We Spend How Much?

LONDON - With the Credit Crunch biting ever deeper into our pockets, Surviving the
Credit Crunch takes a look at how much we spend each year on those everyday
Purchases. We think you may be surprised at the results. Take a look at our
top drains on your finances.

- Your Daily Caffeine Fix: If like me you like to start your day with a
fresh cup of coffee from one of the high street big boys, you may be
surprised to learn that a medium brew will cost you GBP662.50 a year, add a
muffin and it’s a whopping GBP1037.50.

- Chocolate: A great comfort food especially in times of trouble, the
average person will spend GBP65.00 a year on chocolate goodies. If you enjoy
one bar everyday that number jumps up to GBP164.24 a year!

- Cigarettes: Even with all of today’s knowledge and negative press many
people still succumb to the terrible weed. If you smoke a pack of 20 a day,
your annual spend is GBP2153.50!

- Communication: It’s good to talk but mobile phones and landlines
accounted for an average spend of GBP93.63 per month through 2008, which adds
up to a total of GBP1123.56 every year.

- Working Lunch: Many of us enjoy the convenience of popping out at lunch
time to buy our deli sandwich or trendy noodles to keep us going throughout
the day. However, you may suffer indigestion if you knew how much that adds
up to over a year! If you have just one sandwich, drink and treat such as
crisps you will spend over GBP1150.00 every year!

- A Night on the Town: We all like to go out with our friends and have a
few drinks and maybe finish the night of with some terrible post club cuisine
and a taxi ride home. The average cost of a night out in the UK will cost you
GBP55.00 or GBP1320.00 a year.

- Dressed to Impress: The average woman in the UK will spend about
GBP124.00 each month on new clothes, shoes and accessories (men about half
that) so that’s GBP720.00 for men and GBP1488.00 for women!

- Lost Interest: With the average credit card balance in the UK sitting
at over GBP3400.00 and many people still not switching to a 0% transfer deal,
we are spending over GBP420.00 more than we should on interest alone!

That all adds up to a staggering GBP8,800.00 each year! Now don’t get me
wrong as I sit here drinking my double latte, washing down my chocolate bar
trying to get rid of the taste of cigarette smoke and deciding who to phone
and meet for lunch to talk about tonight’s plans so I can wear my new jeans
bought on my credit card!

I am not saying cut back totally, just bear it in mind and maybe cut back
on a few items and save yourself a few quid. I know I will.

Richard Fenton (MACP)
Channel M debt Doctor Breakfast show weekdays
Financial Professional with over 10 years experience advising
banks and consumer in matters relating to debt.
Manchester Evening News Debt Buster
www.SurvivingTheCreditCrunch.org.uk

Contact
Richard Fenton
creditcrunch@btinternet.com
+44(0)7951-473144

Source: www.SurvivingTheCreditCrunch.org.uk

Contact, Richard Fenton, creditcrunch at btinternet.com, +44(0)7951-473144