Your Money: Jingle bills all the way? Thaw out the big financial freeze

WINTER can put a chill on the wallet, with Christmas bills throwing even the most carefully-planned budgets off course, and plunging temperatures leaving us whacking up the heating in our homes.

But there are some simple ways you may be able to cut back, which could make life easier when those January bills start landing on your doormat.

Here are five simple ways to save money this winter …

Have an early spring clear-out

If you’ve overdone it on Black Friday, why not sell on unwanted items now? One in 10 shoppers will have bought goods on Black Friday only to find they already had something similar at home, according to a Gumtree survey.

Going away for Christmas? Book flights early

People in the UK spend an average £88 travelling to meet friends and family over the festive period, says American Express research, so it’s worth trying to book rooms, flights or train fares early to secure the best prices. You may also have rewards or points on your spending that could be used towards a hotel room deal.

Sort your energy bills

Recent research from MoneySuperMarket.com found that more than 30 fixed energy deals are set to expire this month, meaning many customers risk being rolled on to more expensive tariffs during the coldest time of the year.

Often providers will move customers on to a standard variable rate tariff (SVT), which could be their most expensive deal.

Meanwhile, British Gas has just announced plans to scrap SVTs for new customers as part of moves to introduce simpler bills. The firm says the reforms, which follow similar pledges made on SVTs by some other suppliers, will be delivered by the end of March.

Stephen Murray, an energy expert at MoneySuperMarket.com, says: “At this time of year especially, with temperatures dropping and the thermostat creeping up every day, now is definitely not the time to be languishing on an expensive standard variable tariff, or inadvertently rolling on to one at the end of a fixed rate deal.”

Insulate your home

As temperatures drop, bodies such as the Energy Saving Trust can provide advice on how people can insulate their home and potentially save on heating bills. Lagging pipes and insulating the loft can be effective ways to reduce heat loss.

Lloyds Bank Home Insurance suggests insulating exposed pipes in basements, attics, garages, kitchen cabinets and on the outside of the house.

Ease the strain of Christmas by looking out for cashback

With prices rising, cards which offer cashback can take some of the pressure off when it comes to paying bills. But interest-free deals on credit cards have been shrinking over the past six months, giving consumers fewer months to spread the cost of Christmas.

Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfacts.co.uk, says: “There are still some ways for shoppers to make the most of any spending, such as by earning some cashback with a credit card or current account, or even by making use of an interest-free purchase card to spread the cost of Christmas, but the offers are not as rewarding as they once were.”