Why waste your hard earned cash paying over the odds on the bare essentials, when you could be spending it on sprucing up your home?
Home and Garden on Female First
Behind the beautiful exterior of our homes lie a maze of essential, yet somewhat mundane utilities - from heating to water, gas and electricity.
In these austere times, many are left with no spare cash for holidays, luxuries or the home, but managing these basics effectively could save you valuable funds.
However, with new research released by Halifax Home Insurance showing that for one in 10 people their disposable income has plummeted by over £300 a month (leaving them over £3,600 worse off a year), managing our basics and having enough left over for home improvements is far easier said than done.
More worryingly it appears we are oblivious to the extent to which our ability to pay these essential utilities is affected; between 2010 and 2011, the average cost of running a home increased by £207[i].
Yet, only 13 per cent of people who said running a house had become more expensive in the past year thought their costs had risen over £200. Instead the majority of people (39 per cent) put the price increase between £51 and £100.
Despite these spiraling costs the research found that the majority of people (47 per cent) are failing to take advantage of fixed deals from their suppliers, despite being aware of them, which could help in saving valuable money towards that new kitchen you’ve always wanted or a much needed bedroom make-over.
So, can we make our hard earned cash go further on our maintenance bills, and more to the point, where can these savings we make be best put to use when it comes to home improvements?