The cost of living in the UK is rising, and day-to-day spend can seem out of control sometimes! If you’ve been shopping at the same supermarket for a while, you’ve probably noticed the prices slowly creeping up. Not to mention the price of fuel and energy bills. With all of that in mind, it is still possible to reduce your costs, to make sure that your household spend is as low as possible. Here are some things that you can do to help to keep costs low and save hundreds each year.
Loyalty gets you nowhere
When it comes to your bills, it is important to remember that loyalty gets you nowhere. By sticking with your usual energy provider or broadband provider, you are missing out on new customer deals and rates. It might be easier to just stick with them as it means no changes, but it will mean higher prices. Look out for websites like one for energy comparison, in order to see what possible better deals are out there. The same goes for your bank too; are you missing out on new customer deals and money in your account just by sticking with them?
Check your broadband usage
If you are looking to reduce the cost of your broadband at home, as well as for your phone, call to find out how much data you are actually using. You might have an unlimited package but not actually use anywhere near enough data to justify it. Could you get a cheaper deal by reducing the plan that you are on? Definitely worth calling to find out what other options there are for you.
Get a water meter
If you don’t have a water meter, then your water company will just be charging you for the amount of water they think that you are using. If you are a couple in a large home, then they are likely to presume that you are using more water than you actually are, for example. A water meter will track how much water you actually use, rather than guess work, and in the majority of cases, works out cheaper, so it is definitely something to think about.
Check your council tax band
According to recent data, over 400,000 UK homes are in the wrong band for their council tax, and as a result, are overpaying. Have you ever checked to see if you are in the right council tax band? It won’t take long to find out, but could save you a hefty sum. You should also check if you qualify for any discounts on council tax, as there are some exemptions, such as being a single adult in the home.
Set up direct debits
If you don’t pay certain bills on time, then it can lead to late fees which is just money down the drain. In order to make sure that you never miss a payment, make sure that you have direct debits set up to pay the bills. If it is for something like a credit card, you can always pay more than the direct debit is set up for, if you’d rather clear it faster.
No Comments