Some of us can’t help but approach bills with a sense of dread, and with the constantly rising prices, it’s no surprise. Approximately 14% of people in the U.K. (that’s over 7 million) fell behind on their essential bills in 2020[i], and though it might seem like a never-ending spiral, there are things you can do now to decrease your monthly expenses and loosen that knot in your stomach every time the next bill comes in.
Cutting back on the money you spend on household bills is surprisingly easy, and you could be saving quite a bit with some easy tricks. By focusing on the minor things and setting aside the time to sort them out, you will quickly see an increase in the money you have leftover once you’ve paid everybody else. Here, we have some tips to help you save on some of the bigger household bills. We’ve included pointers on reducing the current cost and moving on to new contracts if the situation calls for it, so you’re guaranteed to find something to help you. Following our advice can save your household up to hundreds of pounds per year, so let’s get you started.
The Bills You Pay
Beginning with a list of household bills can make everything seem a bit clearer and help you budget around them. These are the bills you will likely have to pay as a homeowner or renter in the U.K.:
- Home Insurance
- Mortgage/Rent
- Gas and Electricity
- Water Bills
- Council Tax
- Broadband/Home Phone
- T.V. licence
- Home Insurance
- Mobile phone
Having a list of the bills you’ll have to pay and the average cost of them readily available will ease your mind at the end of each month because you’ll know what you’re going to get hit with and be aware of any changes.
How To Save Money on The Bills
Many of these tips are simple but may take some time. For example, if you want to change electricity provider, you will have to research each one to find the best deal. It may be time-consuming, but will benefit your money-saving goal in the long run. Now you have a fuller understanding of the bills you pay out, you can find the best ways to cut the costs for good.
The Rent
The rent will be the most significant bill you have, so saving money here is vital. Here are a few things you can do to reign in the cost:
- Find A Roommate (Or Several) – Sharing your house or flat will lower the rent for you and your new house mate/s
- Negotiate If Renewing Lease – It will cost a landlord money to move you out and move someone new in, so you have a slight advantage here. Have a figure in mind when negotiating (research local places of a similar size and get an average number) and stick to your guns.
- Look For A New Property In Winter – Less people are looking to rent or buy in winter because it’s cosier in their current homes, and landlords lose money with each vacant month, so they are more likely to be lenient with their prices.
- Go For An Extended Lease – Signing for two years is more stable than signing for six months, and if you promise to be a lasting resident, the landlord will likely be more benign.
- Pay In Advance – If you have the funds, paying the entire lease or even just a few months upfront can rouse a discount.
Gas and Electric Bills
Gas and electricity bills can crawl up each month if you’re not careful, and getting ahead of them can significantly benefit you and your bank account.
- Search For A Cheaper Deal When Prices Go Up – The gas and electricity prices go up annually, but other energy providers are constantly vying for new customers and will likely offer you a cheaper deal than the one you’re previously on.
- Switch To Monthly Direct Debits – Instead of paying for every bit of electricity used, you can pay a fixed rate each month and use as much as you like.
- Be Mindful of Electric Use – If a direct debit isn’t for you, start taking notice of where your electricity likely goes. Turn appliances off at the plug rather than leaving them on standby, use sleeping timers and turn down the heating and air conditioner unless absolutely necessary.
Try our electric underfloor heating for an efficient way of heating your house and saving on the gas and electric bills. Our low-maintenance underfloor heating will distribute heat more effectively than regular radiators and so will warm up the home before any of your bills have a chance to take a hit.
Water Bills
According to Water U.K., the average yearly water bill is £396.60 per year[ii], and although you can’t exactly change supplier, there are some things you can do to reduce the cost.
- Use The Washing Machine Only When It’s Full – Increasing washing loads and decreasing the number of times you use it will save on water and electricity.
- Use An Energy Efficient Dishwasher – As opposed to washing up, use an energy-efficient dishwasher. Only switch it on when it’s full.
- Take Shorter Showers – A 15-minute shower can use almost the same amount of water as a bath, so try to lessen your soaking time.
- Replace Leaking Taps – A leaky tap can waste at least 5,500 litres of water per year [iii], so get it fixed!
Mobile Phone Bills
There’s no better time to save some pennies than when your mobile phone contract ends. If you’re looking to buy a new handset too, you’ll be surprised where you can save.
- Use Price Comparison Sites – If your contract is coming to an end, have a look at some price comparison sites to find the next cheapest deal for yourself.
- Negotiate With Suppliers – Don’t let companies intimidate or overrule you when looking for a new contract or phone – remember that you’re in charge and don’t have to take what they offer you.
- Don’t Pay Higher For Lots Of Data – You probably won’t use as much data as you think, so don’t pay higher for it.
- Haggle With Your Current Provider – Your current provider will probably want to keep you if you have been a good customer, so negotiate with them.
- Recycle Your Old Phone – You can get paid for cashing in your old phone.
Broadband Bills
There are plenty of broadband suppliers out there, and choosing the right one can mean several pounds worth of difference.
- Call Your Current Supplier – Tell your current supplier that you are planning to move and see what they will offer for you to stay. Don’t say yes to their first offer – if you haggle, they may go lower. Unless your contract is over or about to be, don’t try negotiating as you won’t have much leverage.
- Don’t Accept Mid Contract Price Rises – If you get notified that your provider is about to put the price up mid-contract, read over your contract and see if you can leave without any fees. If your contract allows it, you’ll be able to break free before the price goes up.
- Cut Services You Don’t Use – If you don’t use the landline phone or any extra T.V. channels, cut them out of your contract as soon as possible.
- Don’t Be Afraid To Switch Provider – If there’s no other option, you can just cut and run. Cheap deals are readily available on comparison sites.
Travel Costs
If you’re a regular commuter, travel can take a large chunk of money. Cutting costs here will be very beneficial, and could save you hundreds.
- Find Cheaper Car Insurance – Go through comparison sites and find some cheaper deals – many companies will be willing to provide a low deal.
- Try Car Sharing – If you drive to work, car sharing can be a great way to save money and get to know your colleagues.
- Get A Rail Card – Railcards can save you hundreds of pounds a year if you travel to work on the train or make use of the transport regularly.
- Use A Bike – If you can ride a bike and your destination is close enough, opt for the two wheels instead and get a bit of exercise into your schedule.
Set Up A Budget Plan
Saving money on your bills is very relieving, but setting up a budget plan will help more if you’re income’s tight. Monitoring what you spend and when can help put a stop to any overspending or bad habits. Pair this with the cost-cutting tips we’ve given you, and you’ll soon be saving enough money to question why you didn’t think of it sooner.
Do you have any cost-cutting tips of your own? Let us know in the comments below!
Sources
[i]https://www.incharge.org/financial-literacy/budgeting-saving/how-to-save-money-on-rent/
[ii] https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/how-much-is-the-average-water-bill-per-month#:~:text=Water%20will%20cost%20you%2C%20according,parts%20of%20the%20west%20country.
[iii] https://www.water.org.uk/news-item/the-quick-fix-way-to-cut-water-waste-at-home/