As we’ve been reporting, numerous household bills are going up in price today.
People are set to see increases in prices for TV packages, broadband, council tax, TV licences, water and rent for social housing – as well as car tax, train fares and stamps.
With many households already feeling the pinch, is there anything you can do to cut costs?
Check if you’re out of contract
When it comes to TV and broadband packages, major providers BT, EE, Plusnet and Vodafone are charging customers 7.9% more from this month, while Virgin Media and O2 are upping prices by 8.8% (although some O2 customers will see smaller rises than this).
Sky is also implementing price rises, meaning most Sky TV and broadband customers will pay an average of 6.7% more from today.
This is because these services usually have price increases baked into the contract that are linked to the RPI measure of inflation.
You might be able to avoid the rises by switching provider as cheaper deals are often available to new customers.
You should check to see if you’re out of contract first, or what the exit penalty may be.
Research by Which? shows switching providers when you’re out of contract could cut bills by up to £187.
If you don’t want to leave your provider, you could also call them and try to haggle down your monthly cost.
Check if you can get council tax support
With the majority of councils increasing their council tax by the maximum amount this month, some households could see their bills jump significantly.
Analysis by AJ Bell suggests the maximum 4.99% increase for an average Band D property in the UK would raise bills by £103 – although those in bigger properties or more expensive areas for council tax could see larger increases.
You may qualify for extra support or a reduction in your council tax bill, for example if you’re on a low income, are a student, are living alone or are disabled.
Another option is to have your council tax bill spread over 12 months instead of the usual 10 – this won’t save you money but could help you to budget, if your council offers this option.
You could also get your home’s council tax band reviewed, which may entitle you to a refund if you’re in the wrong band. However, you should be aware the review could lead to your property being put in a higher band.
See if you’re eligible for a free or discounted TV licence
If you’re 75 or over and you get pension credit, or you live with a partner who does, you qualify for a free TV licence.
You can apply for it here or call TV Licensing on 0300 790 6071.
Those in residential care or sheltered accommodation can get a licence for £7.50, while those registered blind or living with someone who is can get a 50% discount.
Use these tips for cheaper train fares
Rail fares will rise by 8.7% this month for those in Scotland, after the Scottish government argued previous fare freezes were not sustainable.
For those in England and Wales, fares rose by 4.9% on 3 March.
One of the best ways of saving on your train fare is to buy in advance.
Tickets are usually released up to 12 weeks before travel, although some may be earlier.
Another way to travel cheaper is by splitting your fare, meaning you split your journey into multiple tickets between stations.
You can use sites like Split My Fare and Split Train Tickets to work out whether this will be cheaper for you.
If you are eligible for a railcard, this can be another way of saving on ticket purchases.