Saving on your regular bills

We tend to think of our regular bills as fixed costs, but you’d be surprised how much you can save by making a few changes – even right now with energy bills as high as they are. Why not give some of these tips a try…

Energy bills

Check if you’re eligible for discounts, grants and support. Most energy suppliers have some form of support for customers in financial difficulty – if that’s something you need, get in touch with your provider and see if they can help.

You may also be eligible for help from the government, for example through Winter Fuel Payments, Cold Weather Payments and/or the Warm Home Discount. Try a free benefits calculator to see if you could get additional help.

You may also be able to save money by becoming more energy efficient. You’ll find plenty of tips on how to do just that on the Energy Saving Trust website.

With the energy market in turmoil, it probably isn’t possible to save money by switching at the moment – in most cases the cheapest tariff is at the Energy Price Cap. However, the price cap is set to jump again when it is reviewed in April – so you might want to shop around to lock into a fixed price deal. See our guide here.

 

Water bills

Consider installing a water meter. If you don’t have a meter, you will normally be charged a fixed or flat amount each year – known as ‘unmetered’ charges. The amount you are charged is not based on usage. Instead, it is usually based on where you live and the rateable value of your property. Having a meter installed means you’ll be charged for the amount you actually use – which could save you money, depending on how much water your household uses! There’s a calculator on the CCW website to help you work out if a water meter is right for you.

(In Scotland, unmetered charges are added to your council tax bill. You can have a water meter installed by Scottish Water, which might cut your bill – but since you will have to contribute to the cost of installation and pay other charges, this might not save you money. There’s some information on the Scottish Water website to help you decide.)

If you’re struggling with your water bills, whether you have a meter or not, contact your water company, as the supplier may offer to help with special payment arrangements, or, in some cases, reduced rates and assistance schemes.

Streaming services

Try before you buy! Many streaming services will let you try them out for a free initial trial period. This is usually one month. It’s a good idea to make use of this before signing up. That way you can get an idea of how often you’re realistically likely to watch, whether your internet connection and your broadband data allowance can cope, and whether it’s worth paying for.

Don’t keep paying for a streaming service you don’t use! Here are some things to think about:

• How often do you use it? If it’s only the occasional movie night, you might get better value from a pay per view service.
• Which service shows the most programmes or movies you’re keen to see? If it’s just one or two specific programmes you’d like to watch, would you be better off simply buying them online and (legally!) downloading the episodes or series you want to watch?

If you do pay to stream, look for discounts online. Netflix and NowTV offer gift cards. You can sometimes find these online for cheaper than the normal retail price – have a look on eBay! If you can’t find a discount gift card it may still be worth buying one at full price via a cashback site, like Topcashback or Quidco.

Insurance

Never let your insurance auto-renew! You’ll almost certainly save money by using price comparison websites to get a better deal elsewhere. It’s worth putting in a bit of time to get the best out of these sites:

• Remember they’re just showing you prices, not choosing the best product – you don’t have to pick the top result.
• Always check more than one site! Different insurance companies appear on different comparison sites. No one website can get you quotes from every single insurance company, and some big insurers, such as Direct Line, don’t appear on comparison sites at all.
• There’s a great guide to getting the best out of price comparison websites for insurance on the MoneyHelper website.

Prescription charges

If you live in England, you’ll usually have to pay prescription charges unless you’re eligible for free prescriptions. So if you need medication regularly, it may be cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) – effectively a prescription ‘season ticket’. A PPC covers all your NHS prescriptions, including NHS dental prescriptions, no matter how many items you need. The 3-month PPC costs £29.65 and will save you money if you need more than 3 prescribed items in 3 months. The 12-month PPC costs £105.90 and will save you money if you need more than 11 prescribed items in a year. Depending on how many prescriptions you need, you could save hundreds of pounds a year!

Mobile and broadband

When your mobile phone contract comes to an end, it’s always tempting to take the easy option and accept whatever deal your provider offers you. But there’s a smarter way to do it, and it can net you big savings. Sites like uSwitch can help you find the best deal on the phone you want and the contract you need.

And here are some tips to make sure you’re getting the best deal on your home broadband:

• How much are you paying – really? Check your bills over the last few months. What are you paying for broadband, line rental and phone calls? Were you on a promotional deal that’s run out? Have you been charged for going over your allowance? Would a different package better suit your needs? Check when your current contract is due to expire and be ready to look elsewhere for a better deal.
• What type of broadband do you need? Before looking for a new deal, think about how you use the internet and what you need from your broadband. Do you travel a lot? Maybe you need mobile broadband. Do you love to stream movies and TV? You might need unlimited broadband. And if there are a number of you in the house – all streaming at the same time – consider upgrading to superfast fibre broadband. On the other hand, if you only use the internet to check your emails (and read our blog posts!) make sure you’re not paying for more usage than you need.
• Compare prices. There are plenty of places to compare broadband services. Visit Ofcom’s website for a list of accredited price comparison websites.
• Don’t be afraid to haggle. If you see a better deal elsewhere, call your current provider, tell them you’re thinking about switching, and see whether they will match the price. Even if you see an attractive deal your current provider is offering to new customers only, it’s worth asking whether they can do anything better for you. A lot of the time providers are willing to be flexible on price, if it means keeping a customer. But if they can’t match their competitor on price and speed, be prepared to switch!