How to save money on household bills

There are a lot of suppliers out there and it’s easy to cut your monthly phone and broadband bills.

Start by following these simple tips:

• Ask your supplier for a better price.
  
• Use price comparison websites to find a cheaper deal.
• Match your contract to your lifestyle – for example, if you use a lot of data and are charged extra when you go over, a deal with more data might be cheaper.

In most cases, you need a landline to get broadband.

Consider your landline costs when looking at broadband prices – as many seemingly cheap deals make you take out expensive line rental.

MoneySavingExpert has more tips on how to save money on phone and broadband dealsOpens in a new window

It’s never been easier to change home phone and broadband provider. And you could save yourself hundreds of pounds on your bills.

Here are some tips:

• Use more than one comparison website. They don’t all show the same deals and providers, so the more you check, the more likely you are to find a cheaper deal.
• Look at the monthly and yearly costs in the breakdown. Know what you’re buying, to avoid any unwelcome surprises when your bill shows up.
• Watch out for promoted products. Many comparison sites take a commission when you switch through them, which means they might nudge you to pick one product over another even if it’s not the best deal.
• Find out if you qualify for social tariffs. You might be able to get cheaper broadband and phone services if you’re getting certain benefits.
• Find out which provider is best. Ofcom has the latest customer satisfaction ratings for the large providers.
• Before leaving a contract early, find out if there's a fee for doing so. If there is, make sure to include it when comparing costs. The money you save with a new contract should be more than what it costs to end your current one.

Is your mobile phone contract coming to an end? Are you trying to find the cheapest way to get the latest handset?

Here are a few tips to keep your bills low:

• Use online tools to analyse your bills and recommend a contract.
  
• Negotiate with suppliers – remember that you’re in charge.
• Use price comparison websites to find the best deal for you.

Find out more in our guide How to save money on your mobile phone and try our free and easy-to-use Budget Planner.

The average yearly water bill in England and Wales is £448, according to Water UK. And although you can’t switch water supplier, there are ways to save money on bills.

For example, you could:

• have a free water meter installed
• take fewer baths and switch to showers
• switch to a more efficient shower head.

Find out more in our guide How to save money on your water bills.

Energy prices are very high. Currently, it’s likely your supplier’s standard default tariff rate will be the cheapest rate available. Make sure you keep an eye on prices and be ready to switch to a better deal as soon as it’s possible to do so.

There are also several schemes you can apply to that could help you cut bills.

The Warm Home DiscountOpens in a new window scheme offers low-income households a £150 discount to help with energy bills. The scheme opens for applications between October and March each year, you’ll need to apply directly to your energy supplier.

The Help for Households Campaign gives details of government support to help you with bills and the cost of livingOpens in a new window

If you're struggling to pay your energy bills this winter (2023-24), you might be entitled to extra help. These are: 

• a Winter Fuel PaymentOpens in a new window of between £100 and £300 if you’ve reached State Pension age. This should be paid to you automatically from November each year

• a £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment for households that receive the Winter Fuel Payment. This is a top-up to your Winter Fuel PaymentOpens in a new window in November

• a £900 Cost of Living Payment for households on means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit and Universal Credit

• a £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment for those receiving disability benefits, such as Attendance Allowance.

For more financial help and ways to make your home more energy efficient, see our guide How to reduce your energy bills.

According to MoneySavingExpert, up to 400,000 homes are in the wrong Council Tax band. So it’s worth making sure you’re not being overcharged.

It shouldn’t take more than ten minutes to find out. And you might end up saving hundreds of pounds and getting a rebate.

If you’re getting certain benefits, you might be entitled to a Council Tax Reduction.

Also check whether you qualify for a discount of up to 50% off your Council Tax bill, if you:

• live alone
• live only with children under 18, or 
• are in other special circumstances.

Find out more in our full Council Tax guide. 

Late payment fees can wipe out savings, so it’s important to pay your bills on time.

Here are some tips to help stay on top of your bills:

• pay for regular bills monthly by Direct Debit
  
• talk to the people you owe money to if you’re struggling.

If you’re facing higher living costs, find out about extra sources of income and support in our section Help with the cost of living.

Find out more in our guides:

• Guide to online banking
  
• Managing your money.