10 ways to beat soaring bills

November 12th, 2010 | by Mariam Rosa |

With money tight and household bills on the up, it has never been more important to shop around for the best deals on everything from gas and electricity to family days out.

We have come up with the 10 top ways you can save money this winter, and beyond, without making any lifestyle changes or going without.

By putting them all into practice, you could save more than a massive £2,600 over the course of the next 12 months.

1. Switch energy supplier and save up to £312 a year

If you have never switched from your standard energy tariff, you could make a huge saving of £312 a year just by switching to the best online deal.

However, even if you have switched before, there are still some great savings to be made.

Energy giant Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) recently announced plans to hike its gas prices by 9.4% for about 3.6 million customers – and its rivals are expected to follow suit.

According to moneysupermarket.com energy manager Scott Byrom, those keen for the security of fixed prices should therefore look at the New Energy Fixed tariff from OVO Energy at £993 a year, while those looking for the cheapest variable deal should consider the iSave v5 tariff from First Utility at £883 a year.

2. Change your car insurer and save £237 a year

Car insurance premiums have soared by up to 51% for some drivers over the last 12 months, according to figures from the AA.

But by shopping around rather than just accepting the renewal quote offered by their existing insurers, most people can make big savings, with a typical moneysupermarket.com visitor finding cover for a massive £237 less elsewhere.

Top tips to help you get cheaper insurance include checking the prices for comprehensive as well as third party cover and always opting to pay the full amount at once to avoid direct debit charges.

3. Bundle your home phone, broadband and TV and save £240 a year

You can often save a packet by getting your home phone broadband and TV package from the same provider.

By choosing a Virgin Media bundle, for example, you will typically pay £28.24 a month for all three.

However, if you pick separate deals from the Post Office, Sky and BT, the combined monthly cost will amount to almost double this at £48.24.

4. Do your Christmas shopping online and save £200

Prices can vary massively between different retailers so it’s well worth spending some time doing some research before you buy.

This alone could save you a fortune on your Christmas shopping, while going online will also save on petrol and parking, or public transport costs.

And moneysupermarket.com’s shopping channel makes it easy to find the best deals.

5. Use discount vouchers and save £720 a year

Why pay full price for a pizza or a new dress when you don’t have to?

So-called coupon culture is already huge in the US, where people are used to looking out for money-off vouchers before they shop or go out for a day or night out.

However, there are now hundreds of offers available online for all manner of cut-price treats and goodies in the UK too.

In fact, the average British family could save an incredible £60 a month simply by using vouchers to get money off where possible.

6. Do your supermarket shop online and save £260 a year

Food prices are rising fast due to the high cost of commodities such as wheat and beef.

The cost of a weekly shop has jumped 4.4% over the past 12 months, adding £230 a year to the average family food bill.

However, by heading online to do your supermarket shop online, you’re more likely to buy what you need and not be tempted by ‘special offers’ that often result in a much bigger shopping bill.

7. Collect reward points and save £120 a year

If you use the same supermarket or are a regular shopper at Boots, then make sure you collect the reward points – and remember to use them!

Some schemes such as Nectar allow you to collect points at a number of places, so make sure to use your card whenever you can.

You can also collect Tesco Clubcard rewards by spending on the Tesco Clubcard credit card, which is currently offering the market-leading deal of 13 months at 0% on purchases.

8. Cancel unnecessary subscriptions and save £100 a year

Unused gym memberships are one of the top ways we waste money without even realising it.

So, if your enthusiasm for your weekly step class or your weekend training sessions has waned, then there is no point in continuing to pay for your place. Especially with membership often costing more than £60 a month.

Check too that you are not wasting much-needed cash on magazines that you don’t read.

An annual subscription to Elle magazine, for example, costs around £43 a year. So unless you enjoy every issue, you should ditch it now and spend the money on something else.

9. Change your mobile phone tariff and save £150 a year

You could be paying well over the odds for your mobile phone if you are not on the right sort of tariff.

If, for example, you very rarely use your phone, then pay-as-you-go may be the right choice for you.

Either way, you need to work out how many minutes you spend calling others each month, and how many texts you send. After all, there’s no point paying for services you don’t use, or being hit with hefty bills when you exceed your allowance.

10. Drive more efficiently and save £325 a year

Sticking to the speed limits, ensuring your tyre pressure is right and avoiding sudden breaking can all reduce fuel consumption – meaning you fill up less frequently.

Other fuel-saving tips include not driving with the windows open and using your air conditioning as sparingly as possible.

Please note: Any rates or deals mentioned in this article were available at the time of writing. Click on a highlighted product and apply direct.

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