10 ways to cut your household bills ASAP (2024)

Wouldn’t it be great to have a bit of extra cash to spend on fun stuff? Here are 10 things you can do right now to save money on necessary-but-dull bills:

1. Get rid of your landline

Can you remember the last time you used your home phone? Do you even know what your home phone number is? If the answer is no, then it’s time to ditch the landline. Instead, download a free calling app – you’ll be able to make calls (including international ones) for free.

2. Switch utility providers

We can think of more fun ways to spend an afternoon than researching utility providers, but it’s definitely worth doing. If you’ve been with the same company for years, you’re probably tied to an old deal – shop around and you’ll find other companies offering you much cheaper deals if you move over to them.

3. Pay by direct debit

The simplest way to save money on your bills without even trying – you’ll know exactly which day the money will come out of your account and if you agree to a fixed monthly direct debit, you’ll probably get a cheaper deal. And you’ll never incur a late payment fee. It’s a win-win.

4. Lose any add-ons

You know when you’re on the phone to someone and they’re trying to persuade you to add an extended warranty, or get extra insurance cover or whatever, and you say yes just to get them off the phone? It’s time to get rid of all those extras if you don’t need them; for example, if you are a home owner and have house insurance – this policy will cover most things. If you pay extra for international calls, get rid of it and use an app to make those calls for free instead.

5. Do it yourself

It’s tough to find the time to do bits around the house, but if money is tight, you may have to reconsider. Do you really need to be forking out, say, £30 a week for a cleaner? If you share a property, write up a rota divvying up all the cleaning duties and save the money.

6. Barter your services

If you’re a useless gardener but handy with a screwdriver (the tool, not the co*cktail), why not swap skills – you offer to put someone’s Billy bookcases together, while they come over and sort out your garden. You’ll save money on a gardener and have some spare cash to spend on a well-deserved drink afterwards.

7. Be clever with your food shopping

Clear some space in your cupboards, then shop online for good deals on non-perishable food (rice, pasta, tinned tomatoes) and other household goods (toothpaste, toilet paper, kitchen roll etc). If you bulk-buy essential items that are on sale, you’ll end up saving a significant amount on your weekly shop.

8. Turn off the lights

Doing little things such as turning off the lights when you leave a room will have a positive impact on your gas and electricity bills over the time. If you have a spare room or a dining room that you don’t often use, turn off the radiators in these rooms.

**9. Change your mobile phone tariff **

If you’re not using up all your free minutes or data every month, it means you are on the wrong tariff – a quick look at a price comparison site will tell you which tariffs are the cheapest. If you choose a tariff with a different provider to the one you’re currently with, you can switch over and still keep your mobile number.

**10. Slash your memberships **

Make a list of all the ‘extras’ that you pay for monthly – gym membership, TV streaming sites, veg box delivered to your house weekly, etc. Put them in order of how often you use them and then cancel the one you use the least.

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10 ways to cut your household bills ASAP (2024)

FAQs

10 ways to cut your household bills ASAP? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

How do I lower all my bills? ›

Here are 10 ways you can lower your bills:
  1. Negotiate your bills.
  2. Switch to a fixed pricing plan.
  3. Downgrade service.
  4. Use efficient appliances.
  5. Rotate services.
  6. Refinance loans.
  7. Use a balance transfer card.
  8. Bundle products.
Mar 17, 2023

What to say to get your bills lowered? ›

Otherwise, say something like: “Thanks, but the problem isn't that I don't have enough to watch, it's that my monthly bill is too high. What can you do to lower my bill?” You can often get free ancillary services in addition to a lower monthly bill.

Is it illegal to cut a bill? ›

Under section 333 of the U.S. Criminal Code, “whoever mutilates, cuts, defaces, disfigures, or perforates, or unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, or Federal Reserve bank, or the Federal Reserve System, ...

How to stop unnecessary spending? ›

How to Stop Spending Money
  1. Know what you're spending money on. ...
  2. Make your budget work for you. ...
  3. Shop with a goal in mind. ...
  4. Stop spending money at restaurants. ...
  5. Resist sales. ...
  6. Swear off debt. ...
  7. Delay gratification. ...
  8. Challenge yourself to reach your new goals.
Apr 5, 2024

How to budget $5000 a month? ›

Consider an individual who takes home $5,000 a month. Applying the 50/30/20 rule would give them a monthly budget of: 50% for mandatory expenses = $2,500. 20% to savings and debt repayment = $1,000.

How to budget $4000 a month? ›

making $4,000 a month using the 75 10 15 method. 75% goes towards your needs, so use $3,000 towards housing bills, transport, and groceries. 10% goes towards want. So $400 to spend on dining out, entertainment, and hobbies.

What is the 50 15 5 rule? ›

50 - Consider allocating no more than 50 percent of take-home pay to essential expenses. 15 - Try to save 15 percent of pretax income (including employer contributions) for retirement. 5 - Save for the unexpected by keeping 5 percent of take-home pay in short-term savings for unplanned expenses.

What to do if your bills are too high? ›

Reach Out to a Reputable Nonprofit Credit Counseling Agency

However, if you genuinely don't have enough income to cover your obligations, credit counseling agencies can work with your lenders to find a solution. Often, they can get interest rate reductions and create a simplified debt repayment plan.

How do I reduce my food bill? ›

Avoid convenience foods: Pre-packaged convenience foods like frozen meals or individually wrapped snacks tend to be more expensive. Opt for fresh ingredients and prepare your meals from scratch whenever possible. Reduce food waste: Be mindful of food waste by properly storing and using leftovers.

How to save money when bills are too high? ›

How to pay your bills and still save money
  1. Put a cap on non-essentials. ...
  2. Consolidate, or at least snowball, your debt. ...
  3. Don't use your balance as permission to spend. ...
  4. Don't base your spending on other people. ...
  5. Follow a budget that works. ...
  6. Downgrade.
Feb 9, 2017

Is Goodbill legit? ›

I found Goodbill and they got to work. My case manager kept in constant contact with me throughout the process and was able to save me a ton of money. They were extremely knowledgeable and made sure I was paying a fair price for my stay in the hospital. I highly recommend Goodbill to ensure your medical bills are fair.

Is Billcutterz legit? ›

"Billcutterz did exactly what they claim they can do. They saved me approx. $150 per month on my cell and electricity bills. I do not have the time to get on the phone with providers to haggle a good price for their services, so Billcutterz took care of that for me.

What is bill trim? ›

BillTrim's proprietary technology and professional team work around the clock to reduce your bills. They know all the tricks of negotiation. Once you sign up, they do all the work and you get all the savings for a small percentage of your savings.

What is the cost cutting strategy? ›

Cost cutting measures may include laying off employees, reducing employee pay, closing facilities, streamlining the supply chain, downsizing to a smaller office, or moving to a less expensive building or area, reducing or eliminating outside professional services, such as advertising agencies and contractors, etc.

Do ripped bills work? ›

(KHON2) — If you accidentally ripped a dollar bill, you may not be completely out of luck. But what do you do with the mutilated moolah? According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, commercial banks will exchange your damaged, or “unfit” currency, for another, after some checks are made.

How can I save money if my bills are too high? ›

How to pay your bills and still save money
  1. Put a cap on non-essentials. ...
  2. Consolidate, or at least snowball, your debt. ...
  3. Don't use your balance as permission to spend. ...
  4. Don't base your spending on other people. ...
  5. Follow a budget that works. ...
  6. Downgrade.
Feb 9, 2017

What to do when bills are more than income? ›

What to Do When You Can't Pay Your Bills
  1. Cover your Four Walls. ...
  2. Create a budget. ...
  3. Cut any unnecessary spending. ...
  4. Stop taking out debt. ...
  5. Watch out for debt scams. ...
  6. Plan ways to increase your income. ...
  7. Contact your lenders. ...
  8. Give your creditors their fair share.
Apr 2, 2024

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