The cost of living is going up again, with almost everything becoming more expensive this summer.
Inflation is expected to hit 4 per cent by the end of the year, with higher oil prices caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran affecting not just fuel but all kinds of goods because of transportation costs in their supply chains.
Here’s what experts recommend on how to save and prevent our spending from getting out of control.
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NEWS
Putin body double rumours reignite – what we know
Caption: MOSCOW, RUSSIA – MARCH 26: Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Congress of Russian Union of Industialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), on March 26, 2026 in Moscow, Russia. President Putin Visited an annual congress of top national businessmen. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)
Photographer: Contributor
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Contributor#8523328
Talk of Vladimir Putin being shielded by a body double has circulated for years.
But the rumour was reignited when a senior Russian official addressed the President as “Pal Laich” in a video published by the Kremlin.
So, who is Pal Laich?
A not-so-Russian name
“Pal Laich, thank you very much. I have prepared a presentation,” Dmitry Patrushev, a deputy prime minister, appears to tell the Russian leader in the video.
There is no such name in Russian.
However, some social media users suggested that the name was perhaps short for Pavel Nikolaevich – the presumed identity of one of the Russian leader’s alleged doubles.
In the official Kremlin transcript, Patrushev’s comment was corrected to “Vladimir Vladimirovich”, the correct version of Putin’s first name and patronymic.
Analysis
3 min read
Changing names
Pro-Kremlin newspaper Kommersant admitted confusion over Patrushev’s comments. “It seems that no one can explain what it was. Maybe he got overstressed. Maybe he wanted to say something about something, but he caught himself,” it wrote.
Armed officers from the Russian Federal Security Service patrol the bridge over the Moskva River opposite the Kremlin in Moscow in a Tiger armoured vehicle (Photo: Getty Images)
Caption: (FILES) In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin walks down the steps to address troops from the defence ministry, National Guard, FSB security service and interior ministry gathered on the Sobornaya (Cathedral) Square from the porch of the the Palace of the Facets on the grounds of the Kremlin in central Moscow on June 27, 2023. Vladimir Putin’s four-year-long invasion of Ukraine is the culmination of a quarter century spent tightening his grip on power, crushing opponents and trying to expand Russia’s influence – and borders. (Photo by Sergei GUNEYEV / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: SERGEI GUNEYEV
Provider: POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Patrushev is not the only pro-Kremlin figure to have called Putin by another name. In 2023, Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, addressed Putin as “Vladimir Vasilyevich”. It is still unclear why.
Lookalike rumours over the years
There have been unproven rumours for years that Putin employs lookalikes to ensure his personal security or to lighten his workload.
In 2020, Putin said a plan was drawn up in the early 2000s, when Russia was fighting a war against Chechnya, but he rejected it.
In 2022, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence at the time, alleged that Putin regularly makes use of lookalikes.
Budanov claimed that Putin had at least three body doubles, and that it explained why Putin’s height and ear shape fluctauted over the years.
In 2024, facial recognition software used by Meduza, a Russian opposition website, failed to find any significant differences between photographs of Putin’s suspected “lookalikes”.
Caption: Undated handout file photo originally issued on 30/04/26 by the House of Lords of Baroness Meta Ramsay of Cartvale. The former chief of MI6 has paid tribute to “trailblazer” and “proper spy” Baroness Meta Ramsay, the woman once tipped to be the first female head of the service who died on Thursday. Lady Ramsay’s 22-year career saw her become the most senior officer in MI6 and take part in the 1985 extraction of KGB double agent Oleg Gordievsky from the Soviet Union – one of the most audacious operations of the Cold War. Issue date: Friday May 29, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA Wire
NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Photographer: Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament
Provider: Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA Wire
Source: PA
news
Tributes paid to MI6 ‘trailblazer’ Baroness Meta Ramsay
Tributes for “trailblazer” MI6 figurehead Meta Ramsay have poured in, following her death on Thursday aged 89.
Baroness Ramsay served for 22 years, rising to become the most senior officer within MI6.
What you need to know
She was just one of two women to break into the senior ranks of MI6 in the 70s and 80s.
In the 80s, she served as the head of MI6’s Helsinki station and oversaw one of the most daring operations of the Cold War: the exfiltration KGB double agent Oleg Gordievsky from the Soviet Union.
After retiring from MI6 in 1991, aged 55, she worked briefly as a consultant for a private security firm, before becoming foreign policy adviser to Labour leader John Smith, an old university friend.
POLITICS
5 min read
Devoted to the spy life
Ramsay devoted herself wholly to the spy lifestyle, never marrying or having a family. “There just wasn’t the right man at the right time, or if the time was right, the men weren’t,” she was quoted as saying by PA.
A lifelong socialist, Ramsay said her proudest achievement in office was helping to steer the 1998 Scotland Act – which established the Scottish Parliament – through the upper chamber.
Explained
4 min read
NEWS
4 min read
Tributes to ‘proper spy’
Caption: Undated handout file photo originally issued on 30/04/26 by the House of Lords of Baroness Meta Ramsay of Cartvale. The former chief of MI6 has paid tribute to “trailblazer” and “proper spy” Baroness Meta Ramsay, the woman once tipped to be the first female head of the service who died on Thursday. Lady Ramsay’s 22-year career saw her become the most senior officer in MI6 and take part in the 1985 extraction of KGB double agent Oleg Gordievsky from the Soviet Union – one of the most audacious operations of the Cold War. Issue date: Friday May 29, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA Wire
NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Photographer: Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament
Provider: Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA Wire
Source: PA
Sir Richard Moore
The former MI6 boss, Sir Richard Moore, described Ramsay as a “trailblazer” and a “proper spy” in his tribute.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “Meta had an incredible life… She was a valued friend to my father, myself and my wife.”
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle makes a statement in the Commons after SNP and Conservative MPs walked out of the Commons chamber (Photo: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA)
Lucy Powell has said that Starmer must continue as prime minister (Photo: Thomas Krych/Anadolu via Getty)
Lucy Powell
Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell described her as “a remarkable woman, who led an extraordinary life”.
London Aquarium owner pledges to phase out gentoo penguins
The owner of Sea Life London Aquarium has pledged to phase out gentoo penguins at all of its UK facilities, following long-standing calls from campaigners.
Merlin Entertainments said it would merge the 14 penguins in London with the 17 in Birmingham into a single colony, with a new habitat that has natural light and more water space.
Caption: Undated Born Free handout photo of the Gentoo penguins’ enclosure at Sea Life London Aquarium. 250 people attended a demonstration organised by Freedom for Animals with support from Born Free and The Express newspaper, to protest against the captivity of 15 gentoo penguins at the Sea Life London Aquarium attraction in Westminster, London. Issue date: Sunday October 19, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Born Free/PA Wire
NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Photographer: Born Free
Provider: Born Free/PA Wire
Source: PA
NEWS
3 min read
No fresh air or natural light
The company has also committed to permanently ending its penguin breeding programme after holding two-days of talks last week.
Campaigners from Freedom for Animals, the Born Free Foundation, alongside MPs, have long called on zoo bosses to provide better conditions for the penguins.
The penguins are housed in an indoor basement enclosure in London, without access to fresh air or daylight.
LIFESTYLE
5 min read
A ‘material difference’
While improved conditions can never resolve the fundamental ethical issue of captivity, we recognise that the proposed measures would make a material difference to the lives of these penguins
Laura Walton, co-director of Freedom for Animals
Caption: People take part in the Free the Fifteen protest organised by Freedom for Animals with support from Born Free, who are calling for a group of 15 Gentoo penguins to be freed from their basement enclosure, at Sea Life London. Picture date: Sunday October 19, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
Photographer: Jonathan Brady
Provider: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
Source: PA
news
Cause of deaths of sisters recovered off Brighton beach ‘unknown’
Caption: BEST QULAITY AVAILABLE
Undated family handout photo issued by Sussex Police of sisters with their father Joseph, (left to right) Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32 and Rebecca Walters, 31, from the Uxbridge area of London, whose bodies were recovered from the sea off Brighton beach. Emergency services were called after concerns were raised for a person’s welfare at around 5.45am on May 13, before three bodies were pulled from the water near Madeira Drive. Issue date: Wednesday May 20, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Family Handout/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Photographer: Family Handout
Provider: Family Handout/PA Wire
Source: PA
The cause of deaths of the three sisters recovered from the sea off Brighton beach is yet to be ascertained, but police say they do not suspect foul play at this stage.
On 13 May, emergency services were called after concerns were raised for a person’s welfare at around 5.45am. Three bodies were later pulled from the water near Madeira Drive.
No evidence of criminality
The women were named by Sussex Police as Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, from the Uxbridge area of London. The sisters lived at the same address in Greenford, west London.
Police said there is no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved in the incident, but detectives are still gathering the full facts.
Caption: BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – MAY 13: Police guard the beach after the bodies of three women were recovered from the sea in Brighton on May 13, 2026 in Brighton, England. Police say the bodies of three women have been recovered from the sea in Brighton, after emergency services received calls for concern over their welfare around 5:45 this morning. Police are working to identify the women and investigate the circumstances of their deaths. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Photographer: Bryn Lennon
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Getty Images
LIVE
1 min read
Choppy waves and windy conditions
The inquest heard that “medical investigations are ongoing to finalise the cause of death” for all three women.
Here’s what we know about the incident:
The sea appeared choppy, with waves crashing against the marina wall in windy conditions on 13 May.
Statements read to the inquest detailed that Adetoro was brought to shore by an RNLI crew and declared deceased by a paramedic at the scene.
Christina Walters was recovered from the sea by an RNLI lifeboat and Rebecca Walters was washed on to the shore of Brighton beach. Both were also declared dead by paramedics.
Hundreds of hours of CCTV footage have been reviewed to try to track the women’s last movements, the force has said.
Cold water shock explained as 12 die during heatwave
Temperatures remain above average for much of the UK after a record-breaking spell of hot weather saw 12 people die in open water and a yellow heat health alert remains in force.
An exceptional bank holiday heatwave is currently bringing record-breaking weather to England, with temperatures forecast to climb into the low 30s by Monday (Photo: Finnbarr Webster/Getty)
Warning over increased risk of drowning
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) alert for eastern and South East England and London runs until 8pm on Saturday. Water-related incidents could increase during this time, with the agency warning of cold water shock and drowning.
NEWS
4 min read
LIFESTYLE
2 min read
What is cold water shock?
Cold water shock is the body’s natural physical reaction to sudden immersion in cold water.
The response is immediate and can lead to drowning, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said.
Anyone who suddenly enters cold water is at risk, and they may accidentally fall in or jump in.
Cold water shock can affect anyone regardless of swimming ability.
NEWS
3 min read
What happens when you have cold water shock?
It causes gasping, panic and loss of swimming ability, all of which can lead to drowning, the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) said. It also causes a spike in heart rate and blood pressure, which can result in a heart attack, even if the person is fit and healthy.
People gathering in the river Thames in South Bank in London (Photographer: lorenzo grifantini
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStock Editorial)
LIFESTYLE
5 min read
How cold is water in the UK?
Many inland waters remain at 16°C or below even in summer. This temperature is considered hazardous for cold water shock.
Even on a hot day water can be cold. Average UK and Ireland sea temperatures are 12°C and rivers such as the Thames are colder.
Monger was brilliant in the water (Photo: BBC/SBX Studios Ltd/Daniel Weiss)
Water can take many weeks to warm up. Sea water around the UK does not get to its warmest until late August or early September.
NEWS
Two adults and a child die in London after fall from building
Caption: General view of the high-rise block of flats on Churchyard Row, Elephant and Castle, in south London, where a man, a woman and a child have died after a fall on Wednesday. Their deaths are being treated as unexpected. Picture date: Friday May 29, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Erik Olsson/PA Wire
Photographer: Erik Olsson
Provider: Erik Olsson/PA Wire
Source: PA
A man, a woman and a child have died after falling from a high-rise block of flats in south London, the Metropolitan Police said.
Officers were called to the Uncle building in Elephant and Castle at 7.29am on Wednesday to reports that people had fallen from a height.
Emergency services arrived in minutes
Our first paramedic arrived in around four minutes. Very sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, three people were pronounced dead at the scene.
London ambulance service spokesperson
Emergency ambulance on city street in London, UK – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Deaths treated as ‘unexpected’
The deaths are being treated as “unexpected” and no other injuries have been reported, the force said. Their next of kin has been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.
The Met Police said officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service, London’s Air Ambulance and the London Fire Brigade.
Caption: General view of the high-rise block of flats on Churchyard Row, Elephant and Castle, in south London, where a man, a woman and a child have died after a fall on Wednesday. Their deaths are being treated as unexpected. Picture date: Friday May 29, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Erik Olsson/PA Wire
Photographer: Erik Olsson
Provider: Erik Olsson/PA Wire
Source: PA
LIVE
1 min read
Check your contracts and subscriptions
News about inflation can “feel like an unending spiral of doom for many people”, says consumer expert Martyn James, “and there will be an impact for the foreseeable future”. He fears it could become “the most expensive summer ever”.
But he says people can often cut costs more easily than they expect. When trying to save, we tend to instinctively think about shopping habits – but the biggest savings are usually made by checking contracts and subscriptions.
More than a quarter of Britons are out of contract with their broadband providers, making their bills £7 to £9 per month higher on average, according to Ofcom. If you’re one of them, “you could halve your broadband bill from £100 to £50 or less,” James advises.
Similarly, check your mobile phone usage to pick the cheapest plan. “We might think we need 30GB of data every month, but actually we’re using Wi-Fi most of the time,” he says. “You can easily reduce your monthly phone bill from £40 to a tenner overnight.”
Watch out for insurance policies you don’t need, too. “Some people get new phones and forget to cancel the insurance policy that was sold to them last time,” James says. If you need several gadgets insured, buy a single product to cover them all.
The consumer expert Martyn James says most people can make their biggest savings by checking their contract and subscription payments (Photos: Martyn James/PA)
For any form of insurance, set a calendar reminder for one month before it expires. “That’s the best time to renegotiate,” James says, observing that “people are getting £200 to £300 off their car insurance four weeks before renewal”.
James also advises people to check the last 13 months of their bank and credit card statements for unnecessary subscriptions. Not only can you cancel them, you might even be able to claim some money back. Look out for regular e-payments on Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal accounts, too.
Don’t rely on banking app filters to find these payments for you, James adds. “You have to do it manually because most subscriptions are not taken by standing order or direct debit, they’re taken by a continuous payment authority.”
Follow timeless advice for cheaper groceries
Dr Liliana Danila, chief economist at the Food and Drink Federation, forecasts that inflation on food could reach at least 9 per cent by December. “Consumers will see the prices of foods that are less manufactured, like fresh produce, rise first,” she predicts. However, the most energy-intensive producers are likely to be hit hardest, affecting butter and pastries, for example.
So what to do? Switch to cheaper supermarkets such as Lidl, swap from big brands to chains’ own ranges, look for offers, use loyalty cards, set budgets in advance, and avoid shopping while hungry to reduce impulsive purchases.
Lidl recently became the UK’s fifth-largest supermarket chain with people switching to budget supermarkets (Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty)
Drive – and fuel up – more efficiently
Much like the tips for cutting supermarket bills, there are many ways of maximising fuel efficiency. Although you must stick to speed limits, modern cars are usually most efficient at 45 mph to 50mph, and it’s best to drive in the highest gear possible as that reduces engine revolutions.
Lighten the weight of your car, such as by removing unused roof boxes and cycle racks, which will also eliminate aerodynamic drag – two things that burn more fuel.
Use air conditioning only when it’s really needed because it uses engine power, and make sure tyres aren’t under- or over-inflated as that increases fuel consumption.
But ultimately, “the best thing you can ultimately do is buy the cheapest possible fuel for your car,” says the RAC’s head of policy, Simon Williams.
Supermarket petrol stations are generally cheaper, while motorway services are more expensive (Photo: Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty)
“Motorway services are the most expensive places to buy fuel,” advises Williams. Supermarkets are generally several pence cheaper, but there are some independents that really pride themselves on having the best prices.”
He recommends checking his organisation’s My RAC app to find the cheapest station nearby. Data from the Government’s Fuel Finder scheme is also available on other trackers like DriveScore, MotorMouth and Fuel Spy.
Check your energy tariff before it’s too late
If you live in one of the 33 million households in England, Wales and Scotland that have a standard variable energy tariff regulated by Ofgem’s consumer price cap, 1 July is a deadline day (the Ofgem price cap does not apply to Northern Ireland).
That’s when the price cap rises by 13 per cent, meaning an average annual bill increase of £221 to £1,862 – so, before the end of June, check on price comparison websites whether you can find a cheaper fixed deal. Although it’s possible this could end up being more expensive if prices drop significantly in the coming months, experts think that’s unlikely.
How you pay makes a difference too, says James: “If you pay by direct debit, it’s around about 8 per cent cheaper.”
Act before 1 July to beat the rising energy price cap (Photo: Anna Barclay/Getty)
Create your own discounts hub
To take advantage of discounts and offers more strategically, James suggests setting up a new email account purely for newsletters. This avoids your normal inbox being swamped, and creates a go-to hub for the latest deals.
Some people avoid credit cards for fear of overspending or incurring charges. But if you’re confident about repaying bills in full every month, then cashback deals – offered by credit providers including Lloyds and American Express – can add up.
Enjoy cheaper travel while it lasts
There is some good news: flight prices remain surprisingly low. Warnings about potential jet fuel shortages have suppressed demand, but the situation is now thought to be safe until at least late summer, so some airlines have reduced prices. One-way flights to Spain in June are available on the price comparison site Skyscanner for as little as £24, or for £36 in August.
Securing the cheapest prices relies on flying with little baggage at off-peak times, so if you can be flexible, travel on weekdays and plan ahead to avoid overpacking.
Cheap flights to European holiday destinations including Spain can still be found for this summer (Photo: Nacho Cubero/Europa Press via Getty)
There are good hotel deals to be found, too. Across Europe, prices for June are actually 1.5 per cent lower than they were last summer, according to Lighthouse, a hospitality data analytics firm. Compared with last year, hotel prices are down in places such as Finland, Albania, Jamaica and the Bahamas.
If you prefer staying in Britain, the consumer group Which? has compiled a list of the best cheap beach towns in the UK – naming Tenby in Pembrokeshire as the best – and travel firms have reported a surge in bookings for the Lake District.
For family days out, the Government has made bus travel in England free for children aged 15 or under throughout August. It is already free in Scotland for anyone aged 21 or under, while Wales has a £1 cap on fares for the same age group.