Counterfeit concerns If you’re on the lookout for make-up bargains this Christmas, be careful – the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and the HSE have warned that some counterfeit cosmetics have been found to contain dangerous substances including arsenic and lead. Amo

Winter warning As the Starks would say, winter is coming. And with the colder weather come higher bills as people bid to keep the chill at bay, battle illnesses, or fork out on a warmer winter wardrobe. “All told, then, we reckon the cost of winter is going to come in at a fairly eye-

Budget blues Budget 2018 is the big news in Ireland this week, with few people very happy with the contents of Paschal Donohoe’s document. The Irish Independent’s Sinead Ryan has collated the five main consumer-related issues from Budget 2018, from more expensive cigarette

Mortgage relief Bad news for Ryanair customers this week, but good news for those struggling with hefty and unsustainable mortgage arrears. In a story broke by the Irish Independent, a deal has been struck between not-for-profit iCare Housing and AIB that will see some families write

New model for healthcare According to the Irish Independent, public healthcare patients without health insurance may be able to access a form of pay as you go healthcare in the near future. Letsbuyhealthcare launched its services on September 10th, aiming to provide faster and more af

Car costs With the school run back on the horizon, you may be facing higher fuel bills as you ferry the kids to and from school, not to mention additional wear and tear. Once you add those costs to the steep figures that accompany a new school term, your bank balance can be severely d

Switching fears According to research by Switcher.ie, eight in 10 Irish consumers plan on switching at least one household service provider in the coming year, such as gas, electricity, broadband or TV. Many people are still fearful about the process, worried about being tied to contr

Ryanair baggage warning Many of us have been there when flying – your carry-on is perhaps a little over the limit but you chance it anyway, particularly as checked baggage can be expensive. Generally, there isn’t an issue. However, as the Irish Examiner reports this week, Ryanai

Tackling card fraud Gardai from the Garda National Economic Bureau have teamed up with retailers in a bid to combat ‘card not present’ fraud in Ireland. This form of fraud occurs when a payment card isn’t physically presented during a phone or online transaction. In