Full list of bills rocketing in April – and how to cushion the blow

APRIL won’t see most of us showered in cash, as it is the time when firms tend to put up bills.

Dubbed “Awful April” by consumer groups, rising inflation means many companies are expected to increase costs by their highest rate in decades.

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But it’s not all bad news because some prices may come down.

Here, we reveal the tricks you can try to keep your costs under control.

Water

WATER bills will rise by around 7.5 per cent from next month in England and Wales – or five per cent in Scotland.

Many companies offer free water-saving devices, so get in touch with your supplier.

Small households may see bills drop if they install a water meter as charges will be based on exact usage.

And fix leaks, no matter how small, to plug your spend.

Cutting usage should reduce your costs by at least £50 annually.

Learn how with top tips from water consumer body Ofwat.

See ofwat.gov.uk.

Broadband

MANY telecoms firms hike their prices each April in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), based on the inflation rate.

This year, it could force up bills by 14 per cent.

O2 and Virgin Mobile base their price rises around the higher Retail Price Index (RPI), meaning some customers will face jumps of more than 17 per cent.

Out of contract? Shop around and get a better deal.

Haggle hard and you could get another £90 off.

Stuck in a contract? If you’re on Universal Credit, there is help available.

Check out the advice about cheaper social tariffs at ofcom.org.uk.

Council Tax

MOST councils will be raising bills by just under 5%, meaning an average jump of £75.

If you live alone or with other who are exempt you could claim a 25% discount.

And see if you can get your home moved to a cheaper tax band with the advice at moneysavingexpert.com.

Food

FOOD price rises are hard to stomach with grub costing an extra 16.7% more on average than this time last year.

Keep costs down by switching to budget supermarkets like Lidl, ditching big brands for own brand products and using frozen instead of fresh.

Scratch cooking – prioritising raw proteins, wholegrains and fresh fruit and veg – and cutting down on food waste helps save money too.

See Lovefoodhatewaste.com and recipes at lidl.co.uk.

Energy

Changes to the £400 government electricity discount scheme from April means it will become less generous and more targeted, with most users set to pay an extra £67 per month.

If you are struggling speak to your energy provider and ask about their hardship fund.

You may qualify for a cheaper social tariff.

Switching to direct debit is also around 6% cheaper than paying bills quarterly.

Prescriptions

NHS prescription charges in England will increase by 3% from April 1st, taking the charge for a single item from £9.35 to £9.65.

If you need frequent prescriptions, buy a prescription payment certificate (PPC) to lock in the lower costs.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk