Last year, shoppers braced themselves for a credit crunch Christmas, vowing to do their bit to spend less and save more and the same rules apply this year.
It's easy to pop into a supermarket to grab a pint of milk, or some extras for your evening meal, and come out with several bulging bags and a lighter wallet.
We have seldom been more aware of the cost of our shopping; in straitened times, a few pennies here and there can make a big difference to our monthly disposable income.
Thrift is the new bling. A recent survey by Abbey credit cards revealed that more than half of us are buying second-hand now, and this number is rapidly increasing.
