Your home shouldn't cost you a fortune.
Energy bills, broadband, insurance, and council tax — there's money to be saved on every household expense. Here's how.
Energy is one of the biggest household bills — and one of the most negotiable.
Switch your energy tariff
Use Uswitch or MoneySuperMarket to compare tariffs. Even in a capped market, switching to a better deal can save £200–400/year.
Apply for the Warm Home Discount
If you're on a low income or receive certain benefits, you may qualify for a £150 discount on your electricity bill. Apply through your supplier.
Turn your thermostat down by 1°C
Reducing your thermostat by just one degree can cut your heating bill by up to 10% — saving around £100/year for the average home.
Get a smart meter
Smart meters show your real-time energy usage, making it easier to identify and cut waste. They're free to install — contact your supplier.
Draught-proof your home
Draught-proofing doors, windows, and letterboxes costs around £200 but saves an average of £125/year on heating bills.
£400
Switching energy tariff and making simple efficiency improvements can save the average UK household £400/year on energy bills.
Useful brands & tools
Uswitch
Compare energy tariffs and switch in minutes. Uswitch also alerts you when a better deal becomes available.
MoneySuperMarket
Energy comparison with cashback offers on selected tariffs.
Octopus Energy
Consistently rated best for customer service and competitive tariffs. Their Agile tariff rewards off-peak usage.
Broadband prices vary enormously — and loyalty almost never pays.
Switch at the end of your contract
Broadband providers offer their best deals to new customers. When your contract ends, switch — or use a competitor's quote to negotiate a better deal.
Check for social tariffs
If you receive Universal Credit or certain other benefits, you may qualify for a social broadband tariff — as low as £15/month for decent speeds.
Bundle with TV and phone
Bundling broadband with TV and phone can be cheaper than buying separately — but compare the total cost carefully.
Use a comparison site before renewing
Never accept a renewal quote without checking Broadband Genie or Compare the Market first. New customer deals are almost always better.
£180
Switching broadband provider at the end of your contract saves UK households an average of £180/year compared to rolling onto a standard tariff.
Useful brands & tools
Broadband Genie
Specialist broadband comparison site with social tariff information and availability checker.
Compare the Market
Compare broadband, TV, and phone bundles side by side.
BT Social Tariff
£15/month broadband for Universal Credit recipients — check eligibility on the BT website.
Home and contents insurance is essential — but you're almost certainly paying too much.
Never auto-renew
Auto-renewal almost always means paying more than new customers. Set a reminder to shop around 3 weeks before your renewal date.
Increase your voluntary excess
Agreeing to pay a higher voluntary excess reduces your premium. Just make sure you could actually afford to pay it if you needed to claim.
Improve your home security
Installing a burglar alarm, deadlocks, and window locks can reduce your home insurance premium by 5–15%.
Pay annually, not monthly
Monthly payments typically add 20–30% to the total cost of your insurance. Pay annually if you can afford to.
£150
Shopping around at renewal instead of auto-renewing saves UK homeowners an average of £150/year on home insurance.
Useful brands & tools
Compare the Market
Compare home insurance quotes from 50+ providers. Use their Meerkat Movies perk as a bonus.
GoCompare
Home insurance comparison with a price guarantee and cashback on selected policies.
Council tax is unavoidable — but many people pay more than they should.
Check your council tax band
Around 400,000 UK homes are in the wrong council tax band. Use the Valuation Office Agency website to check yours and appeal if necessary.
Apply for a single person discount
If you live alone, you're entitled to a 25% discount on your council tax. Contact your local council to apply.
Check for exemptions
Full-time students, people with severe mental impairment, and certain other groups are exempt from council tax. Check your eligibility.
Spread payments over 12 months
By default, council tax is spread over 10 months. Ask your council to spread it over 12 to reduce your monthly payment.
£400
Homes in the wrong council tax band overpay by an average of £400/year. A successful appeal results in a refund backdated to 1993.
Useful brands & tools
Valuation Office Agency
Check your council tax band and find out how to appeal at voa.gov.uk.
Turn2us
Free benefits calculator to check if you qualify for council tax reduction or other support.