Market Performance: May 8, 2024.

US stocks rose on Thursday as a fresh earnings batch provided mixed results and a reading on unemployment claims showed evidence that the labor market continues to cool. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose about 0.4% in an effort to extend a six-day winning streak. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) gained 0.2%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) rose 0.1%. Stocks have lost some of their bounce — but mostly avoided bigger losses — after a growing chorus of Federal Reserve officials made it clear that interest rates will need to stay higher for longer, with resistant inflation the sticking point.

However, initial weekly jobless claims data released on Thursday came in at 231,000, an increase of 22,000 from the prior week and the highest level since August. The latest Department of Labor print signals the job market continues to slow.

Smart saving tips to make your money go further

Regular saving, whatever the amount, not only creates financial resilience but also improves your ability to cope with unexpected circumstances and life events. Around 44% of those who save regularly are more satisfied with their life as a whole, according to a Money & Pension Service’s Financial Wellbeing survey.

Check out our tried and tested money-saving tips, tricks and tactics and you'll be amazed at just how much you can squirrel away.

Save first, spend later

Pay yourself first. Around 60% of us save money either every, or most, months, according to research. If you are struggling, try using the 50/30/20 approach to budgeting. This means allocating 50% of your take home pay on your needs (bills, food, minimum debt payments), 30% on wants (eating out, leisure, sport, etc) and 20% towards future you (saving for emergencies, short term and long term goals). This split may not work for you when money is tight, so simply adjust the ratios as you go.

Don't pay interest on debt

If you've got card debt, sit down and make a plan for how to get rid of it and by when. Don't panic if you haven't got a handy lump sum to magic away the full amount. You can achieve the same end result by transferring the debt on to a 0% balance credit card to avoid paying interest for a fixed period (typically two years or more) and paying off a set amount every month within that timeframe. Do not use this card for purchases.

Keep switching!

You might not find as many attractive energy deals on the market at the moment but you can still find better deals for broadband and mobile contracts, streaming services and insurance. In a survey by Topcashback, those who haggled said they had a 39% success rate, saving £155 per person on average, with broadband (59%), phone contracts (55%) and insurance (50 %) proving to be the most lucrative areas. Use comparison sites such as Uswitch, CompareTheMarket or MoneySupermarket to check whether you could bring down the cost of these regular outgoings by switching suppliers.

Check your workplace benefits

We’re not talking here about your pension or flexible working but the other employee benefits that your company may be offering that could easily pass you by. Now might be a good time to see what you have access to that could help you spend less (and save more). Typical benefits include eye care vouchers, gym memberships, spa access, bike to work schemes, and discounts at stores and cinemas near work.

Remortgage!

When your fixed term, tracker or discounted mortgage deal has come to an end, you will be switched to your provider’s standard variable rate which will be considerably more than you have been paying. This is the perfect time to take a look at remortgaging and you could save thousands a year. Talk to your mortgage broker or find an independent mortgage adviser at unbiased.co.uk or vouchedfor.

Shop and earn cashback

This is a no-brainer! If you are buying something anyway, it makes sense to do it either via a cashback website, such as Topcashback or Quidco, or through a cashback credit card. Use it for big ticket items like insurance or buying a new phone and the money soon adds up. Typically you will earn 1.5-2% on your purchases, which could add up to hundreds a year in cash and vouchers depending on your purchasing patterns. Always pay the card off in full every month, otherwise you could cancel out the benefit in interest charges!

Cheap Foods to Buy if You're Broke or on a Budget

The most recent consumer price index report, released on Jan. 11, 2024, shows that the food index increased from November to December by 0.3% and 2.7% over the previous year, which isn't nearly as bad as it had been in during the height of inflation. Grocery shopping is starting to become a bargain compared to eating out. If you get most of your food at restaurants, those prices have gone up 5.2% over the last year.

What should that shopping list have on it? Here's a shopping list of healthy but relatively cheap foods that you may want to consider putting in your shopping cart.

Apples

Apples are an affordable, nutritious fruit to purchase year-round. They’re rich in soluble fiber and immune-supporting vitamin C. They have balanced sweetness, delicious crunch, and naturally remain white longer when cut. At the time of this writing, Walmart was selling Envy apples for $1.18 each, if that gives you an idea of how much money you’ll likely spend buying apples.

Bananas

(Bananas) get a bad rap for being high in sugar, but natural sugar in fruit is not a major concern for health. Bananas contain vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B6 and potassium as well as antioxidants that support health. They also pack heart-healthy fiber. Typically under a dollar per pound, they are the best deal in the produce departmen. Bananas, at the time of this writing, are going for 59 cents a pound at Kroger.

Beans 

You can't go wrong with beans. Dry beans are the cheapest. Legumes are one of the foods that we really should be eating every day. They provide protein, fiber, and help to enhance the microbiome, which means it helps keep our gut healthy, and this helps build the immune system. Right now, a can of black beans can be found for 88 cents at Walmart and for 89 cents at Kroger.

Brown Rice

This item is quick to make and can be added to many meals. It's also high in fiber and has important minerals, such as magnesium and manganese. If someone has celiac disease, rice is a great non-gluten option. It can help with appetite control due to the fiber content and may help with lowering cholesterol levels. How much you'll spend on brown rice depends on where you shop and what sort of deals you can find, but you can generally purchase several pounds for a few dollars.

Chicken

You may understandably raise an eyebrow at calling chicken cheap. While inflation made almost all food prices climb, poultry was particularly hit hard. But in the last year, chicken prices have dropped by 0.2%. Buying a whole chicken is economical and it's easy to roast. It also will help if you can find chicken on sale at your local supermarket. You can count on about one, or maybe two, servings per pound with bone-in chicken. It depends on how hungry people are and who is eating.

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