Insulate Your Home And Stop Food Bills Eating Into Your Budget

United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland -- Free-Press-Release.com-- Feb 17, 2012 -- The UK’s lowest income households are having to spend a disproportionate amount of their weekly expenses on food shopping, according to findings published today.

The research, released by supermarket chain Morrisons, found that 20% of households – already classed as being in fuel poverty – spend 15.5% or more of their weekly expenditure on food and non-alcoholic drinks.

In comparison with the national UK average of 11%, these 5.2 million households are spending almost 5% more of their outgoings on food bills every week.

The research – compiled for Morrisons by John Glen, senior lecturer in Economics at Cranfield School of Management – highlights that a single pensioner on a state pension spends 18% of their total expenditure on food per week.

Glen commented:

“These findings make for worrying reading. In today’s stretched financial society, the disproportionate food spend in low income households means that there is simply less money left in the pot for all the other things families need to pay for such as bills, clothing and fuel.”

With the rising cost of living showing little sign of slowing, what options are there for households spending a top-heavy percentage of their weekly expenses on food?

A practical and cost-effective solution is to have Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation fitted.

Loft Insulation remains one of the most energy efficient ways of keeping a household warm and helps prevent up to 25% of heat being lost through a home’s roof. Cavity Wall Insulation can help prevent up to 35% of heat being lost through a home’s walls. Installing both Cavity and Wall Insulation can save a household up to £310 per year.

Households in fuel poverty are likely to qualify for a Government-backed Insulation grant which covers up to 100% of the full cost of installation. This equates to a saving of £800 on the average cost of installing both Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation.

To qualify for a 100% free Insulation grant, homeowners and private tenants must be aged 70 and above, or in receipt of certain benefits, tax credits or allowances. Those not entitled to a full Insulation grant will still receive a grant for between 40-70% of the cost.

With the Met Office warning that this week’s freezing conditions are expected to last up to four weeks, now is the best time to have Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation installed according to industry specialists EnergyLink.

Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation offers three key benefits to households, particularly those in fuel poverty: it will allow heat to be better retained, leading to significantly lower heating bills and freeing up money which can be spent on weekly food bills.

EnergyLink can arrange for you to receive a free no-obligation Insulation survey, and if you are happy to proceed, installers will carry out the work and claim the Insulation grant on your behalf.

For more information on the benefits of Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation and how to apply, visit Free Insulation

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EnergyLink
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http://www.freeinsulation.co.uk/