Our top tips for saving and keeping in control of your essential bills — plus find out high street deals from Sun Savers
FEELING the squeeze? New research reveals the cost of running a home has hit record levels.
Essential bills now cost families £1,408 a month — more than £16,000 a year — according to the study from comparison website .
Some of the biggest hikes include car insurance (up ten per cent), energy costs (up eight per cent) and petrol (up three per cent).
Here we share seven ways to keep control of your bills.
1. SWITCH YOUR HOME PHONE AND BROADBAND: There are plenty of deals for £20 a month so there is no need to pay more. See .
SAVE: Average £15 per month.
2. COMPARE ENERGY PROVIDERS: Switch suppliers to get a better deal. See .
SAVE: Average £200 per year.
3. DRIVE DOWN FUEL COSTS: Remove the roof rack and any junk that weighs your car down and adds to fuel costs. Accelerate and brake smoothly and turn off the air con. Use website to find the cheapest filling stations in your area.
SAVE: Average £200-£800 a year.
4. CHECK YOUR COUNCIL TAX BAND: Around 400,000 homes are estimated to be in the wrong council tax band and paying too much. You can check your valuation at .
SAVE: Ranges from £200 per year to £1,000s depending on how long you have been overpaying for.
5. CHECK INSURANCE: Shop around for a better deal on all your insurances — household buildings and contents, car, gadget, pet, health and any others you may have. See if you can find a better deal at .
SAVE: Average £300 per year.
6. CUT FOOD COSTS: Slashing your food bill is a quick way to save. Use local markets, buy “own label” instead of big brands, plan your meals to limit waste, bulk buy when you see a good deal and use mysupermarket.co.uk to compare costs at the main stores.
SAVE: Up to £1,000 a year.
7. CHEAPER CHILDCARE: The average cost of sending a child to nursery is £116.25 per week. But some families may be missing out on help they are entitled to. See .
SAVE: You can get up to 30 hours free childcare a week, depending on circumstances.
Nap up great bedtime deal
SAVE BIG: Sleep easy with this bedding offer of a pair of Silentnight Bounceback Pillows with two free, £21.49 at Argos.
SAVE: £21.49
SAVE SMALL: Stock up ahead of the Christmas housework. Marigold Extra Life large kitchen gloves were £2.50, now £1.25 at .
SAVE: £1.25
Handfuls of good advice
TODAY’S hot tip comes from SHIRLEY KING, of CHIGWELL, ESSEX. She says: “Only pick up a basket in store if you’re doing a big shop. Having to carry items means you only buy what you need and always save cash.”
- Send your tips to [email protected] and you’ll get 28 codes worth £5 if yours is used.
Please include your name and where you’re from.
Getting your smooth on
SHAVE cash off your grooming costs.
Bic has launched the new Bic Shave Club offering the five-blade razor for £2.95 a month instead of the usual £8 a month. See .
- NEW members joining before November 26 can get a free Thorntons Snowman Advent Calendar worth £7.
All prices correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
Fancy a free fiver?
YOU can get FREE cash with super Sun Savers just for buying your favourite paper.
Our brilliant new rewards club will pay back our most loyal readers.
Just pick up the paper each day to collect your Sun Savers codes and we will GIVE YOU £5 when you have collected 28.
This isn’t a one-off and there is no limit to how much cash you can save.
For every 28 codes you enter, we will give you a fiver. So over the course of a year, that could add up to £65.
We are keeping it super-simple. You don’t have to enter codes from consecutive days, so don’t worry if you forget a day or two.
Download our easy Sun Savers app and quickly scan your code using your smartphone. Or go online and enter your code at .
What is Sun Savers? Here's everything you need to know about our new rewards club
To get you on your way, join today and we will put a bonus £1 in your Sun Savers wallet tomorrow. And the good news doesn’t stop with free cash.
With Sun Savers, we give you the best hacks, deals and tips to save money every single day.
TO JOIN: Don’t worry, folks — joining takes just 30 seconds, in three steps.
All we’ll ask of you is your name, your date of birth and an email address to get you on the way to your first crisp fiver.
You can choose to save or cash out straight to your bank account or instantly with Paypal.
Don’t delay — join Sun Savers now!
