Money blog: UK pint price map; bad news for NatWest customers; major change at Airbnb (2025)

Origin Broadband will close next month, with all customers being transferred to another provider.

The company, which is a subsidiary of TalkTalk, told customers it will "exit the telecoms market" on 1 June.

Those affected by the changes will see their services taken over by Utility Warehouse, which provides broadband using TalkTalk's network.

Utility Warehouse started providing the services to customers from 28 March. All 95,000 will be switched over by the end of June.

According to MoneySavingExpert, the move will happen automatically and should not result in any outages.

It says there will not be a need for any new equipment, fees, or contract changes, and your broadband speeds will remain the same.

A TalkTalk spokesperson told Money: "TalkTalk and Utility Warehouse (UW) have enjoyed a long-standing partnership.

"As announced by UW recently, TalkTalk has agreed a partnership under which approximately 95,000 Origin customers will be transferred to UW.

"Impacted customers will be contacted ahead of migration. No decision has been taken on the future of the Origin brand."

Money has contacted Utility Warehouse for comment.

NatWest is reducing the rates across its easy access savings accounts.

In an email to customers, the bank listed the changes that were being made...

It said reductions to Direct Regular Saver and Flexible Saver accounts will begin on 30 May.

Rates on Primary Savings accounts will change from 15 July.

NatWest isn't the only one making the changes. We have also seen HSBC and Barclays announce similar moves.

It comes after the Bank of England cut the base rate last week from 4.5% to 4.25%.

Anna Bowes, savings expert from The Private Office, told Money: "As expected, the high street banks are quick off the mark to announce cuts to their savings rates.

"The easy access accounts are often already paying some of the lowest rates in the market, so don't wait for these latest reductions to come into force - switch now to earn more."

You can read all about what's going on with savings accounts in this week's Savings Guide.

Wherever you are when you buy a pint can have a big impact on the price you'll pay.

Data shared with Money by consultancy CGA shows that the average cost of a pint in Great Britain is £4.60.

A regional breakdown shows that, as expected, London comes in as the most expensive place to buy a pint at £5.44.

The South and the South East comes in at second place at £4.94, with the South West also above the national average at £4.63.

At the other end of the scale, Wales comes in as the cheapest place to buy a pint at £4.21.

Take a look at the full breakdown in our interactive map below.

Private chefs, spa treatments and makeup artists are some of the new services being offered by Airbnb.

Launched in 2008, the site has hosted two billion guests, but it has recently faced several challenges as popular holiday destinations look to clamp down on short-term lets.

In response, it has expanded its business offerings, giving customers access to luxury services and experiences.

Its new services will initially be available in 260 cities - and they're not restricted to people staying in Airbnbs.

There are 10 categories to choose from, including chefs, photography, massage and personal training, with prices starting at less than $50 (£37.52).

"People choose hotels for their services. People choose Airbnbs for the space. Now, we're giving you the best of both worlds", the company's chief executive Brian Chesky said.

Airbnb said the services are "vetted for quality through an evaluation of expertise and reputation".

"Services hosts have an average of 10 years of experience, have completed Airbnb's identity verification process, and are required to submit relevant licenses and certifications," it added.

Earlier this year, the Money blog examined whether the Airbnb bubble had burst...

For this week's guide, Anna Bowes, savings expert fromThe Private Office,looks at options for locking your cash away, or accessing it anytime...

We had been expecting to see saving accounts rates fall after the Bank of England cut the base rate to 4.25% last week.

While that was the case for a lot of fixed-rate bonds, the same can't be said for easy access accounts, where we saw rates remain pretty stable and, in some cases, rise.

Easy access accounts

The West Brom Building Society increased the rate it is paying on its Four Access Saver (Issue 2) - from 4.4% to 4.65%.

But Bowes says there was a notable casualty, with Chip closing the previous version of its easy access saver, which was paying 4.76%, replacing it with its latest issue paying just 3.25%.

"This has seen it fall way down the ranks, although those who opened an account before the latest rate cut will continue to enjoy the previous rate - for the time being at least," she says.

She warns that further falls could also be on the way.

"It's vital to keep an eye on the interest rates you are earning on your existing savings accounts and switch them if they're no longer competitive," she adds.

"As we've mentioned before, it's also important to read all the terms and conditions of any new savings account that you open.

"They often have short-term bonuses or restricted access, which may mean that you don't earn as much interest as you were expecting, or you cannot access the money when you need it."

Fixed-rate bonds

While we saw some stability across easy access accounts, it was a different picture for the top fixed-term bond rates.

"Rates were starting to fall before the base rate cut - and it's continued over the past week or so, albeit still at a trickle rather than a torrent," Bowes says.

"Competition between providers is keeping things elevated."

We saw a new provider enter the market this week. Conister Bank introduced a stable of fixed-rate bonds, including its one-year bond which tops the best buy table, paying 4.52% on balances from £5,000.

Fixed-rate ISAs

Bowes says: "It's the same story with the top fixed cash ISA rates - they are coming down too and there have been some slightly sharper cuts to the top two-year and three-year rates."

They dropped by 0.13% and 0.15% respectively, to 4.17% and 4.15%.

"Once again, while disappointing if interest rates continue to fall going forward, if you've locked in at these rates you may well still be congratulating yourself in the future - for grabbing top tax-free rates while you can," she adds.

Easy access cash ISAs

Both Plum and Moneybox have withdrawn their previously table-topping accounts, replacing them with accounts paying quite considerably lower rates of 4.80% and 4.81% respectively - down from 5.05% and 5.06%.

But they remain at the top of the chart.

"Once again as with the easy access accounts, a number of the top rates are being offered by financial apps rather than banks (Moneybox, Plum and Tembo) so you need to check which banks each of these financial app providers have partnered with, so that you know where your money is," says Bowes.

"As mentioned above, there may also be accounts that have restricted access whereby the rate drops if you make more than the allotted number of account of withdrawals and there could be bonuses that last for short periods before the rate you are earning drops sharply."

If you're paying more than £30 a month for broadband, you're paying too much.

Which? has released data looking at full fibre deals with a download speed of at least 70Mbps, the UK average.

It found many deals that came in at less than £30 even with upfront costs, promotional discounts and future mid-contract increases factored in.

The not-for-profit consumer champion says more than a third of broadband customers are out of contract - meaning they're likely to be paying an expensive standard tariff and getting hit with a hefty price rise each year.

We wanted to look beyond the press release to get some practical tips for Money blog readers, so sat down with Which? head of home products and services Natalie Hitchins...

Hi Natalie, firstly, why do most broadband customers find themselves paying more than £30...

Out-of-contract customers often pay more than those in a contract. For customers who don't haggle, prices will continue to rise based on annual hikes and by how much providers decide to increase prices at the end of a contract. They'll also miss out on low introductory offers from rivals that are looking to entice new customers.

How much could most of these customers save?

Our research shows that out-of-contract TV and broadband customers could save an average of £160 a year by switching and £117 by haggling. So it's well worth doing your research on the best deals on the market and switching to a new provider, or haggling with your current supplier if you're happy with the service.

Okay, you're an expert in this - what's the best way to haggle?

Haggling can sound daunting, but it's expected and invited by most of the big broadband providers. These days, it doesn't have to include a long phone call either - most providers will allow you to do it via live chat.

Do your research on the deals available and use this information to negotiate with your provider. If you want a faster speed, a better router or additional services such as pay TV, then simply ask your provider what they can do for you.

You can use a switching service, likeWhich? Compare, to check the deals available in your area and compare them to your contract.

Haggling is particularly important if you don't have multiple providers to choose from in your area. If you're in that boat, it's essential to stay on top of your contract and renegotiate regularly.

Contracts can be long and many people don't have time to read every word - what are the key things to look out for?

Check for any mid-contract price hikes that mean your bills could increase annually. These price rises are used by many of the biggest firms, including BT, EE, TalkTalk and Virgin Media.

Many of the smaller firms don't bake these price hikes into their contracts, so there are plenty of options available to avoid future increases. Essentially, calculate the full cost of a contract in advance so you can more easily compare providers.

Make a note of when your contract ends so you can remember to haggle or switch when it comes to an end.

Some experts say bundling is a good way to save - what's your view?

It really depends on whether you will use everything included in the bundle. For example, some providers include TV bundles - such as Sky Sports. It's important to weigh up how much you will use this and whether the extra cost is worth it for you.

Should you be trying to get incentives?

It's become increasingly common for broadband providers to offer a little sweetener to entice new customers, so look out for incentives when you switch providers. They typically include vouchers and reward cards, but sometimes hardware is on offer too - we've spotted things such as wireless speakers, tablets or even televisions. However, since many of these are factored into a higher monthly cost, always compare the price you're paying carefully with what you can get elsewhere.

There's usually a process to apply for these incentives, so if you're offered any incentive with a new deal, take note of what's necessary to claim it when you sign up and set a reminder so you don't forget before you run out of time.

Is it right that people in certain parts of the country could have access to cheaper deals?

Our analysis focused on services using the Openreach and Virgin Media networks, as these are widely available throughout the UK.

However, even cheaper deals will be available to those in certain parts of the country - if you live in parts of London or Hull, for example, deals offered by Community Fibre and KCOM are often even more attractively priced than those offered by the major providers.

Because alternative networks are continually rolling out services in different parts of the country, you may be lucky enough to have access to one such as those offered by Hyperoptic or CityFibre (used to provide Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone and Zen Internet in certain areas), or smaller localised providers.

Find out more using ourguide to regional broadband providers.

Thinking of heading to Switzerland for the UEFA Women's Euros this summer? It might be worth knowing about this deal - and all the small print that comes with it.

Booking.com is offering 50% back on hotel rooms, hotels and apartments for fans travelling to follow their team at the competition.

You can get the deal by using the promo code FOOTY50 when booking accommodation in one of the host cities between 1 and 28 July.

But there are some details that you need to be aware of.

You don't get the 50% back in cash

Basically, the 50% back is rewarded to you in travel credits, which you can then use on Booking.com towards a future trip.

They must be used to book another trip within 12 months from the date the travel credits are received.

This should be as soon as you check out but it could take up to two weeks after you have booked your trip.

Promo code is only valid for one specific week

The promo code you need to use to claim the deal is only valid between 9am on 20 May and 9am on 27 May.

It might even be cut shorter as it can only be used 175 times or until £35,000 is spent in total by customers using the code.

There is a maximum reward value

There is also a maximum reward value of 3,000 euros, which is around £2,526.

This means you won't get back any more than that amount.

NOW has announced that it is increasing the prices of three of its broadband products from July.

Customers on Fab Fibre, Super Fibre and Brilliant Broadband will see their bills rise by £3 a month, which equates to an extra £36 a year.

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch, said the rise was in line with what many of the bigger broadband providers have implemented.

He said it worked out as around a 10% increase when applied to the average monthly broadband bill of £29.60, which is higher than the current 2.6% inflation rate.

But he added customers could avoid the costs by switching to a different provider before the rise comes into force.

NOW, which is owned by the parent company of Sky News, is giving customers 31 days from receiving the price increase notification to cancel their contract without any early termination fees.

"Data from Uswitch shows that consumers can save an average of £181 by switching broadband providers," said Doku.

"It's also worth considering regional providers, such as Hyperoptic or Trooli, who not only offer fast speeds at low prices but also don’t increase prices mid-contract."

It should be noted that Uswitch is a comparison service and switching site, so obviously has an interest in people opting for a new provider.

Check out the Money blog first thing tomorrow for more on the theme of getting a cheaper broadband deal...

ByMegan Harwood-Baynes, cost of living specialist

Empty cosmetic packages aren't normally the first things that come to mind when trying to make extra cash.

But recycling your containers at a few select stores - and being savvy with old perfume bottles - can earn you more than you'd think.

Recycling

Several recycling schemes will give you vouchers, discounts and even free gifts for using them.

Boots Scan2Recycle: This one is a bit of a faff, but you could ultimately be rewarded with a £5 voucher, so I think it's worth it. Download the app to see a list of eligible containers to recycle, and then you need to take a picture of the product and upload it to the app to register it. You can also now recycle your medicine blister packs under the scheme.

After the image has been verified, you drop it off in store at a recycling scheme, scanning both a QR code and the item's barcode again. Once the deposit is confirmed, you get a £5 reward voucher - one a day, or up to eight a month if you recycle that much stuff.

John Lewis BeautyCycle: Sadly this scheme is not quite as good as it once was. It followed the same principles as Boots, with £5 off a £20 spend in return for recycling five empties. But now you have to spend £50 or more on B Corp-certified beauty brands.

This includes brands like Chloe and Elemis, but it's still quite expensive, with quite a high qualifying price.

Wild: If you already use Wild deodorant, it now has a scheme where you can send back an old or broken case and in return you are sent a £5 voucher. The scheme has recently been expanded, and you can now also return body wash and lip balm cases.

Lush:This one has been around for a while, but it's a classic for a reason. Bring back five empty Lush containers and you will be rewarded with a free face mask. Or if you don't have five, each container will earn you 50p off in store.

CultBeauty: You can add a free recycle:me bag to your order, and once you've downloaded its recycling app, you can scan to see which items are eligible to be returned. You need a minimum of five items but you'll then get £5 worth of points added to your account.

The Perfume Shop: Take back any empty perfume bottle and you'll get 15% off an in-store purchase. This is good if you are already planning to replace an item and have an empty one to hand.

L'Occitane: Take back beauty containers from any brand and get 10% off in store.

Selling

Sell perfume bottles on eBay

I was given my first bottle of Marc Jacobs perfume on my 19th birthday and have loved his scents ever since. They come in absolutely stunning bottles, but after ten years, I just had too many cluttering up my dressing table, and thanks to Stacey Solomon starting a trend of upcycling old bottles, they're quite easy to sell online. (Yes, they are empty, all the perfume is gone.)

I listed a couple on eBay for £4 a go - they were quickly snapped up. Stupidly, I got offered £15 for one and got cocky thinking I would win more at auction. I didn't, and that seller grabbed themselves a £3.53 bargain. Lesson learnt.

Nearly a quarter of parents have seen their adult children move back home after leaving, research by NatWest has shown.

The average age of a "re-nesting" adult is 26, the bank found, but more than a fifth who return to their parents' home are over the age of 30.

Many children don't return home alone, either. Almost one in four (22%) of parents polled reported that their child moved back in with a partner or family of their own.

The survey of 2,000 people across the UK found 42% of mothers would welcome back their children as adults, compared with 34% of fathers.

A total of 60% of parents said they would charge their children rent, with most (33%) charging between £101 - £200 per month.

The main reason for adults returning home was financial, with many hoping the move would allow them to save for a deposit of their own.

Once they returned, the average adult spent around two years at home before leaving again.