However the recession can be good for some people as there are many opportunities for UK consumers to get some great deals and even move the services that they use up to higher levels with no or little cost at all.

Banks although having a bad press need customers, without them they are finished. So currently, there are some good deals out there for customers to upgrade their accounts or take our additional services.

In the high street there are constant sales, so buyers are able to get some deals on high value products, it is an opportunity for those who can afford it to get out there and grab some bargains.

Source [Wallet Pop]

However, this is not in the country, this is urban hen keeping. This form of egg production has really taken off recently probably in the last year of so. There is no solid reason behind but being able to produce fresh free range eggs for a fraction of the price has to be something to do with it.

The maths is easy, the average hen will set you back about £10 to £12, but they will lay over the three hundred eggs per year. All they need is somewhere safe to sleep and food. For family it is clear to see that keeping chickens can be a productive method of saving money and providing a good quality food.

Source [Guardian]

However, there is no escape from this chore, no matter how much it is disliked. The business finances are a very important part of working for yourself. Fortunately, there is some help out there, which should make the job a lot easier, like these below:

Keep Your Bills in One Place
Pay Your Bills on Schedule
Read Your Credit Card Statements
Take Advantage of Automatic Payments
Computerize Your Chequebook
Get Overdraft Protection
Cancel Unused Accounts
Consolidate Your Accounts
Establish Automatic Savings
Clean up Your Files

Source [Oarticles]

Nevertheless, it may not be as hard as you think, because becoming a multi billionaire will only cost you around £40!

Yes, it is true that you can buy literally anything on eBay, including a hundred billion dollar note!

These are real currency, but may not buy you much as they are from the troubled African state of Zimbabwe. The country is experiencing hyperinflation, which has made saving worthless and buying simple things a total nightmare for the people.

Source [AOL]

Environmental campaigners are now claiming that the increase in the production of bio fuels has actually caused a seventy five increase in food prices. This is something that we have all noticed in this country, but in countries where the people were simply surviving they are in an impossible position.

Most countries have the standard shopping basket of food which is how they gauge the food prices. The price of this food basket has risen by a hundred and forty per cent since 2002, it is recognised that there has been an increase in fertiliser and energy costs, but this only accounts for fifteen per cent, while the other seventy five per cent is down to the production of bio fuels.

Source [Telegraph]

This is because the law is changing the statutory damages awards. Currently being sued would mean that the copyright owner could seek compensation for between $500 and $20,000 for each infringement, that could work out expensive.

But the new law means that only $500 may be given in damages and all other preceding infringements do not count. So for the ten claims it could have cost $200,000, but because of the law change it is still $500!

Source [IC]

They had a particularly nice painting by the famous French impressionist master Claude Monet. It was the painting called Le Bassin aux Nympheas (Water Lily Pond) everyone knew that the painting was going to go well, but just how well it was going to go we called only guess.

But it soon became clear that the painting was heading for record books and with a final price tag of around £40 million including fees, it became the most expensive work of art to be sold within Europe. It’s incredible to think of a work of art being valued at so much, but it is!

Source [CBS]

Welcome to the life of an asylum seeker, where there are many fully qualified professionals, who could be doctors, dentists and other vital service providers stuck in limbo. These people who it is fair enough to say have had a hard enough time are living in poverty.

With no where to go asylum seekers are being placed in single rooms if they are lucky in shared houses, to live in they are given £35 worth of vouchers per week, which can only be spent in one store and they cannot be given any change!

Welcome to the modern world!

Source [Guardian]

Gay weddings are now the big business which is fuelling other related business along the way, this new wave of associated items such as cakes, flowers and hospitality areas.

Its not just in the US where this type of industry has taken off, the way that gay wedding ceremonies have become accepted throughout vary many different countries has been a shot in the arm for many places that would be suffering from the credit crunch and just a decline in spending in general.

Source [CNN]

But why is the cost of oil increasing in this manner?

There are several explanations for these increases, none of which are going to help the end user at all.

Oil is:

Difficult to Extract Oil & High Environmental Impact
Difficult to Extract Oil is an Unreliable Supply
Oil Companies are More Powerful as Profits Increase

It all boils down to supply and demand, we want it and they have it!

Source [Clean Technica]

http://cleantechnica.com/2008/05/28/3-hidden-costs-to-high-oil-prices/