More admit to wearing clothes and taking them back than fiddling insurance claims

Confused.com reveals the lengths people go to for money - and suggests easier ways for 2011 • 2% admit to having been a paid escort/having had sex for money • 2% admit to having shoplifted • 13% say they have used teabags twice • Nearly one in five (18%) admit sneaking alcohol into a bar New research from Confused.com has revealed the lengths Brit’s have gone to in order to raise and save cash when times are tight. The same amount of people admit to having been a paid escort and shoplifting as fiddling insurance claims (2%). 13% admit to having used teabags twice, while nearly one in five (18%) admit to taking free sachets of salt, pepper and ketchup from food outlets to use at home to save buying it. 4% admit to having eaten fruit directly from bushes at pick your own whilst 4% admit to wearing clothes, leaving the label on and taking them back to a shop. Confused.com reveals positions 6-25 of the top 25 savings actions below - view the top 5 at www.confused.com/savings/top-25-ways-to-save-money Chris Griffiths, savings expert at Confused.com, said: “Our research shows that there are lots of things we do to save some cash when times are tight, and while this type of cost cutting can help in the short term it may not help you get to the root of the issue. Have a look at your income and outgoings and see if there are any small changes you can make, ask yourself honestly is there anywhere you can cut back spending on non-essentials? If you’re struggling to find out where to start cutting the pennies, why not try out our new online cost savings calculator to see where your cash is going, and then set yourself a target of what to save. “To help avoid falling short if anything unexpected should happen, try to put aside a savings pot for a rainy day, giving you a back up to rely on if there are unexpected costs you may not have budgeted for. With tax-free, instant access, fixed term and regular savings accounts to choose from, there’s something for everyone, no matter what your savings needs or ambitions.” The Confused.com savings calculator can be found at www.confused.com/savings/cost-calculator Chris’ top tips for saving 1. Make the most of tax free savings – open and use an ISA (Individual Savings Account ) 2. Set yourself a goal and stick to it Whether your goal is to save £50 or £500 a month it’s important to pick a realistic amount and stick to it. Why not set up a standing order to transfer money from your current account to savings accounts after payday and treat saving as you would a bill. 3. Save for treats as well as the long term - but don’t treat savings as free cash Saving for the long term can be hard work and can be demotivating when you aren’t seeing the rewards for your hard work. Why not allow yourself a small treat everytime you reach a milestone – i.e. a £25 purchase once you have £500 banked? Ends Media information: Zoe Stevens, PR manager zoe.stevens@confused.com 02920 494393 Notes to editors: Research carried out by one poll in December 2010. 2000 respondents. About Confused.com: Confused.com is one of the UK’s biggest and most popular price comparison services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, van insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and energy, as well as financial services products including credit cards, loans, mortgages and life insurance. Confused.com is not a supplier, insurance company or broker. It provides a free, objective and unbiased comparison service. By using cutting-edge technology, it has developed a series of intelligent web-based solutions that evaluate a number of risk factors to help customers with their decision-making, subsequently finding them great deals on a wide-range of insurance products, financial services, utilities and more. Confused.com’s service is based on the most up-to-date information provided by UK suppliers and industry regulators. Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.