Household bills can rise without you noticing. A contract ends, a price changes or you keep paying for something you no longer need.
A simple bill check can help you find these costs and decide which ones are worth tackling first.
Gather Your Bills
Start by bringing your main household bills together.
Check:
- gas and electricity
- water
- broadband
- mobile phones
- TV and other regular services
- subscriptions
You can use paper bills, online accounts or recent bank statements. The aim is simply to see what you are paying in one place.
Write Down the Basics
For each bill, note:
- the provider
- what you pay
- when the contract ends
- what the service includes
For example:
Broadband: £42 a month — contract ends in two months
Mobile: £28 a month — phone already paid for
Water: £45 a month — metered
You do not need a complicated spreadsheet. A simple list is enough.
Look for Price Rises
Next, compare what you pay now with what you paid before.
Some bills change because prices have risen, while others increase when an introductory deal or fixed contract ends.
If the increase looks large, find out why before deciding what to do.
Check Your Contracts
Broadband and mobile contracts are particularly worth checking because reaching the end of a contract can be a good time to review your options.
Look for:
- the contract end date
- your current monthly price
- any planned price change
- early exit charges
- what you actually get for your money
If your contract is ending soon, compare your options before simply renewing.
Are You Paying for Too Much?
A cheaper deal is not the only way to save. You may also be paying for more than you need.
For example, check whether you really use:
- all your mobile data
- your broadband speed
- paid TV channels
- extra call packages
- subscriptions and add-ons
If you rarely use something, ask whether it is still worth paying for.
Check Your Energy Use
Energy is different because saving money does not always mean changing supplier or tariff.
Look at how much gas and electricity you use, then check where you may be wasting it.
Heating usually deserves the most attention. However, hot water, appliances and poor insulation can also add to your costs.
Small changes can be worthwhile when they reduce waste every day.
Check Your Water Bill
If you have a water meter, your bill depends partly on how much water you use.
Check your meter readings and look for any unexplained rise in use. A leaking toilet, dripping tap or hidden leak can increase your bill without being easy to spot.
If you do not have a meter, check whether having one could save you money.
Check Broadband and Mobile
Look at what you actually need before comparing prices.
For broadband, check your speed, connection and contract. There is little point paying for much faster broadband if your household does not need it.
For mobile, check your data use, coverage and whether you still need a phone contract. If your handset is paid for and still works well, a SIM-only plan may cost less.
Check Regular Payments
Bank statements can reveal costs that are easy to forget.
Look for subscriptions, memberships, apps and other regular payments. Then ask whether you still use each one enough to justify the cost.
Do not cancel something simply because it is a subscription. Keep what you value and remove what you no longer use.
Start With the Best Savings
Once you have found several possible savings, you do not need to deal with them all at once.
Start with changes that could save the most for the least effort.
For example:
- Cancel something you no longer use.
- Check a contract that is ending.
- Move to a cheaper mobile plan if it suits you.
- Fix obvious energy or water waste.
- Compare larger costs that need more thought.
Then work through the rest when you have time.
Check Again Each Year
Household costs change, so it is worth doing another check from time to time.
Once a year is a useful starting point. Also check when a contract is ending or when a bill suddenly rises.
The aim is not to spend your life chasing every small saving. It is to stop unnecessary costs carrying on unnoticed.
Key Points
- Bring your main household bills together.
- Check what you pay and when contracts end.
- Look for services or extras you no longer need.
- Check energy and water use for waste.
- Review broadband and mobile before renewing.
- Start with the savings that offer the most benefit for the least effort.#
Important Information
Energility provides general information to help you understand energy, household and business costs, services and ways to save money. It is not financial, legal, tax, technical or professional advice.
Prices, tariffs, grants, government schemes, regulations and other information can change. Costs, savings and calculator results are estimates and your actual results may be different.
Before making an important financial decision, signing a contract or carrying out significant work, check the latest information and consider getting advice from a suitably qualified professional where needed.
Energility may receive a commission or other benefit from some links or services. Where this applies, we aim to make it clear. This does not increase the price you pay unless stated otherwise.
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