Spring is the best time of year to cut your cost of living in the UK, because so much resets at once. A new tax year starts on 6 April, many bills change in April, heating use falls as the weather warms, and a spring clear-out can turn clutter into cash. Fifteen quick moves between March and May can lower your bills for the year ahead and put more into savings.
They are grouped below by theme, so you can work through one section a week.
Get ready for April's bill changes
Many household bills change in April. Spotting them early gives you time to switch or adjust your budget. Our guide to April bill rises covers the details.
- 1. Check your council tax bill: most councils in England can raise council tax by up to 4.99% a year without a local referendum. Make sure you are on the right band and claiming any discounts, such as the 25% single person discount or Council Tax Reduction if you are on a low income.
- 2. Look at broadband and mobile price rises: since January 2025, Ofcom has required providers to state any mid-contract price rises in pounds and pence when you sign up. If you are out of contract, haggle or move to a cheaper deal or SIM-only plan.
- 3. Submit meter readings around 1 April: energy prices under the Ofgem price cap change every quarter, including on 1 April. A reading on the day helps make sure you are billed at the right rates.
- 4. Review your water bill: bills usually change in April. If you live alone or use little water, ask whether a water meter would be cheaper, and check your supplier's social tariff if money is tight.
Make the most of the new tax year
The new tax year brings fresh allowances, and a few checks can stop you overpaying.
- 5. Check your tax code: most employees should have 1257L, reflecting the £12,570 Personal Allowance. Check your first payslip after 6 April and the HMRC app for errors. The take-home pay calculator shows what you should be receiving.
- 6. Start using your ISA allowance: you can save up to £20,000 a year in ISAs. Starting early in the tax year gives your money longer to earn tax-free interest. From 6 April 2027, under-65s can put at most £12,000 of that into Cash ISAs. Track it with the ISA allowance tracker.
- 7. Claim Marriage Allowance if eligible: if one partner earns less than £12,570 and the other is a basic-rate taxpayer, you can transfer £1,260 of allowance, worth up to £252 a year, and backdate claims to 6 April 2022. See our guide to Marriage Allowance back claims.
- 8. Check benefit entitlements: benefit rates usually rise in April. If your income has dropped, use a free benefits calculator on gov.uk to see whether you could get help, including Council Tax Reduction.
Cut energy use as the weather warms
Heating is the biggest energy cost for most homes, so spring brings an easy saving. For more ideas, read how to reduce energy bills in spring.
- 9. Turn the heating down or onto a timer: as days warm up, lower your thermostat a degree, set the heating to come on only when needed and switch it off on mild days.
- 10. Book a boiler service in the warmer months: getting it checked outside winter can make it easier to find an appointment, and fixes small faults before they become expensive breakdowns.
- 11. Dry washing outside: a tumble dryer is one of the more power-hungry appliances in the home, and spring sunshine and breeze are free.
Turn your spring clean into cash
A clear-out can pay for itself.
- 12. Sell what you no longer use: clothes, kids' gear, tech and furniture can sell well online. Selling your own unwanted items is not usually taxable. Platforms report sellers to HMRC once they make 30 or more sales or earn more than about £1,700 (€2,000) in a year, but a report does not mean you owe tax. Our guide to decluttering and selling online explains the rules.
- 13. Cancel subscriptions you do not use: go through your statements for streaming, apps and memberships you have stopped using, and cancel or pause them.
Plan ahead for spring and summer spending
Spring has its own spending peaks, with Easter and two bank holidays in May, and the summer holidays are not far behind.
- 14. Set a budget for Easter and bank holidays: decide in advance what you will spend on days out, food and gifts, so the long weekends do not derail your month. Our bank holiday spending guide has ideas for cheaper days out.
- 15. Start a summer fund now: divide the cost of your summer plans by the months left and save that amount each month. The savings goal calculator does the maths, and SYM can break it into a small daily amount.
Put the savings to work
Small changes only make a difference if the money does not disappear back into everyday spending. Once you have made a change, move the monthly saving into a separate savings account on payday. Update your budget planner with your new bills so you can see how much is genuinely spare. If you have expensive debts, putting the savings towards them first usually gives the best return.
Frequently asked questions
What bills go up in April in the UK?
When does the new tax year start in the UK?
How can I save money on bills in spring?
Do I pay tax when selling my old things online?
- cost of living
- spring
- new tax year
- bills
- budgeting