On the 1st of April it was announced that many of our household bills would increase, over the past two years the UKs cost of living crisis has become more apparent and now you can expect to see phone bills, water bills and your council tax increase significantly.
But what’s going up and are there things you can do to save?
Which household bills are going up
Water Bills
The average water bill has increased by 6% in England and Wales, meaning you could be paying up to £27 more a year according to suppliers’ trade body Water UK. Unfortunately, unlike energy and gas suppliers your water supplier is fixed so your unable to shop around for the best deal.
Broad Band
Broadband companies are increasing contract costs by as much as 8.8% even if you’re in the middle of contract. This rise has sparked outrage and Which? have described it as ‘totally unacceptable’, as often exit fees are too expensive so customers have no choice but to pay the 8.8% increase.
Council Tax
Council Tax has increased for millions across the UK since 1st April. Depending on where you live you may have seen an increase of 2.99% and 4.99% if your council has social care duties. Cheshire East where Swansway Motor Groups Head Office is located, saw an increase of 4.99% with 2% of that reserved for adult social care.
Road Tax
Since April we’ve also seen an increase in road tax adjustments by the government in line with inflation. If you drive a gas guzzling car you can expect a rise of up to £140 in your road tax bill, and if you’re liable for the ‘luxury car’ tax your bill could rise from £390 to £410. However, EVs are exempt from these surcharges until 2025 currently.
So, what can you do to save on your bills.
It can be daunting when you start seeing your bills rise but there are some things you can do to reduce these costs.
Generic household bills can be reduced by simple things like installing a water meter, fixing any leaks and even something as simple as turning the tap off while you brush your teeth. Or installing a smart meter so you can keep an eye on your energy and gas usage.
There are also reductions you can get on your council tax depending on your living circumstances, for example if you live alone you can save up to 25% of your bill. If the cost of your car is becoming more of a concern perhaps its time to switch over to electric while they are still exempt from road tax charges and EV government incentives are still strong.