CHEAP CHANGES: FINANCIAL KNOW-HOW FOR YOUR FAMILY

14 April 2008

An average family’s bills rose by a massive £580* last year, and with the rising cost of living and talk of economic doom and gloom, most of us are tightening our belts. But does saving a few pence here and there have to mean compromising your lifestyle? Not according to a new guide, Cheap Changes, issued today by Independent Money Saving Expert, Alvin Hall on behalf of the Organic Milk Co-operative, (OMSCo).

Financial constraints frequently prevent us from leading the lifestyles of our choice. Whether it is taking a holiday abroad with your family or introducing organic food into the children’s diet, the costs are often perceived to be prohibitively expensive. That is where Cheap Changes comes in, packed with useful hints and money saving tips, Alvin shows how with a little know how and some extra planning, even the tightest of budgets can go a lot further.

Alvin explains: “We all have changes that we would like to make to our lifestyles, for me it was introducing more organic and local food into my diet. For years I have been an on-off purchaser until more recently I decided that the benefits – and better taste were worth it. Making these changes doesn’t have to cost the earth, for example a family of four switching to organic milk costs less than £1 a week, which you can easily make back using my tried and tested tips.

“I’ve put together this Cheap Changes guide to share with you some of my money-saving ideas for all areas of your day-to-day life, to help you ‘trade up’ your lifestyle as I have done. In the current economic climate we all need to save for a rainy day, Cheap Changes will show you how!”

Alvin’s top tips for making cheap changes to improve your lifestyle include:
• Spend time with your money. Money does not take care of itself, so you have to devote some time each week or month to keeping your finances in balance and to seeing how you are spending your money. Only by doing this can you begin to see where you can save, and see where you can reprioritise your spending in ways that will improve your life
• Take advantage of seasonal specials - especially at Farmers’ Markets, when an abundance of produce means lower prices.
• Buy organic staples such as milk - switching to organic milk costs an extra 73p a week and contains more Omega3, antioxidants and essential fatty acids than non-organic milk
• Dine as a family with everyone at the table - preparing one, healthy, well-balanced meal for the entire family is cheaper and reduces your work load
• Make the most of free facilities - use the public library for regular outings to discover and read books and visit museums and historic sites that will be of interest to your children
• Try not to buy too many special occasion items - especially clothing, that may be used only once or twice before the child outgrows them
• Carry in your wallet only the amount of money that is your daily spending limit - It’s always much harder to spend cash than use a credit card
• Shop at different supermarkets in order to compare prices and to become familiar with their promotions and special offers.
• Wash more of your laundry on lower heat settings - this will help lower utility bills and is better for the environment. Many of the new, biodegradable detergents work just as well in cold water as in hot

For a free copy of Cheap Changes log on to www.omsco.co.uk to download a copy of the guide or call 01179 227799.
ENDS
For media enquiries please contact Grayling PR:

Edith Barton-Harvey/Camille Daltrey - 0117 922 7799
edith.barton-harvey@uk.grayling.com
Emily Taylor – 020 7225 1506
emily.taylor@uk.grayling.com


Notes to Editors

• Organic milk costs on average 10p more a pint than non-organic milk
• OMSCo is the UK's leading and longest established organic dairy cooperative uniquely focused on the production and supply of organic milk. With nationwide membership, OMSCo now supplies the majority of organic milk produced in the UK. OMSCo is dedicated to building a sustainable future for British organic dairy farmers