Everything seems more expensive these days, from electricity and insurance to fuel and groceries. Your salary no longer stretches to the end of the month and you may find that you do not have the disposable income you used to have. It’s a frustrating time as the economy staggers and prices rise, yet your salary cannot keep up with inflation. However, there are some simple things you can do to relieve the financial pressure by reducing your household bills. All it takes is a little time and research and you could be on your way to saving a few hundred pounds a year.

Shop Around and Compare

It is easy to become complacent and stick with what you know, but this is exactly what your energy, insurance and phone providers are banking on. When they raise their prices they are quite complacent in the knowledge that very few of their customers will take the time to shop around and research cheaper providers.

But it is not as time consuming as you think. Just set aside a morning or afternoon and shop around online for the cheapest deals on all your household bills. A great place to start is with a price-comparison website, which will conveniently list the majority of service providers and their prices in one place, making it easy for you to compare like for like.

You can use comparison websites for almost any utility bill. Perhaps you have been using the same energy provider for years. If so, you are almost certain to find a cheaper deal by switching to a more competitive provider. You could save up to £200 a year on your electricity bill simply by switching. You can also save money by paying by direct debit.

And on the subject of energy consumption, don’t forget to take the simple but effective steps of switching off lights in empty rooms and changing your light bulbs to low-energy ones, saving approximately £6 a year for every bulb you change. By turning your appliances off instead of leaving them on standby you could also save £37 a year.

Bundles

Another great way to make some savings is to look for telephone and internet providers that offer their services in bundles. Often an all-inclusive charge for line rental and broadband will be cheaper than paying for them separately. Many companies also often have special offers running where you could get a mobile phone or even a laptop thrown in with the deal.

Insurance

Home and car insurance is another area where it pays to shop around each year when you need to renew your policies. Just because your current provider gave you a great deal last year, it doesn’t mean they will have the same offer this year. In fact, that great deal you got last year may only have been to lure you in and meant that they would raise your premiums the following year. Always shop around for your insurance every year as you could potentially save a few hundred pounds by switching to another company.

So why not try shopping around for cheaper deals today? It’s easier than you think to switch providers and in the battle for your custom there will always be some good bargains on offer.

This guest post was written by Tony on behalf of IVA Expert. Tony hails from the UK and has an interest in money management and saving tips.