Beat the cost of living crisis:
7 ways to save through tech

Setting financial goals and sticking to a budget could save you £2,000 a year

One thing we know plenty about is how much money you can save by switching broadband. And a big one to watch out for…disengaged customers pay more! Broadband customers who stay after their contracts end cop an average loyalty penalty of £113 a year for every year they stay. Providers also offer sweet introductory deals, sometimes up to 90% off a standard tariff.

Switching is less hassle than you might think. You can switch providers anytime, but you’ll usually pay a fee if you switch mid-contract. Check out our comprehensive how to switch broadband guide to learn more and get started today.

Potential savings from switching broadband and TV providers: £143 a year

At the end of your contract, your provider will be rubbing their hands together, poised to charge you an average of 43% more than your initial price. You’ll get notified about 40 days out. Use this time to research new deals but don’t forget to get in touch with your current provider to ask for a discount, especially if you’re happy with your service.

Thanks to technology, you don’t even need to get on the phone. Most providers are happy to renegotiate terms over website or social media chat functions.

In a recent poll, one haggler reported getting free broadband for a whole year and Virgin Media customers reported an 83% haggling success rate, so it’s certainly worth a shot to secure discounts and a better deal.

Average end-of-term broadband and TV haggle saving: £128 a year

Faster broadband usually costs more (though this is not always the case, as contract length, upfront costs and rewards come into play). Depending on your usage, you might not need the fastest service available. To find out what speed suits you, run a broadband speed test. If you’re happy with this speed, you can target this level for your next broadband deal. If the speed is too slow, try to get something faster next time.

Check out our guide to the best broadband speeds for different usage levels. As a general rule, we recommend around:

• 10Mb if you’re streaming on one device or light browsing on a few devices
• 35Mb for simultaneous high-use streaming for two devices
• 70Mb for 3-5 people streaming on their devices at once
• 100Mb+ for the heaviest users using multiple devices using the connection at once

The amount you could save by downgrading your speed varies greatly depending on your current setup. We’ve allocated a conservative £5 per month estimated saving, but it’s something to look into if you want to save money on your broadband cost.

Average speed downgrade saving: £60 a year

Competition for your broadband business is intense. Providers often offer great free gifts like Amazon vouchers, free tech or bill credits to encourage you to sign up. Just make sure it provides you real value, and remember to activate your offer and use it before it expires.

Average incentive value: £100

Around 4.2 million households are eligible for cheaper social tariffs, but only 55,000 have signed up for these low-cost deals. Check this comprehensive guide to broadband for people on benefits to find out more.

Potential saving: £344 a year

It predicts when you want a warm house and can save £164 a year.

Replace all the bulbs in your home with LED smart bulbs and save £232 a year.

Standby mode is an energy sap. Using a standby saver, smart plug or just remembering to turn off standby can save £24.60 a year.

Reduce your water temperature to use less energy every wash and save £12 a year.

Full loads mean fewer loads a week and savings of £28 a year.

Watch the weather and wash when it’s dry or dry on racks indoors to save £55 a year.

Using the eco-cycle on your dishwasher can save £53.04 a year.

Maintains an even temperature in your home with less reliance on heating and saves £250 a year.

Minimises heat loss through your windows and saves £110 a year.

Can be done on a budget and saves £50 a year.

Improved technology uses less energy and saves £350 a year.

Turning your heating down by just one degree could save up to £80 a year.

Replace external lighting with solar powered garden lights and save £37.20 a year.

Leaving a light on overnight can add £62 a year to your power bill.

If you’re working from home, choose a laptop to save £18.25 a year.

Browser extensions that apply coupons and discounts are growing in popularity. They’re free to install and use and can save on average £100 per year.

With chronic worker shortages and record low unemployment, now is a great time to investigate increasing your income by moving jobs. Try Indeed, Monster or LinkedIn and aim for £2,000 extra per year.

An estimated one million British families miss out on around £20bn of unclaimed tax perks and benefits each year. Make sure you’re not missing out on a hefty tax refund by claiming all your expenses. And use this fast, free benefits calculator to check if there are any state benefits you’re not claiming that you’re entitled to and pocket around £1,900 per year.

The Citizens Advice website has loads of information about reducing your cost of living. From the comfort of your lounge room, you can easily find out if you can increase your income, get help to get out of debt, pay less council tax, save money on gas and electricity, save on NHS prescriptions or get help with school costs which could see you over £1,000 better off per year, depending on your eligibility.

Use the Consumer Council for Water’s free water meter calculator to see if you’d save on average £100 per year with a meter.

Get a bunch of ideas for saving on transport at the Money Helper website, and use the cheap fuel finder to get the best fuel prices in your area and aim to save over £500 per year.

Download your supermarket’s free loyalty app and get notified of specials. You can easily scan your phone to collect rewards and get discounts from your grocery shop and aim to save over £500 per year.