Latest news with #costsaving
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'I'm a full-time mum – here's how ditching £6 lattes saved me £547 a year'
A FULL-TIME mum has revealed how walking away from 'pretentious hipster cafés' in favour of brewing at home has slashed her caffeine costs and stress. Angela Moore, aged 55 and from Warrington, runs her own accessories business from home while raising two kids. She guzzled six takeaway lattes a week to keep her creative spark alive, dropping on average £859 a year on her caffeine fix. But with the help of a newly-launched online coffee-cost calculator, she says she has pocketed more than £500 by making the leap to a bean-to-cup coffee machine at home. On her coffee habits, Angela said: 'I run the studio around my two grown-up kids' ever-changing diaries, so coffee is mission critical. 'Six cups a week kept me buzzing, but the bills were brutal. 'Why pay six quid to perch on a wobbly stool while someone hogs a sofa for hours? 'Now, I hit one button at home, sip a perfect flat white, and get back to work – no queue or eye-watering price tag.' Angela's penny-pinching victory lands as new research reveals the nation's biggest café pet peeves, and the hefty price we pay for them. Top irritations include table-hoggers, laptop squatters, never-ending queues, uncomfortable seats, and the barista who cannot crack a smile. Coffee experts at Philips found that Brits buy an average of four takeaway coffees a week at £4.13 each. Philips' free Calculatté tool crunches any takeaway price and pinpoints the moment a bean-to-cup machine pays for itself. Lizzie Lee, Philips' in-house coffee expert at Philips, said: 'Queues, sky-high prices, and those table-thieving tyrants have turned the morning latte into an expensive chore. 'Calculatté proves you can enjoy barista-quality coffee at home for a fraction of the cost.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
HungerRush survey reveals high consumer expectations for QSRs
A new survey by HungerRush has revealed that brands that adopt technology to meet consumer needs are positioned to build loyalty and increase market share, even in a cost-conscious environment. The survey illustrates the evolving landscape of dining habits at quick-service and fast-casual restaurants (QSRs). The survey indicates that while diners are feeling the pinch of inflation, their expectations for digital engagement and personalised service are at an all-time high. HungerRush CEO Bill Mitchell stated: 'This new data confirms what our restaurant partners are experiencing every day. 'Consumers are still dining out, but they're more selective. Operators who use technology to reduce friction, personalise offers, and enhance speed of service will win both loyalty and repeat business.' Key findings from the survey reveal that 93% of consumers visit a QSR or fast-casual restaurant at least once a month. Despite this high frequency, 40% are dining out less often due to inflation, while 16% are turning to QSRs more frequently as a cost-saving measure. The main factors influencing their choice of QSRs include price (67%), convenience and location (51%), and speed of service (48%). The survey also uncovered a strong preference for more tailored communications from restaurants. 57% of respondents expressed a desire for personalised discounts based on their order history, compared to 34% who prefer generic offers. 40% of consumers are interested in increased use of technology for rewards and loyalty programmes. While price sensitivity remains a concern, the survey indicates that technology significantly influences dining decisions and repeat visits. 57% of diners report that mobile ordering apps have enhanced their dining experience. Other technological improvements valued by consumers include contactless payment options (40%), real-time order updates (69%) and faster service through technology (51%). 40% of respondents were inclined towards ordering from restaurants offering rewards or loyalty perks. Despite the inclination towards digital solutions, the survey also points to the importance of human interaction. The most popular ordering method remains in-store with human staff (38%), followed by drive-through (26%), highlighting that a balance between personal service and digital efficiency is crucial. The survey's findings also address customer pain points such as long wait times (42%), incorrect or missing items, and poor customer service. These issues can often be attributed to disconnected systems or labour challenges, which can be mitigated through integrated technology solutions. Mitchell added: 'Convenience without compromise is the new standard. By equipping staff with the right tools and automating behind-the-scenes processes, restaurants can meet demand without sacrificing experience.' In May 2025, HungerRush announced the integration of the Grubhub Marketplace with its POS system. This integration allows restaurants to manage Grubhub orders directly through the HungerRush POS platform, adding to existing partnerships with DoorDash and Uber Eats. "HungerRush survey reveals high consumer expectations for QSRs" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
The little-known AC button that will help slash your fuel bill & keep cars perfectly cool as temps soar this weekend
MOTORISTS might have missed this air conditioning setting that is essential for keeping costs down as the weather heats up. With a warm weekend ahead and temperatures hitting 29C today as Brits head into the summer months, drivers maybe unknowingly wasting money in the fight to keep their cars cool. 1 Many motorists might simply set their AC to full blast when trying to handle the heat, and while this will get temperatures down, it might be over-kill if you are travelling alone. Instead, setting your vehicle's air con to 'driver only' will make sure that all the energy will be used on cooling just you down, rather than refrigerating those empty seats. A vehicle's air conditioning can have a very negative impact on its fuel economy by putting a greater strain on its engine, according to The AA. 'Driver only' setting The car insurance company has urged drivers to check if their motor has the 'driver only' AC option, and to make sure it is always in use when appropriate. Air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by between 8 and 10 per cent, amounting to an extra 0.2 and 0.4 litres per hours, according to It is also advisable to reduce the increased strain on the engine by turning the flow rate down once the AC has brought your car to a comfortable temperature. Drivers should also avoid travelling at speed with the windows down, if they are trying to be as fuel-conscious as possible. Driving with open windows can increase the drag on the vehicle, making the engine work harder to maintain speed. Getting the instruments in your car regularly serviced is also key to keeping everything working efficiently. Kwik-fit recommends ensuring that your air-con system is regularly regasssed to keep it running as efficiently as possible while using minimal power. Car buyers face $500 added fee when buying new vehicle as angry drivers blast 'it's only benefitting dealers' It also lists ways in which drivers can cut down on having to use the AC at all. Taking measures such as parking in the shade and opening windows when setting off can help keep the car cool without putting more stain on the engine. Air Con not cold enough? Here are four checks you can do at home to save yourself hundreds By Jorge Hinojosa Mena A CAR expert has revealed four checks you can do at home if your air-con isn't cold enough. Air Con expert, Andrew, from specialist firm Accelerate Off-Grid Touring says that these simple checks are essential to ensure your air conditioning is summer-ready - and it could save you a bundle of cash. YouTube user @accelerateoffgridtouring, with more than 12,200 users on social media, explained that you should first check for any unusual noises in your motor. Andrew explained: "On most cars, when you turn the air conditioning on, you should hear a loud click, and that's the noise of the air compressor cutting in. "If you hear a rumbly sound once your compressor cuts in, this means it's on its way out, and you'd need a replacement." Second, the car expert recommends checking for any weird smells. "If there is a musty or unpleasant smell coming out of the vents or your allergy symptoms are being triggered when the air conditioning gets switched on, there may be a bacterial or mildew buildup in the system. "The other thing that can happen is it can be a sign that your evaporator's leaking, so it's leaking as in the car. That's sort of an issue. "The other thing you'll notice if your evaporator's leaking is the air conditioning will be low on gas, so it won't be as cold as it should be and will have that uneven vent temperature." Andrew advises carrying out a performance test to make sure your air-con is in good condition. He explained: "What we've done here is we've put a thermometer in the vent. You can just use any old thermometer. "We've set the fan to first or second speed, and we've also got it on recirculate. That's quite important. "What we should see is a temperature of below eight degrees. The temperature will fluctuate as the compressor cuts in and out. "This is a natural part of the air conditioning system. "What it will do is the compressor gets colder and colder and colder, as it gets down to a freezing point, so out here at the vents, it will say six degrees to five and a half degrees, the compressor will cut out, the temperature will rise to about seven or eight degrees, and then it will cut back in. The cycle will continue. It's called cycling." The expert insisted that if you see the temperature going below five degrees, that's a sign that something is wrong. He continued: "It's either gonna be faulty thermostat or thermistor, or more commonly, a blocked cabin filter." Lastly, Andrew says drivers should be concerned if they see water under their car after driving with the air-con on. The car expert added: "The air conditioning system was designed to drain the condensation to the exterior of the car. If you've driven for a long time, you pull up, and it will make a pool of water. "The amount of water it discharges at the bottom actually depends on the humidity of the day and what setting you've got your air conditioning on, so don't stress too much about having the pool. You just want to see it on the outside of the car. "One thing to look for is if the air con's cold, it's a humid day, and you do not have water on the ground outside of your car, maybe just check the passenger floor of your car 'cause sometimes that drain tube can block up, the water can leak inside the car, and obviously, then you get a mouldy, stinky carpet." This comes after an expert mechanic revealed some of their top tips about air conditioning, including one which can cool down your vehicle very quickly. Plus, an expert mechanic has revealed how to keep your car's air-con blowing ice cold-free.
New York Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
‘Respect the Rotisserie Chicken'
'Respect the rotisserie chicken.' A reader wrote to me last week with that gem of a sentence, and I want to put it on hats and tote bags. I'd asked you all for your cost-saving strategies in these dizzyingly expensive times. You replied en masse, with fascinating emails that detailed your grocery-shopping and cooking habits and shared a glimpse into your lives, whether you're in Alaska or Australia (both represented) or, most likely, somewhere in between. My colleagues Allison Jiang and Sharon Attia pulled your tips into this article, which is full of excellent advice. Take a look, leave comments, tell us more. Some of you are buying in bulk and going to the store less often. But — counterintuitively! I like it! — some of you are doing the exact opposite, shopping more often and buying less in each go. That way, you buy only what you need in that moment and avoid food waste from ignored groceries — the most expensive choice of all. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Washington Post
30-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Trump and Musk try to smooth over a threatened rift
After gutting federal agencies, stirring up a flurry of lawsuits and falling far short of his cost-saving goals, Elon Musk returned to the White House on Friday to say goodbye in person, a ceremonial ending to the 130 days that the world's richest man spent as a special government employee.
