Despite the cost of household bills continuing to rise across the UK, cutting costs is easier than you think. And the average household can save hundreds of pounds each year by following our tips.

Reducing your home phone and broadband bill

There are a lot of suppliers out there and it’s easy to cut your monthly phone and broadband bills.

Start by following these simple tips:

• call your supplier and ask for a better price
• use a price comparison website to find a cheaper deal
• match your contract to your lifestyle – for example, if you use a lot of data and are charged extra when you go over, a deal with more data might be cheaper.

Get a cheaper mobile phone bill

Is your mobile phone contract coming to an end? Are you trying to find the cheapest way to get the latest handset?

Here are a few tips to keep your bills low:

• use online tools to analyse your bills and recommend a contract
• negotiate with suppliers – remember that you’re in charge
• use price comparison websites to find the best deal for you.

Cutting the cost of your water bill

The average yearly water bill is close to £400, according to Water UK. And although you can’t switch water supplier, there are ways to save money on bills.

For example, you could:

• have a free water meter installed
• take fewer baths and switch to showers
• switch to a more efficient shower head.

Cheaper gas and electricity

There are lots of energy suppliers out there competing for customers. So it’s a good time to find yourself a cheaper deal.

It’s also a good idea to look at some energy-saving tips. For example:

• switch to monthly Direct Debit payments to cut your costs
• turn down your thermostat by just 1°C
• consider collective switching – is it worth it?

Are you paying too much Council Tax?

According to MoneySavingExpert, up to 400,000 homes are in the wrong Council Tax band. So it’s worth making sure you’re not being overcharged.

It shouldn’t take more than ten minutes to find out. And you might end up saving hundreds of pounds and getting a rebate.

Also check whether you qualify for a discount of up to 50% off your Council Tax bill.

Slash the cost of driving and public transport

Whether you drive, or use public transport, travel costs probably make up a lot of your monthly spend.

But there are plenty of ways to cut travel costs. These include:

• finding cheaper car insurance
• buying cheaper fuel
• booking train tickets in advance.

Pay your bills on time

Late payment fees can wipe out savings, so it’s important to make sure you pay your bills on time.

Here are some tips to help stay on top of your bills:

• pay for regular bills monthly by Direct Debit
• keep a record of payments and plan ahead
• talk to the people you owe money to if you’re struggling.