With the cost of food shopping on the increase, it is important to only buy what you need and avoid making unecessary purchases. The first tip is to write a shopping list. By doing so you are planning ahead and are looking at what items you’ve already got in the fridge, freezer and cupboards and thus will avoid getting too much of one thing. (more…)

After recent price increases by Centrica and other gas suppliers, it is now the turn of the water companies to announce future price rises. They have approached Ofwat, the water industry regulator, with details of how much they want to increase prices from 2010. (more…)

Asda and Morrisons have started the first round of petrol price cuts, reducing the price per litre by 3p and 4p respectively. Tesco and Sainsburys are sure to follow, with BP also looking to cut prices. (more…)

Centrica managing director Jake Ulrich has warned that gas prices are likely to continue rising for some time. What he meant by this understatement was that energy bills could increase by over 60% during the next few years. This would mean the average household utility bill would increase from £600 per annum to close on £1,000 per annum.

Mr Ulrich went on to say “I do think we will see people change their behaviour, I think people will use less energy and I hate to go back to the Jimmy Carter days in the US, but maybe it’s two jumpers instead of one.” (more…)

NPower is offering existing customers the opportunity to fix energy prices for free until March 2009. If you believe fuel bills are going to keep going up and up then it could be worth exploring such deals further. At least you’ll know apporximately what your monthly outgoings will be. Whether it’s with NPower or another provider, double check at what prices energy costs will be fixed at. It may well be that an increase is already factored in to the fixed rate price and so you’re paying more in the short term to compensate for the fix.