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Lower your monthly household costs with these eight tips

We are all guilty of bad habits, but there are ways to break them are lower your household costs. If you are serious about lowering your monthly household bills, then follow our guide to saving more money every year.

Cut money on your food shop
According to an article by This is Money, “British shoppers overspend by up to 30 at the tills,” but how can you stop falling for supermarket tricks? Before you go shopping, make a detailed list and give yourself a time limit as this will ensure you won’t be tempted to browse and will only buy what you need. And always remember the age old tip, don’t shop while you’re hungry!

Opting for more own brand products is a sure way to save. Test out different products as there will be some that aren’t for you but others you can use without even noticing the difference. If you online shop regularly, you can save on delivery costs by subscribing to a delivery package rather than paying one off payment. You could also try shopping later, as supermarkets often mark down products they need to sell by the end of the day.

Saving on petrol
Is your car a gas guzzler or do you own an energy efficient car? Asking yourself this question can save you a lot of money. No matter how much you want your dream car, it just might not be energy efficient.

Sharing lifts will save both on petrol costs and will be better for the environment. When you are driving, there are a few ways you can ensure you are saving fuel. Try not to over rev, always drive in the right gear and aim for smooth acceleration and breaking. Also, make sure to remove your roof rack when not in use as this increases the air resistance. You should also take the time to shop around for the cheapest garage near you and plan journeys in advance to avoid filling up at an overpriced motorway petrol station.

Utilise public transport passes
If you frequently use public transport, it might be cheaper for you to buy a pass. This one off payment could save you a lot of money in the long term. If you frequently travel on the train, check if you are eligible for a railcard, to save you money on every journey. This could be a 16-25 railcard, a family & friend’s railcard or senior railcard.

Make the most of offers
Always utilise offers in shops and supermarkets, even if they seem minor, as over a year they can save you a lot of money. For example, when you spend a certain amount of money in some supermarkets they will give you money off your fuel. This could be as much as 5p or 10p per litre, which seems small, but over a year, this can add up to a considerable amount of money.

Cut down on your usage
There are a lot of simple habits that you should adopt to help you cut down on your electricity and water bills. Always switching lights off when you leave a room, keeping a lid on boiling water and only boiling as much water as you need in the kettle, are a few ways to save on electricity. You could also buy a cheap electricity reader to assess how much energy you are using at any one time.

Similarly, to cut down on your water usage, you should have a free water metre installed, allowing you to take accurate readings and only pay for exactly what you are using. You may also want to look at how you can switch water supplier if you are unhappy with how you are currently being handled and think you can save more money. Taking showers instead of baths, turning off the tap when you brush your teeth and filling the sink when washing up instead of letting the water flow continuously, are all simple ways to cut down on water usage.

Check you’re paying the right amount
It is vital you check you are paying the right amount for all your bills. 400,000 homes are in the wrong Council Tax band, make sure you aren’t one of the households paying more than they should. Checking and sorting out any issues will only take up to ten minutes.

Shop around for the best deals
Are you paying more than you should be on your household bills? Use price comparison sites to compare offers from different companies. Find a plan that works for you. For example, if you make a lot of international calls opt for a plan that includes them. This is a bigger payment initially, but if you go over on your normal plan, you could receive a hefty bill. Choosing a plan to meets your specific needs is vitally important across all your household bills. Choose Call Wiser to find an insurance plan that covers your specific needs and gets you the most for your money.

Pay your bills on time
This is a skill every bill payer needs to learn. Not paying your bills on time can leave you in debt if you fall behind on payments. This is even worse if you know you can afford your bills but are forgetful. Creating a folder to keep all the information in one place will help you stay on top of your finances. Choose a payment method that suits you and check your bills regularly.