Your Money: Pound Notes

By MELANIE WRIGHT

pounds BRITONS have spent pounds 2.6bn buying cats and dogs over the past five years, according to Halifax Pet Insurance. The average cost of a dog is pounds 282, while you will have to pay pounds 92 for a cat. Six out of ten owners admitted they did not weigh up the cost of looking after a pet before buying one.

pounds ONE in 10 households in Britain now employ at least one person to help out with domestic work or chores. Barclays say that of those who employ staff, 82 per cent have cleaners, 30 per cent gardeners, 17 per cent nannies and 16 per cent someone to do the ironing.

pounds PARKING charges have increased by 25 per cent in the past six years, say Direct Line Car Insurance. Londoners still fork out the most, with two hours parking in Westminster now costing on average pounds 7.99, closely followed by Islington at pounds 7.32 and Heathrow at pounds 7.01.

pounds BRITISH workers collectively took home over pounds 24bn in bonuses over the last 12 months with the average bonus coming to pounds 1,758, says a survey by Birmingham Midshires. Almost four in 10 people saved all or most of their annual bonus, while one in 10 splashed out on holidays or on luxury goods such as plasma TVs.

pounds SOLICITORS take the No 1 slot in a poll of home-movers' biggest frustrations. The poll by iammoving.com, found that estate agents came second, followed by the task of transferring utility services like gas and electricity.

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