1. Consider switching suppliers. Switching suppliers is the simplest way to save money on your energy bills. Energyhelpline estimates households can save up to £616 a year by switching from a standard tariff (the most expensive) to a Best Buy. Comparison sites such as Energyhelpline.com, Moneysupermarket.com, and uSwitch.com make comparing tariffs reasonably easy: enter your details and usage, and the site will generate a list of tariffs ranked in price order. The cheapest deals are usually fixed tariffs from smaller or “challenger” suppliers, managed online and paid by monthly direct debit.
2. Adjust your heating. The Energy Saving Trust says turning down your thermostat by just 1C can save you £80 to £90 a year. But just as important as the temperature is, you only need to heat your home when needed. Modern boilers have time controls to set the central heating and domestic hot water on and off at different times. Make sure your program fits your lifestyle – there’s no point having the heating on all day when everyone is out at work or school.
3. Use direct debits wisely Direct debits can save you money on some of your household bills – but not others. Energy suppliers tend to reserve their best deals for customers who pay by direct debit rather than on receipt of the bill. However, you’ll probably pay extra if you pay for your home insurance by direct debit. Opting for monthly payments means you’re effectively taking out a loan to pay your insurance premium and paying it back, plus interest, over a year. 

Four other easy ways to save

1. Consider a water meter. You can’t change your water supplier, but you can change how you are billed. If you don’t have a water meter, your bill will be based on your home’s size – how much water you use is irrelevant. You\'ll be billed according to usage if you have a water meter installed. The Consumer Council for Water has a free water meter calculator that predicts whether you can save cash with a meter. As a rough rule of thumb, you’ll save money with a meter if your house has more bedrooms than people.
2. Check if your energy supplier owes you money If you pay your energy bill by direct debit, the amount you pay each month will be based on an estimate of how much gas and electricity you’ll use during that year. You can be credited to your energy supplier if these estimates are too high. If you run your energy account online, you can check if you’re in credit and ask for any excess to be paid back into your bank account.
3. Understand council tax discounts. If you live alone, you’re entitled to a 25% discount on your council tax bill. The discount is pretty clear-cut if you’re a single dweller, but there are also certain people you can live with who won’t count as a second resident. These include students, people aged under 25 in approved training, or anyone who is severely mentally impaired. You might also be entitled to a council tax reduction if you’re on a low income or receiving benefits.
4. 4 Don’t auto-renew home insurance. Loyalty doesn’t pay when it comes to insurance companies. Moneysupermarket found consumers waste £37m a year because they automatically renew their home insurance instead of shopping around. It claims households can save up to £59 a year by switching providers. Since April of this year, insurers have been forced to tell policyholders how much they currently pay for their coverage when sending renewal reminders.