UK money news stories - 31 July 2024

Rachel Reeves to set out plans to fill the shortfall in public finances left by the Tories

Weeks into her role as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves has uncovered a £20bn hole in government spending for essential services that she needs to fill. But what else has she discovered after 14 years of Tory rule? 

Winter fuel payments scrapped for millions of pensioners

Some 10 million pensioners in England and Wales will not get their Winter Fuel payments this year. These are worth between £100 and £300 but as part of the plan to plug the gap in the UK’s finances, Ms Reeves has stopped the payments for pensioners who don’t receive Pension Credit and other benefits.

Free days out hack with MoneySuperMarket’s SuperSaveClub

MoneySuperMarket’s money saving app could cut the cost of days out by hundreds of pounds a year. You usually have to buy something, like insurance or broadband, to join the club but Nicky, from Be Clever with Your Cash, has a hack that means you don't have to spend anything to get access.

Royal Mail launches scanner for counterfeit stamps

Following reports that the UK was being flooded with fake stamps from China, you can now scan your stamps in the Royal Mail app to check if they’re genuine. It’s definitely worth doing if you buy your stamps from smaller shops as they’re not required to order them from Royal Mail.

Cheaper energy deals for switchers delayed as regulator maintains ban

Back in May the energy regulator proposed lifting the ban early on ‘acquisition tariffs’ - the cheap deals offered to new customers. Not everyone was in favour and it’s now decided against it. But what does it mean for you?

Scam call crackdown: Ofcom forces phone networks to block ‘spoofing’ fraudsters

For years fraudsters have been able to ‘spoof’ their number so it looks like they’re calling you from a legitimate and trusted organisation. But now, phone companies will now have to identify and block calls from abroad which falsely display a UK landline number, as per new rules.