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.
Most read in Money
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.
Fuel, mortgages and clothes are going down
PETROL & DIESEL: The latest RAC Fuel Watch tracker shows petrol and diesel prices have fallen for the fourth month in a row, although both are still higher than 12 months ago.
Drive costs down by finding the cheapest local pumps at petrolprices. com.
You should also drive efficiently, without over-accelerating or breaking hard, and remove unnecessary heavy items from your car to make it lighter.
Find out more at rac.co.uk.
MORTGAGES: Last October, the average two-year fixed rate hit six per cent for the first time in 14 years.
It’s now down to 5.38 per cent, according to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk,, and experts predict it may fall further this year.
However, if you are already on a fixed-rate mortgage that is about to expire, even these new lower rates may be more than you are currently paying.
Get advice on how to remortgage at moneyhelper.org.uk.
CLOTHES & BEAUTY: Some items are cheaper than they were this time last year.
Men’s football boots are down by a third, nail varnish has reduced by 11 per cent and pears, peanuts and cereal bars also cost less.
Use trackers such as pricerunner.com and pricespy.co.uk to compare prices at shops and ensure you are not overpaying.
Where to get help
STRUGGLING to make ends meet?
You are not alone.
Benefits advice charity Turn2us has seen a 138 per cent increase in people worried about paying their bills.
Don’t suffer in silence as help is available.
Here are some good places to start:
CHECK YOUR BENEFITS: Find out if you could be eligible for more government help at turn2us.org.uk.
CAN’T HEAT YOUR HOME? Visit National Energy Action at nea.org.uk or call 0800 304 7159 for help.
DEALING WITH DEBT? The Citizens Advice Bureau can give you free, independent advice. Call 0808 223 1133 or go to citizensadvice.org.uk.
NEED MONEY MANAGEMENT? MoneyHelper is the Government’s free, impartial advice service. Log on at moneyhelper.org.uk.
WANT TO KNOW YOUR RIGHTS? Consumer group Which? can help at which.co.uk.
WORRIED ABOUT HOUSING? The charity Shelter offers advice and support. Go online at shelter.org.uk.
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
