive Money News

Because we always highlight the GOOD too:

✨ Inflation is slowing long-term

✨ Some food categories have stabilised

✨ UK stock market showed small positive movement

✨ Many retailers already dropping prices early for Black Friday

✨ Savings account competition still strong — many paying 4–5%

Every small win matters in this economy.

5️⃣ Deals & Discounts You Should Know About

Here are this week’s standout savings:

🛍 Black Friday Early Deals

• Amazon: home appliances, kids’ toys, groceries
• Wowcher: food bundles, spa deals, home cleaning
• Groupon: clothing, restaurants, local offers

👉 Explore Budgeting Tools & Finance Essentials

6️⃣ Last Week’s Smart Money Sundays (In Case You Missed It)

📌 Last Week’s Smart Money Sunday Recap

7️⃣ New Business Resources (Your New Video Section)

You’re creating a video for people who want to start a business — here’s the blog wording ready for your link.

📽️ How to Register a Business in the UK (Video Coming Soon)

Step-by-step guide for beginners — from your side hustle to official paperwork.

8️⃣ Support Jamaica 🇯🇲 (Hurricane Relief)

Thousands of families need help after severe weather damage.

Community-trusted donation options:

• Food for the Poor Jamaica
• Jamaica Diaspora UK
• National Baking Company Foundation

9️⃣ Final Thoughts – Your Financial Check-In

It’s been a tough season for many households, and Smart Money Sundays will always be a place where we break the money news down simply and honestly.

Small changes make a big difference:

✔ Check your bills

✔ Track your spending

✔ Grab deals early

✔ Stay aware of support payments

✔ Build slowly

And remember — you’re doing better than you think.

🔗 Explore More

📚 Full Clever Girl Finance Series 

www.Claudialifestyleblog.blogspot.com

🛍 Finance Tools I Use & Recommend

📽️ New Video Sections to Be Added Soon

– Registering a Business

🔗 Connect with me

🌐 Blog: ClaudiaLifestyleBlog.com

💼 LinkedIn – Claudia Dimes

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📩 1:1 Coaching Email:

claudiadimes2020@gmail.com