Sadly, and given the recent events in terms of energy prices and food bills increase, many families will find themselves in a difficult situation. No one should have to choose between eating or heating, and this is why we’ve gathered more information to help improve your daily life.

Did you know?...

Our founder Martin Newman is a chairman of InKind Direct, a charity which helps people by giving products away to those who need them most. Have a look here to see how they can support you.

How can you save money on food weekly?

First of all, choose a bigger supermarket compared to a smaller, more local one. Most of the time, the latter are higher priced. According to research from Which? you may end up paying 9.5% more for food shopping over the course of a year.

Yellow stickers may also be a very good habit to have when it comes to shopping. Here’s how to keep an eye out for the following yellow sticker bargains:

• M&S – An hour before the store closes
• Morrisons – 6pm
• Sainsbury’s – 6pm
• Asda – 7pm
• Waitrose – 6pm

You can also start couponing. In fact, you will find tons of amazing advice online if you Google “extreme couponing UK” with absolute legends on YouTube and elsewhere teaching you how to get the best out of your coupons and save a lot of money.

Supermarkets such as Aldi (cheapest supermarket of the year 2021) can also be of great help if you are on a tight budget.  

Busted up fridge and tight budget? There’s a solution. Renting your white goods could be extremely beneficial in the long term, especially if you’re a tenant. For instance, on this website, you can rent a fridge / Freezer for only £24 a month.

This is also a total win-win should you be moving often. Indeed, no need to pay extra for a moving company!

Big brands such as Wayfair, John Lewis as well as Ikea are already putting such a system into place for their shoppers. 

How can you save money on energy bills?

Starting from the 1^st of April 2022, energy prices will skyrocket and thus put an enormous strain on consumers. Although the situation is still pending and we may not have all the answers as an organisation, here are some tips to help you save money on your next energy bills.

Find out which tariffs are the best for you - fixed or variable:

Variable, often called “standard”, is an “out-of-contract” tariff that changes its price each time your supplier changes its rate. It is subject to a price cap which is reset by the energy regulator Ofgem every six months.

You can leave a standard tariff whenever you like – so it’s perfect for people who like to get the best deals by switching a lot.

Fixed tariffs have set rates for a certain period of time, usually one or two years. It means that the price you pay during this period won’t rise, however you won’t benefit from prices drop either. Ideal if you want to have a little more peace of mind each month and if you’re happy to stay with the same supplier for a certain amount of time.

Using a price comparison website is always a good idea to see which energy supplier can give you the best deal. Given the current situation, two of the biggest comparison websites are switched off at the moment. However, Which? Switch still works.

A good way to save money on energy, especially electricity, is using it during the cheapest hours – usually late at night and early morning.

Another way to save money on electricity is by making sure any appliances on stand-by are switched off. It can be the case with your TV or even your kettle which are using energy even though you may not be using them.

Sometimes, you can also get a discount if you pay by monthly direct debit, and if you’re happy to view your bills online, you can go paperless, which will also save you money.

Are you eligible for any help regarding your energy bills?

You can get extra help with your energy bills. Therefore, you can check if you’re eligible for the Warm Home Discount, the Cold Weather Payment (Or Winter Fuel Payment) as well as a free boiler or insulation. 

Of course, should you have any problems with your energy supplier or have the impression you’re being treated unfairly, Customer Service Action is here to help! Simply drop us a complaint by clicking on the button below. It is free to do so, and our agents will always be happy to help.