Our expert Squeeze Team are on hand today with FREE money advice – here’s how to get in touch
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MILLIONS of households will be hit with a tidal wave of bill increases in April.
You’ve probably already noticed your money isn’t going as far as it used to, with soaring inflation pushing up food prices and a jump in energy bills.
But in April households will be hit by further pain, as a planned National Insurance and income tax band freeze kicks in.
It means the average household will be £600 worse off a year.
That’s why The Sun has pulled together a team of experts from our Squeeze Team to help support you.
Today we are taking phone calls and emails from you.
We want to hear from you about your bill increases and worries about your finances.
Each week we will focus on a different bill or financial topic and help you to navigate the cost of living crisis.
We will also continue to fight for help from the government, as well as calling out companies for rising bills unnecessarily or unfairly.
You can email us on Squeezeteam@the-sun.co.uk, call on 0800 028 1978 or write to: 1 London Bridge St, London, SE1 1GF.
Council tax
Council Tax bills are set to rise by upto 4% in some areas. The rise will vary based on where you live. Your local council should be able to tell you if they’ve set the rates for next year.
Check with your local council whether you can get a discount or help with your bills if you’re struggling to pay them.
Water bills
Water bills could also go up in April. An announcement on the rates for this year is imminent.. You can’t choose who your supplier is - but there still might be a way to save money.
Transport costs
Rail fares are going up by 3.8% in March. It means an annual train ticket from Oxford to London will go up by £245 to £6,700. While a season ticket from Macclesfield to Manchester will jump by £84 to £2,284 a year.
My advice
Save: £100s
If your annual season ticket is up for renewal before March then make sure you renew. Book up to 12 weeks in advance to get the cheapest ticket.
Grocery bills
Inflation added £15 to shopping bills in December as the rate hit 3.5%. We are expecting the next set of numbers on Wednesday and it’s highly likely to be bad news for our wallets.
My advice
Save: £100s
Start by meal planning to make the most of your food. Check for vouchers and discounts before going to the supermarket. Swap expensive big name products for cheaper own-brand versions.
OUR expanded Squeeze Team are here to help you. Whether you’re worried about paying your bills, need to pay off debts or don’t know what to do with your pension, we want to hear from you today.
Call 0800 028 1978 or email Squeezeteam@the-sun.co.uk.
Who is on our team of experts?
Gareth Shaw
A money whizz from consumer group Which?, Gareth has been a journalist since 2007 and is a regular expert on TV and in print. He can help with all your consumer woes and offer tips for managing your money.
Romi Savova
Romi founded PensionBee in 2014 to simplify pension saving in the UK. She can answer questions about how to prepare for retirement.
Marie Horner
Marie is a partner in employment law at Langleys Solicitors. She can help with questions about your rights at work and what you’re entitled to if you’re made redundant.
Anna Stevenson
Anna is a welfare benefits specialist at Turn2Us, a charity that helps those who have had life-changing events. She can help you understand Universal Credit and other benefits to make sure you’re getting all the support you’re entitled to.
Holly Mackay
Holly is the founder of Boring Money, a comparison website for savings and investments. She can give you tips on how to build a rainy day fund and save for your future.
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Martyn James
Martyn is a consumer rights expert and campaigner, broadcaster, presenter. He’s the man to help with scams, refunds, complaints and hopeless customer service.
Mitch Young
Mitch is an accountant at Fusion Consulting Group and regular commentator in the press. You can ask him about all your tax queries.
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Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team?
Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk