Our busy lives make it hard to take time out to review what we’re paying on our household bills, from electricity and gas to broadband and insurance. But a little time could save you a lot of money in the long run. Here are a few things you could try…
Go through your regular subscriptions
It’s surprising how many subscriptions you can build up over time – streaming services, gym and sports club memberships, and more. Consider sitting down and going through this list every now and then, to check you’re still making use of them. If it’s not something you’ve used in the last six months, think about getting rid of it and saving that cash. And if you miss them, you can usually restart them.
Work to a monthly budget
Give yourself something to aim for. Take a look at what you’re spending on average each month – overall and across different categories, like your groceries and cleaning products. Then set a budget you’d like to stick to. Don’t be strict to start with – you want something that’s challenging but doable. Just having a budget and regularly checking how you’re doing could help focus your mind on spending less.
Take a big slice off your food bill
There are lots of things you can do to cut your grocery costs. You could try experimenting with swapping big brand items for own-brand or buying fewer premium items. Meal planning can be another popular way to save and avoid waste – consider organising your meals for the week based on a budget. Shopping in the reduced aisle or shopping later in the day when there are more reductions is another tip to think about.
Keep on top of your renewal dates
It’s easy to lose track of when you’re out of your contract for things like broadband, mobile or energy tariffs. But you can end up overpaying if you move on to the standard deal and stay there once your original contract has ended. For car and home insurance it can be good to shop around with plenty of time before your renewal date, so it doesn’t become a last minute rush to find a deal.
Check price comparisons
If you want to see whether you’re paying too much, or you’re serious about switching providers to get a better deal, it’s worth using price comparison sites. You’ll be able to compare quotes across lots of brands at the same time, giving you more choice.
See if you can save on water bills and council tax
For water bills, you can get free water-saving devices from most water companies. Things like regulated shower heads to help you use less water or gel pouches so you can reel in the hosepipe and water your plants less. Or you might be able to save with a water meter.
With council tax, you can check you’re in the right band, see if you’re eligible for a discount, or even ask to spread your payments over 12 months instead of 10.