It is being dubbed “awful April” with a range of household bills set to go up in the next few days. There is nothing much you can do if your council tax is increasing, or you are buying a house and facing a higher stamp duty bill. But when it comes to other bills, such as energy, water or broadband, here are three strategies that could help ease the pressure.
1. Shop around. For some services you can often get a better deal simply by calling the company you are with and saying you are considering leaving. “Shop around for better deals, and haggle with your existing provider,” says Alice Haine, from professional services group Evelyn Partners. “It’s always worth haggling. Haggle for everything.”
2. Cut back. One surefire way to keep your bills down is to reduce what you use. Taking shorter showers and putting in a showerhead with a slower flow will save money on your water and energy bills. “You have to treat water as an expensive resource,” Ms Haine says.
3. Get help. If you are struggling to pay your household bills, don’t panic, says Richard Lane, chief client officer at the StepChange Debt Charity. He suggests creating a detailed budget that captures all your income and expenditure. “This will allow you to get a clear picture of your finances and see how much you have leftover to pay toward any debts or make savings,” he says.
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