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Cost of living

Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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Original poster

Social tariffs- bills & other tips

28 replies

Orangesandlemons77 · 23/09/2025 21:20

I just thought I'd mention this in case it helps any others.

I was having some advice from he local council regarding low income / UC / PIP and they mentioned there may be social tariffs available for things like water bills, heating, broadband, sometimes these are not advertised though.

Just wondered if anyone knew / had these and also wanted to share any other tips for those on low incomes / with disabilities.

OP posts:

Dogaredabomb · 28/09/2025 10:23

shuffleofftobuffalo · 28/09/2025 08:48

No social tariff available for energy. (there are discussions going on about social tariff) but there are already social tariffs for water and broadband.

For elec/gas - prepayment is currently to cheapest way to pay for your energy. Once people get a prepayment meter they usually love it because you have control over your spend and also become more aware of what costs the most. Another thing you can do to help keep costs down is get a smart meter - I started spending less when I got mine because I could see what was costing the most. Your supplier can also send you energy saving tips. It’s worth calling them to find out how you can pay less or what other support they might be able to give you.

Oh really? That's interesting, I have never had prepayment and had always read that people on it got absolutely battered and missed out on everything. Have things changed?

I've become much more in tune with energy spend since getting a smart meter and following half hourly rates and setting timers on my big appliances.

Florencesndzebedee · 28/09/2025 10:37

Thames Water offer 50% discount if you’re on qualifying benefits or earn under a certain amount (about £19k).

babyproblems · 28/09/2025 10:39

Bjorkdidit · 24/09/2025 02:55

Moneysavingexpert.com is good for things like this. There's links to reducing the cost of all bills, plus details of social tariffs where eligible.

For anyone on UC, they can get a Help to Save account run by the government that you can pay up to £50 a month into which pays a 50% bonus on the highest balance after 2 years and a further bonus after 4 years.

It I'd designed to encourage saving for irregular expenses like Christmas and putting money aside for an emergency.

Wow this is a good tip. So many people could be eligible for it! Not eligible here unfortunately in our case but Ive never even heard this type of account!

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