From today, VAT is removed from electricity bills, saving the average household about 86p a week for six months. Here is what that spare change can buy.
What the saving means
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has taken VAT off electricity bills, which works out on average at around 86p per week. Journalist Allison Pearson commented: “Ladies and gentlemen, today your government takes VAT off electricity to give you 'a bit of breathing space'. It’s about 86p a week. Don’t go mad, will you? And it only lasts for six months!”
Kitchen staples within budget
In the kitchen, 86p goes surprisingly far when stocking up on basic ingredients. A 500g bag of Hearty Food Co. Penne Pasta costs around 41p, and a 1kg bag of Grower Harvest Long Grain Rice is 52p, both providing a solid foundation for home-cooked meals.
A 750g tub of Tesco Table Salt costs about 65p, while a tin of Stockwell & Co Baked Beans comes in at 28p. A loose lemon is only 30p, though a 1kg bag of Silver Spoon Granulated Sugar has recently crept just over budget to £1.09.
Health, household and stationery picks
Everyday health and household essentials also fit within the budget. A 16-pack of 500mg paracetamol tablets typically costs just 35p, and a traditional bar of Wright's soap is around 80p.
For stationery and DIY, a ten-pack of ballpoint pens is 75p, brown parcel tape works out to about 50p a roll in multipacks, and black PVC electrical tape has nudged up to £1.19.
Novelties for the pennies
On the lighter side, the spare change can buy novelties suitable as quick distractions or party bag fillers. For 80p, shoppers can get a sticky slap-and-stretch hand, a crackling plastic fidget tube that expands to nearly half a metre, or a rainbow smile face slinky keyring.
A tiny rubber game controller keyring is also 80p, and a heart-shaped eraser costs just 70p, showing that less than a pound can still buy plenty of colourful clutter.
