How to Save Money on Your Monthly Home Utilities
Today I am pleased to bring you a guest post from my colleague Will Pointing from GreatDealsMadeEasy.com.
In his article below, Will sets out his top tips for saving money on many of your home utilities.
Over to Will then…
Many people stay with their utility providers for years and years without changing, on the principle that ‘loyalty pays’.
Sadly, this only really applies with lifelong friends and the Cafe Nero loyalty app (where you get a free coffee after buying eight!). With yearly price rises on most home utilities, it’s a good idea to review them annually (at least) and save yourself £100s in the process.
As a general rule, new customers get the best deals. Below are some tips on how to uncover the golden deals that are right for you…
Broadband – prices increase to £152/year when you remain with them
A survey by Which? magazine found that 71% of respondents stayed with their ISP (Internet Service Provider) for over three years. Most providers offer the best deals on broadband for 12-18-month contracts, meaning after that period prices shoot up significantly.
Are you out of contract? Check out GreatDealsMadeEasy’s Broadband comparison page or other sites like uSwitch, MoneySavingExpert, MoneySuperMarket or CompareTheMarket. Look for the phrase ‘exclusive’ on a deal – this means this site has the best deal on the market.
Tips: Look for what is included in your deal and whether you really need it. Do you need all those TV channels when you have Netflix? Do you need calls included when you have a mobile phone?
Mobile phone – prices increases to £264/year when you stay with them
It so easy to forget when you have paid off your mobile handset (the companies rarely remind you if you have) and then stay on an inflated monthly rate for years. Phone companies create these fashionable adverts to try and convince you to get the latest phone, when actually buying a SIM-only deal until you really need a handset upgrade is the cheapest way. If you want a new SIM-only deal or a new handset, check out comparison sites like my one here.
Tips: Out of contract? Switch to a SIM-only deal. If not, ensure you are on the right tariff for you and you are not paying for unnecessary data (use free wifi when you can to save on using your data).
Water – average bill is £415 a year
Water UK estimate that the average water and sewerage bill is £415 a year or £34.58 a month. It is recommended to get a water meter installed, so the cost is as accurate as possible.
Tips: Water saving tips include having a shower not a bath, washing up manually, and putting a full load of clothes into the washing machine. Many modern machines also have an ‘Eco’ mode, which uses less water and electricity.
Heating and power – cost around £1,254 a year
Using comparison sites to evaluate different energy suppliers and tariffs is perhaps the simplest, most valuable money-saving action you can take. You can often save hundreds of pounds a year by doing this, especially if you haven’t switched for a while (or ever). Again, many customers continue on a high rate for years without asking the question, ‘Is this the best deal for me?’ I suggest using websites like Compare The Market, Money Saving Expert and Go Compare.
Tips: After getting the best possible deal, I recommend submitting regular meter readings to your supplier, so you are not overpaying. And turn off your lights as much as possible!
GreatDealsMadeEasy.com is the website to help you save money online the easy way. Whether you’re looking to cut back on your broadband bill, save on a holiday abroad or come up with a side hustle, Great Deals Made Easy will help you find useful tips and top deals. Expect great articles, interviews, reviews and advice. It’s written by digital marketing expert Will Pointing. Expect to find out how you can save money every month, the easy way!
Many thanks to Will for some great money-saving tips. Do check out his website at GreatDealsMadeEasy.com as well.
My own top tip would be to check out deals from cashback websites when changing utility suppliers. Sites such as Quidco and Top Cashback are especially worth a look when swapping energy companies. I talked about this recently in my blog post about How to Save Money with Cashback Sites.
On various occasions I have pocketed £70 or more in cashback when switching my gas and electricity providers. You can do this directly by signing up with an energy company via the cashback site (check first on a price comparison site that they are offering a competitive deal, obviously). Alternatively, many comparison services are also listed on cashback sites – so by clicking through to the comparison site and then switching via them, you can get cashback – and a good deal – this way.
And speaking of energy suppliers, you can also save money by getting a smart meter installed. These are currently being fitted free of charge by the energy companies. They help you monitor your energy usage and discover ways you can save money. In addition, a growing number of energy suppliers now reserve their best tariffs for people with smart meters. Check out my blog post Should You Get a Smart Meter Installed?
As always, if you have any comments or questions about this article, for me or for Will, please do post them below.
January 22, 2020 @ 12:14 pm
Great Article Will! I have heard your site and feel it has done me a good service. Another site that has saved me money here and there in the household is Referral Codes as I have saved money via groceries at Walmart and travel and online shopping at Amazon. Be sure to check it out if you have time. You will not regret it 😉