SLASH YOUR HOUSEHOLD BILLS

There’s no need to fear those dreaded envelopes. Follow these simple tips to ensure you’ve got the best deal on everything…

Tired of seeing so much of your income going towards bills? We asked Simon Mcculloch, director of Comparethemarket. com, Brian Davenport, owner of The Solar Centre, and Ed Kamm, UK managing director of First Utility, for some easy ways to cut back on your monthly household expenses…

REDUCE WATER WASTE

The average household spends £395 a year on water, but you can recoup loads by fixing dripping taps, which typically lose 5,500 litres a year. “Save approximately £118 by tightening all taps with a spanner,” says Brian. “Further money can be saved by using a cistern displacement device, which can reduce the amount of water used in your toilet by around 1 litre every flush, leading to big savings on your water bill. Devices are free from most water providers.”

COMPARE CAR INSURANCE

The average UK premium is £462 a year. But Simon says you could halve that by shopping around. He says: “Insurers offer discounts to new customers and then increase the prices year on year. Half of drivers save up to £282 by switching via Comparethemarket.com.”

LOWER ENERGY COSTS

The UK average standard tariff is £1,066 per year, but switching saves £200 on average. “If you’re on a fixed rate, check when it ends,” says Simon. “At the end of contracts, some tariffs increase by almost 20 per cent.” He also advises providing regular meter readings: “You’ll know your usage, so when you switch you can choose the best option.”

EMBRACE SMART TECH

Ed recommends the Cosy Smart Thermostat, worth £250, which you can control via an app. He explains: “You can turn off the heating and hot water while you’re out and about so you don’t waste energy.” Save on lighting, too. “Almost 20 per cent of your electricity use is lighting,” says Ed. “Low energy LED lights use up to 90 per cent less energy than traditional bulbs.”

SAVE ON BROADBAND

“Most providers increase prices once your introductory contract ends, typically by £100 a year,” says Ed. Note when your contract ends and ask your provider what the new costs will be. “Shop around and check out suppliers like First Utility,” he adds.

CUT HOME INSURANCE

“Shop around when your policy is up,” says Simon. “Around 50 per cent of people using Comparethemarket.com save up to £75 by changing.” The average building and contents home insurance is £142.98 a year.

HAGGLE FOR A BETTER PHONE CONTRACT

“The combined average cost of a mobile and landline contract is roughly £450 a year before costs for extra data or minutes,” says Brian. “Switch providers at the end of every contract for the best deals. You won’t lose your number – just give your PAC code [from your old provider] to your new provider.”