Even the rich
Miniature flag is big honour for Mollie
A GIRL of seven is carrying the flag of remembrance for a new generation thanks to a specially-made miniature standard.
Mollie Stonelake will be taking part in a service for the war dead on Sunday in her home town of Torpoint in Cornwall.
She is a pupil at Torpoint Nursery and Infant School, where children take it in turns to carry the flag at remembrance events.
Mollie’s parents, Mark and Donna Stonelake, have both served in the military.
Mark, 34, was serving as a gunner in 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery, when he was injured in December 2008. His left leg was amputated after his vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.
“It will be great to see her on parade,” he said. THRIFT is the watchword even better-off shoppers, says a survey.
And hunting out supermarket bargains saves an average of £66 on monthly grocery bills, it found.
Top earning managers compete alongside cash-strapped pensioners, single parents and students to secure savings by scouring the aisles for reduced “yellow” sticker items.
Half of those earning bumper salaries of between £75,000 and £100,000 say price still remains their key concern when they hit the aisles.
The survey of 1,000 shoppers found that regardless of income, value for money and low prices are the most important consideration when deciding what and what not to buy from the supermarket.
The research showed that 68 per cent of consumers put down getting the best value for their cash as their main priority, while 66 per cent say price is an equally important consideration.
But with 39 per cent of the average shopping basket being made up of big name brands, these savings are not the result of compromising on budget alternatives.
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Instead, 61 per cent achieve monthly savings by looking for deals on top brands and price promotions on their favourites.
At the same time almost half of all shoppers choose to buy food regularly from the reduced aisle.
Shopper Tom Webb is deemed to be one of the nation’s top earners, but he is still on the lookout for a bargain.
He earns a basic salary of £80,000, which he tops up with income from his three rental properties and he shares his house in London.
The development team leader estimates his careful shopping habits save him an average of more than £150 a month on his food shop – far greater than the £66 national average.
Alongside his salary, Mr Webb, 36, also benefits from a corporate incentive scheme to earn up to six per cent off his shopping via gift cards.
He said: “I seek out yellow sticker buffets if I run out of food on my weekly shops.
“But I also check for them if I’m out and about looking for snacks.”
Mr Webb said the savings enable him to pump cash into his pension and savings accounts.
Discount retailer StarBargains.co.uk commissioned the Shopping Habits survey.
Director Karen Gunter said: “It’s interesting to see just how universal
CASE STUDY
the quest for good value has become. No one is too well off to benefit from a good price or good value. And who can blame us?
“Everyone likes the feeling they’ve snapped up a bargain.
“But what’s especially intriguing is how value for money is starting to take that