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Another cost-of-living measure announced this week. All disabled people now to get 24/7 free bus travel, no matter where you live.

The summer holidays can be one of the most expensive times for any family. Especially during a cost-of-living crisis. There feels like there is loads of pressure online to also spend a lot of money during this time, on your kids. Here are some ways to make the most of the summer holidays with kids. What are your suggestions?

The lower inflation figure for June was caused by cheaper fuel prices at the pump, particularly diesel, summer discounts on clothing and falling food prices.

Overall prices at the supermarket are rising at their slowest rate in nearly two years.

This BBC article helps explain how interest rates impact prices if you always get a little bit confused like me.

More cost-of-living announcements in the news this week.

• The government has announced that single bus fares across England will be capped at £2 from January.
• This initiative aims to provide affordable transport links and offer financial relief to people amidst the cost of living crisis.
• The scheme is backed by £454 million in funding, with £400 million to come from switching investment in international climate finance to loans.
• While a national £3 cap is currently in effect until March 2027, some regions, including Greater Manchester, already implement lower single ticket fares.

Lots of news going on this week in politics, with Burnham becoming PM. Arguably, Burnham has set a legacy for the future of Manchester as mayor. Not only did he champion our brilliant region (rightly so), but he did actually make a difference to the development and opportunities across Greater Manchester.

It is easy to forget we now actually need to elect another mayor. Let’s hope the next mayor can continue this legacy. I’ve looked over Bev Craig’s manifesto and there are key plans on continuing to make Manchester a better place for young people, with more opportunity and better transport. 

What are your thoughts about Burnham's legacy and what do you hope to see continued?

With the school holidays here, families across the UK will be faced with the increase in household costs of having kids at home.

I just read that Northern Ireland is currently the only part of the UK without school holiday supports, making it even harder for those families.

There is the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme to help some parents. As well as other programmes provided by local councils.

Do you know any other resources, sites, or programmes available in the UK to support parents and families with the cost-of-living through the summer hols?

Burnham has just set out his plans for great devolution in the UK, proposing a No 10 North in the "biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen".

This should offer new opportunities to extend devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and overall bring more decision-making powers to places outside London. This should help make more effective decisions around jobs and infrastructure, to address the problems people actually face in these areas. And hopefully lead the way for easing the cost -of-living and bring long lasting development.

As a northerner, I think this is brilliant. Especially if we are about to get our first northern PM. What are your thoughts on No 10 North?

Great British Summer Savings scheme comes into effect for families from today. Scottish summer holidays are about to begin, and the rest of the UK's is just around the corner. This summer saving scheme is a temporary VAT cut on a range of family-friendly activities  which should to ease cost of living for families over the holidays. This is usually a really expensive time for families so fingers crossed this will help.

The reduced rate (VAT from 20% to 5%) applies to:

1. Children’s and family tickets for cinemas, theatres, concerts, shows and exhibitions
2. Admission tickets, for children and adults, to attractions (e.g. amusement parks, zoos, soft play centres, nature reserves and wildlife parks)
3. Children’s meals in restaurants

Where are you planning on going to this summer with your family?

Here is some useful advice I have seen about checking to see if you are already paying towards your pension pot in the UK. Given the current cost-of-living it can be hard to think about saving for your retirement, but here are some useful things you should know (that I pulled from the article):

1. If you earn less than £10,000 a year, but more than £6,240 a year (£520 a month, or £120 a week), and you ask to join your work's pension scheme, then your employer must put in some money too.
2. Women in particular would benefit from saving early, experts say, because they are more likely to take career breaks to care for kids or relatives as they get older.
3. If you have more than one job and all pay under £10,000 a year you will not be automatically enrolled into pension savings, so if you have multiple jobs it is worth looking hard at how to save for your retirement.
4. Under 22s are not currently part of the scheme. The government is considering lowering the starting age to 18, but says the extra cost to businesses need to be considered too.

This is insane. In a world where families across the globe are struggling with the cost-of-living, how is there people like Elon Musk set to become a trillionaire.

This wealth is hard to conceptualise.

The ET put the level of this purchasing power perfectly...

Around 2.4 Million Homes
Musk could buy millions of average-priced homes across the United States, enough to own residential property on an extraordinary scale.

Thousands Of Private Jets
The fortune would be sufficient to acquire roughly 10,000 luxury private jets, including operating and fuel costs for years.

Entire Sports Leagues
The analysis suggests he could purchase all 32 NFL teams as well as every NBA franchise and still retain hundreds of billions of dollars.

It's one thing living in a world where trillionaires exist while others struggle, it's another when it's people like Elon Musk with this wealth share. Have you seen the other news that has come out about Grok this week? His level wealth has real-world consequences for the rest of us, even in the UK.

Is anyone else massively concerned by this?

Have seen a lot of articles and posts saying that more people are choosing to holiday in the UK rather than abroad this summer, due to the rising cost of fuel. Curious to hear if these rising costs have impacted your holiday plans this year?
Me and my friends have opted for a camping holiday instead of flying abroad. It was already expensive to travel, but since the Iran war, it seems to have increased much more. And we will have just as much fun camping anyway!

Candidates all selected. What's the feeling for other in Makerfield?

The UK economy is growing, and better than expected. This is another positive economic forecast despite the uncertain international picture. Maybe the chancellor is doing something right after all!

Despite all the odds our economy is growing!