As we brace ourselves for the impact of “Awful April”, it’s hard not to feel a bit hopeless. From soaring council and car tax hikes to higher water bills, many changes seem beyond our control. But here’s the good news: there are plenty of things you CAN control, and knowing just what can help you weather the storm.
Firstly, a large amount of money goes unclaimed each year – £23billion in government assistance is left sitting idle. And it’s up to you to apply for it. Add in a few savvy utility tips, unlock cheaper bill deals through “social” tariffs and take advantage of other little-known money-saving perks, and you may just find that this April isn’t as financially bleak as you first thought. Take council tax. In some areas, residents are being battered by annual price hikes of nearly 10%. But do you have a wheelchair?
Do you live in a bigger property because you need the space for this wheelchair? Your bill may be cut if you apply for the Disabled Band Reduction Scheme via your local council. If you get Pension Credit, your bill could be paid in full.
Live alone? You may qualify for a 25% discount. Nearly £3.4m of this support went unclaimed last year, but you must apply because it’s not automatically granted. Struggling with food bills? Iceland offers over-60s a 10% discount on their entire shop every Tuesday. Just apply for a “Bonus Card” in store and bring some ID.
To cut costs further, check other loyalty cards such as the Tesco Clubcard, which could save you an estimated £351 a year in discounts.
For greater savings, Lidl – the UK’s second cheapest supermarket after Aldi – offers the Lidl Plus card, offering even more impressive deals. Energy bills are another challenge we’re all contending with – a struggle that doesn’t seem to be going away. Bills for households on standard variable tariffs increased by 6.4% – or by around £9.25 a month – on Tuesday.
But you could cut your bill by more than £150 a year by opting for a fixed tariff. Use a comparison site, such as uswitch.com, or call the Energy Advice Helpline on 0800 802 1869. You can find out what more you could be entitled to, such as cheaper water bill tariffs, by calling charities such as Age UK on 0800 678 1602 or visiting turn2us online. You don’t have to simply accept rising costs.
There are plenty of ways to make April a little less painful, and most of them are straightforward when you know what to do.
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Millions are overpaying on their mobile phone deals and you could be one of them. When you sign a new contract, you usually pay for the phone and airtime costs, which includes data, minutes, and text allowance.
When your deal ends your bill should drop, leaving you only paying for airtime. But some sneaky providers fail to make that adjustment, meaning millions are left unwittingly overpaying each year. Research in 2023 found six in 10 pensioners were swindled out of a total of £87m after being found to be out of contract for 12 months or more.
And then there’s the annual mid-contract price hikes to consider. To find out if you’re still in contract text INFO to 85075 – it’s free. You’ll get a message telling you how long you have left or if you’ve paid off your phone.
If you’re fully paid off, you’re free to switch without penalty. SIM-only deals are available for as little as £2 to £5 for unlimited calls and texts. But if you’re happy with your provider, just call them to ask for a review of your bill and ensure they pass on the savings. For those switching, text PAC to 65075 to keep your number. You’ll receive a code to give to your new provider, who will swiftly transfer it
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Do you work in teaching or for the NHS, or have you done? If so, you can claim a Tastecard app membership – worth £79.99 a year – for free. Enjoy two-for-one deals or up to 25% off bills at more than 3,000 restaurants, including Zizi’s, Pizza Express and Beefeater.
The deal is available through a Health Service Discounts account or a Discounts for Teachers account. It’s free to sign up for both of these. But beware, once the 12-month free trial is over, you will be rolled over onto a paid-for membership at a discounted price of £29.99 a year if you don’t cancel before it ends.
If you don’t want to continue with the membership, set a reminder to make sure you cancel in time.
