Household Bills
UK first-time parents spend £492 million preparing for baby
First-time UK parents spend more than £492 million each year, preparing for the arrival of their first baby, according to research from life insurance provider Aviva. This equates to £1,619 per family and shows a 17% increase to the £1,389 total in March 2012.
Small energy providers trounce the ‘big six’ with cheaper tariffs
Smaller energy providers have been prominent at the top of the energy ‘best buy’ tables for some time now, and OVO Energy has taken the top spot once again with its Cheaper Energy Fixed tariff.
Brits bingeing on TV box sets
Three out of four Brits admit to bingeing on box sets of their favourite TV programmes, with thousands missing out on sleep, food and even sex to watch shows in marathon sessions!
Ofgem launches project to pave the way for cheaper off-peak electricity
Tariffs where consumers pay less for using electricity off-peak or when it is cheaper to produce, are one step closer from today.
Drain on households as water bills rise on 1st April
Water bills to rise by an average of 2% or £8 a year from 1st April - average household will pay £393 a year for water and sewerage, according to uSwitch.com.
Energy bill hike on the way as twelve energy tariffs come to an end
On Monday 31 March and Tuesday 1 April, many households could be automatically moved to more expensive tariffs if they haven’t already taken action and switched to a better deal.
SSE customers to finally benefit from levy cuts
The wait is almost over for SSE customers, who will finally feel the benefit of the Government’s levy reductions that were announced almost four months ago.
Brits shell out over half a billion pounds on 08 calls each year
Mobile phone users are in the dark when it comes to the cost of making calls to 0800 numbers from their mobile phone, according to new research, conducted by YouGov.
Singletons spend £1,536 more a year than coupled-up Brits
Singletons spend more on vanity products and clothes than those of us in relationships do, a new study has found. The study of 2,000 adults found marked differences in personal spending between those in couples and those who are yet to find love.
Economy on the mend but families still feeling squeezed
The first Lloyds Bank Family Finances report reveals the disconnect between the positive economic outlook and how Britain’s families are continuing to feel financially squeezed.
UK overtakes major EU nations for superfast broadband
The UK has the highest take-up and coverage of superfast broadband among leading European economies, new figures show.
How can I lower my gas bills? Follow these five easy steps
This is a common question that we get asked a lot. With the weather changing unexpectedly, it is virtually impossible to plan your monthly usage. It used to be assumed that whereas in winter you’d use more energy, it would even out in summer with barely any usage.
Fast broadband and energy efficiency are the new ‘home essentials’
Central heating, energy efficiency and home security top the nation’s list of top 20 ‘must-have’ home features, according to new research from Gocompare.com Home Insurance, while more than half say that a good broadband connection is now an ‘essential’.
A fifth of households billed wrongly by energy suppliers
Energy suppliers have once again been named by consumers as one of the biggest culprits for getting bills wrong, according to new research from uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service.
npower customers finally benefit from 2.5% bill cut
npower customers are finally about to benefit from a 2.5% cut to their bills, following the Government’s levy reductions announced early December last year.