Brits are being urged to check the terms of their phone and broadband contracts and ensure they’re not overpaying council tax with bills rising from April 1.

This year ‘Awful April’ looks likely to be particularly painful, with nine in 10 councils taking the opportunity to raise taxes by the maximum allowed amount, and water bills rising by as much as 47%.

Although you can’t escape all hikes, with the right know-how, you can potentially save hundreds of pounds.

Below, we talk you through how to hack household bills as businesses and councils put up their prices to compensate for inflation and rising costs.

1. Council tax

Most of us will pay 5% more on our council tax from April – that’s an average of about an extra £109 a year for a Band D household – but a few unlucky folk will find the bill is much higher.

That’s because their council has been given permission to raise even more from customers because they are in dire financial straits.

Councils that can do this include Bradford, which will put up council tax by 10%, and the London borough of Newham, whose residents will pay 9% more.

Is there anything I can do about it?

Check you are not overpaying. There are a few reasons why council tax might be reduced. Full-time students, single people, carers and those with certain diagnoses are entitled to a discount, as are some people on low incomes, so check your council website to see if you are eligible.

You may also be able to apply to reduce your council tax band. The amount you pay in tax depends on the valuation of your house in 1991, and many properties have changed since then. There are more details on how to challenge the banding at 
gov.uk, though be aware that it comes with the risk you’ll go up a band, too!

2. Energy bills

The government cap on energy prices rises from April 1 to 6.4%, so if you’re on a capped energy tariff, the gas and electricity you are using will cost more. Energy regulator Ofgem says this will cost the average household £111 a year if prices remain at the new level. The cap itself only runs for three months, after which prices may rise or fall again.

Is there anything I can do about it?

If you are on a fixed-rate tariff, you won’t pay any more for your energy until that rate comes to an end.

If you aren’t, and your energy is on a capped tariff, now might be a good time to see if you can save by switching. Use comparison sites such as Uswitch, Moneysupermarket or Comparethe
market to find cheaper deals.

Taking steps to reduce your energy bills will also pay dividends, although the good news is that the latest hike is coming in as the weather gets warmer and energy demand reduces.

Fiona Peake, consumer finance expert at Ocean Finance, suggests the following tweaks to bring bills down further. ‘Leaving appliances on standby overnight can add up to £100 a year to your bills. Switching everything off at the socket (except essentials like your fridge) can be an easy way to save,’ she says. ‘Another simple fix is lowering your boiler’s flow temperature to 60C. It won’t impact the warmth of your home but it could save you another £100 a year.’

3. Water bills

Water bills alone are set to increase by an average of £123 a year from April 1, a 26% increase, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), which represents householders. Depending on where you live, some people will face even bigger rises, as water companies are raising their bills by different amounts.

Some of the highest rises include Southern Water, which is increasing bills by 47%, South West Water (32%), Thames Water (31%) and Yorkshire Water (29%).

Is there anything I can do about it?

Andy White, from the CCW, says that customers who are finding water bills difficult to pay should check whether they are eligible for a ‘social tariff’.

If you are eligible because you have a low income, you could save an average of £160 a year, while those with medical conditions that mean they use a lot of water could be eligible for WaterSure tariffs, with an average saving of £286 a year. Two in five households in the UK don’t have a meter and some would be better off if they switched.

You can try the CCW water meter calculator at ccw.org.uk to see if that could be you. You can also, unless you live in an area where water meters are compulsory, switch back again after two years if you are unhappy with it.

‘I saved £175 by switching to a water meter’

Sylvia Tillmann, from Ramsgate in Kent, is saving over £175 a year now she’s switched her water to a meter. Her bill used to be £300 a year, and now it is just under £125.

The 58-year-old lives in a one-bedroom flat, but still saved on her Southern Water bill by switching to a meter.

‘I’m not wasteful, very environmentally conscious, and take short showers rather than long ones,’ she says. ‘I only use the washing machine and dishwasher when it’s really full, so the meter hasn’t changed my behaviour at all, just saved me money.’

Sylvia says that she was prompted to get a meter by a friend who had also saved money, and although she had to wait a while for an engineer to come and fit it, the process was otherwise straightforward.

‘To start with, I was checking the meter all the time to see if it moved, and it only moved a little bit with each shower or use of the dishwasher,’ she says. ‘I couldn’t believe my savings, and I’d advise anyone who is careful with water like me to do this.’

4. Broadband and mobile bills

Broadband and mobile phone companies are allowed to put up your bills by an amount linked to inflation if this was in your contract when you signed up. Fiona, at Ocean Finance, says this could push bills up by six to 7.5%, adding £3-£5 per month to household expenses.

Is there anything I can do about it?

If you are out of contract, you can leave and get a better deal, or haggle with your current provider for a cheaper price by threatening to leave. Check out comparison sites such as Uswitch or Moneysupermarket for deals that might work for you.

If you’re in contract, chances are you’ll have to pay to leave, but do check whether they will waive exit penalties when prices rise. If the penalties are steep, make a calendar note of when the contract ends and switch as quickly as you can.

5. Car tax

How much more will I pay?

For most of us, the increase in car tax will be a relatively manageable £5 a year, to £195. For those with electric vehicles though, the increase will be high. These vehicles have been exempt from the tax but now will pay £10 for the first year before moving to the standard car tax rate.

Is there anything I can do about it?

Expensive vehicles attract more car tax, so ensuring you don’t have a vehicle with a ‘list price’ of over £40,000 will save you money. Otherwise you only get out of paying car tax if your car is off-road and declared as such, or is over 40 years old.

6. TV Licence

How much more will I pay?

The price for a standard colour TV licence is rising by £5 to £174.50.

Is there anything I can do about it?

If you want to watch live TV or BBC iPlayer then you will need a licence. If you watch only other catch-up services, you won’t, and can save the full amount. You can apply to cancel your licence online if this is the case at tvlicensing.co.uk. You can also fill out a declaration on the same site saying you don’t need a licence, to prevent TV Licensing pursuing you for the cash.

Beware, though, if you don’t pay and are discovered to be watching live TV or iPlayer, you could face a £1,000 fine. Otherwise if you’re over 75 and receive the pension credit benefit you’ll get a free TV licence, while those who are blind or significantly sight-impaired will receive a 50% discount.

Rosie Murray-West is Metro’s personal finance specialist.

If you want more tips and tricks on saving money, as well as chat about cash and alerts on deals and discounts, join our Facebook Group, Money Pot.

Looking to make a bit of extra cash?

With the cost of living crisis continuing to affect millions, many of us are turning to side hustles to bring in a little extra income, but for others, the solution to making some more money could lie in some of those forgotten items in your cupboard.

Yep, if you grew up in the 90s you may well have bought into every fad going – whether you got the must-have toy for Christmas, amassed a huge collection of videotapes or indulged in a must-have collectors’ item.

And chances are, you probably packed those things away and haven’t looked at them in years.

But some of those items are worth revisiting because now, 30 years on (feel old yet?), as they could be worth a lot more than you paid for them back in the day.

Read on to find out which sought-after 90s items are now potentially worth a fortune – and how much you could get for them.

1. Furby

Kicking off this list is one of the most sought-after toys of the 90s, the Furby.

If you were a kid in the latter part of the decade, chances are this might have been on your Christmas wishlist for 1998.

However, if you happen to have an original Furby, a limited edition Furby or a rare one (or you never actually took it out of its original packaging) then you could well be quids in.

How much you’ll get for it depends on the type of Furby and the condition, but some of the older toys are going on eBay for around £100, or as much as £175 if it’s in its original box. Meanwhile the rarer Furbys can fetch even more.

Mental Floss reported that an original 1998 Furby went for $705 (£527) on eBay a few years ago, while Money Digest has said that a super-rare Bejewelled Furby was sold for $6,400 (£4,800) last year.

They have also reported that if you happen to be in possession of the rarest Furby of all – the Rainbow Furby, of which only three of which were ever produced – then you really could be out to make a fortune, although no-one’s actually given any indication of what it might be worth

2. Pokemon cards

Back in the days before Pokemon involved everyone walking around staring at their phone screens in a bid to catch the little critters in the wild, there was another way you could have a whole lot of Pokemon in your life – with trading cards.

These were big business in the 90s (remember when some schools banned them?) as we set out to catch them all – our favourite characters in card form that is – and if you’ve got some of these lying around in a dusty old cupboard you could be in the money.

CNN reported in 2022 that the super-rare 1999 Pokémon Base Set Shadowless 1st Edition Holo Charizard card sold at auction for an impressive $420,000 (£321,000) – setting an all-time record – so it’s well worth checking out which cards you might still have, and what their value is.

You never know, you could be holding a fortune in your hands

3. Harry Potter first edition

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was originally published in June 1997 and the rest, of course, is history.

But if you were one of the first people to buy a copy of JK Rowling’s original Potter novel, did you know you could have a small treasure sitting on your bookshelves?

The Harry Potter website Mugglenet has reported that a first edition of that original book, complete with original cover art and typos, could fetch as much as $30,000-$50,000 (£22,900-£38,200). With only 500 copies of that edition ever being printed, the chances of you having one might be pretty remote but if you are lucky enough to have a copy then head over to eBay or First Edition Books to see how much you could be sitting on

4. Super Mario Bros game

Let’s be honest, a whole lot of us whiled away far too many hours in the 90s playing Nintendo and one of the most popular games of the decade was Super Mario Bros.

The little Italian plumber and his brother Luigi proving so popular they spawned sequels, a spin-off movie (the less said about that one the better) and even a hit single, courtesy of the Ambassadors of Funk featuring MC Mario. We’re not sure any of those will net you any dough, but owning a copy of one of the original games might.

Back in 2020, a sealed copy of Super Mario Bros 3 went for $156,000 (£119,000) at auction, according to CNet – a record which was smashed just a few months later when The Verge reports an unused copy of the original game sold on a collectibles site for a cool $2 million (£1.5 million). That’s a lot of moolah for your Mario.

5. Old Disney VHS tapes

Back in the 90s, before the arrival of streaming platforms, YouTube and CBeebies, your best bet for a spot of small-screen entertainment would have been those family-friendly Disney movies your parents had in their VHS collection.

Chances are they would have been well-worn too, because who wouldn’t have watched The Lion King or Toy Story every chance they got? But who’d have thought 30 years later that those tapes could turn out to be money-spinners?

Mail Online reported back in 2023 that some classic films are going for five-figure sums on eBay – including a rare edition of 101 Dalmatians still in sealed packaging, which was sold for £15,000.

A lot depends on what condition the tape is in, of course, whether or not it’s limited edition or if it’s sealed and has never been played, but it’s worth having a rummage around in that old tape box and checking eBay to see how much yours might be worth.

6. Ghostbusters VHS tapes and memorabilia

It isn’t just Disney fans who are willing to spend a pretty penny on collectible items; just this month, a factory-sealed VHS of Ghostbusters sold through Goodwill’s online platform for a jaw-dropping $3,806 (£2,941).

The supernatural comedy was released in 1984 while its sequel came out in 1989, so it’s not strictly a 90s thing. That said, you probably had a copy of the Dan Aykroyd classic kicking about in the years that followed – or maybe even some merch from later iterations such as The Real Ghostbusters animated series.

And given the lasting interest in the franchise, it could definitely be worth busting those items out of storage.

7. Polly Pocket dolls

While Barbie and the like may have continued to be popular throughout the 90s, youngsters and doll collectors also snapped up Polly Pockets – those tiny dolls and their equally tiny houses – by the truckload.

With Mattel having taken over the brand in 1998, the original Pollys, particularly those made between 1989 and 1998, are now worth a pretty (Polly) penny, even more so if you have one that’s all sealed up in its box.

The Mirror reported earlier this year that one set from the decade – the Polly Pocket Beauty Case – fetched £4,800 on eBay, while other sets from the era also brought in four-figure sums when listed. So your Polly could well bring in the pounds too

8. Beanie babies

If you were a child of the 90s, the chances are you had one or two of these lying around or you might even have been an avid collector who filled your bedroom with hundreds of the colourful little stuffed bears.

Given their popularity back then, not to mention the many different limited editions and rare bears, it’s no surprise that some of these are now worth money – but how much you could get for yours largely depends on which ones you have.

This Is Money reported last year that there’s no hard or fast rule when it comes to Beanie Baby value, and some may only be worth a few quid at best. However if you have one of the original toys produced – such as Flash The Dolphin or Legs the Frog – you could well net hundreds of pounds for it, while others, such as Chef Robouchon and Mystic The Unicorn have previously sold for as much as £7,000.

However, as with all these things, it will largely depend on condition, colour and and little quirks – such as spelling errors on the tag for example – all of which can bump the selling price up or down

9. Tamagotchis

Ever kept a Tamagotchi in your bag or your back pocket? More importantly, have you remembered to feed it, play with it and generally keep the little electronic blob happy if you have?

Well, Tamagotchis are still around these days, having expanded their reach to appear in video games, as well as the 2022 Pixar movie Turning Red, in which lead character Meilin owned a Tamagotchi called Robaire Junior.

But if you were one of those people who nurtured your own electronic pet back in 1996 when they first hit the market, your now adult Tamagotchi could net you a nice little earner. Smithsonian Magazine reported in 2021 that a rare Mobile Kaitsu! Tamagotchi Plus from the era was sold for over $5000 (£3,800) while other similar 90s Tamagotchis can also sell for around the $1,000 (£765) mark.

Only the 90s ones, mind – so if your Tamagotchi is still a 21st Century infant don’t expect a four-figure sum

10. Happy Meal Toys

Happy Meals aren’t just the stuff of kiddie treats and birthday parties – anyone who’s ever munched their way through one as a child will also know that they come with a toy, usually themed around whatever tie-in promotion the burger chain happens to be running at the time.

What you might not know is that little collectible bit of plastic that you probably shoved to the back of a drawer and forgot about when you got home might now bag you enough money to invest in quite a few Happy Meals.

A lot depends on whether you have the full set of some of the most valuable toys of course, but if you do you could be in luck. Antiques expert Peter Jenkinson from Loveantiques.com told News Shopper last year that the Mario figures from 1994 and 1998 could be worth around £187.78 while Power Rangers toys could come in at even more – around £262 if you have the complete set. Speaking of which…

11. Power Rangers action figures

Power Rangers remains as popular today as it was back in the 90s, whether you still watch old episodes of the TV series, enjoy the movies or even indulge in a bit of cosplay.

But if you’ve got some of the original action figures from the heyday of the series back in the early 90s, you could well be quids in – especially if they are sealed up and unusued.

A quick look on eBay tells us that currently a full set of the original 1993 action figures, still in their boxes, could go for around £1,350. If it’s not in the box it won’t get you nearly as much, with asking prices ranging from around £30-£60 in many cases, but you could still net yourself a little extra cash for your troubles.

This article was first published on October 10, 2024.

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While smart meters are a handy way to save money on your energy bills, it turns out millions across Great Britain may not actually work.

According to official figures, there have been a number of issues with the nationwide smart meter rollout, with as many as 3.5 million currently operating in ‘dumb’ mode, unable to send energy usage information.

As such, Ofgem has called on providers to urgently fix broken devices, proposing they issue £40 automatic compensation to those who have to wait longer than 90 days.

Under the regulator’s plans, customers will also receive a payout if a smart meter installation fails due to a fault within their provider’s control.

Amid government targets for three-quarters of all homes to use one by the end of this year, Uswitch research shows up to 1.4 million households in England, Wales and Scotland have waited six months or longer for their broken meter to be fixed.

However, the new proposals mean anyone who requests a new meter from their supplier will have to be offered one within six weeks, while suppliers will be required to provide a resolution plan to those who report problems with their device within five working days.

Tim Jarvis, director general for markets at Ofgem, said: ‘We’re drawing the line on excuses – suppliers will need to follow our new rules or compensate their customers.

We know that many customers are still waiting too long to get a smart meter installed or facing lengthy delays on repairs when it stops working.

‘That’s why we’re stepping in to make the process quicker and easier for consumers and to make sure they’re fairly compensated if things do go wrong.’

Martin Lewis discussed the topic on a recent episode of his podcast with Octopus Energy boss Greg Jackson, who claimed repairs were often not prioritised because fixing existing smart meters doesn’t count towards the targets.

The Money Saving Expert (MSE) founder previously warned ministers that up to 20% of home smart meters are not working properly, urging them to change the current rules.

In a letter to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, he wrote: ‘Repairs are slow, if they happen at all, as resources are focused on installs, leaving consumers frustrated and at risk of mis-billing and further problems.’

Ofgem’s proposals are due to be consulted on until May, after which further details on the compensation scheme will likely be released.

Miatta Fahnbulleh, the UK Minister for Energy Consumers, commented: ‘We want to make sure more consumers feel the benefits of having one installed.

‘A crucial part of that will be improving the smart meter customer experience, so we welcome Ofgem’s proposals to introduce guaranteed standards of performance for smart meters.

‘This will help to ensure people who want to upgrade their meters are better supported through the process, and can make the most of their new smart meter.’

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For customers switching to Nationwide to claim that £175 cash reward, time is running out.

The UK’s biggest building society announced the current account offer is being axed on March 31, meaning you need to act quickly to claim the free money.

The incentive aims to encourage customers to switch current accounts to Nationwide from their previous bank, and was initially introduced on September 25, 2024.

Nationwide had always warned the reward wouldn’t be permanent, reiterating in December that it was for a ‘limited time only’.

And now, there are just three days left to switch.

Here’s everything you need to know before the deadline at the end of the month.

How to claim Nationwide’s £175 cash reward

In order to qualify, you must switch from a non-Nationwide bank account with at least two active direct debits.

Your non-Nationwide account will be closed when you switch – and Nationwide say they can do this for you if you select that option when requesting the switch.

As per the terms, you’ll need to deposit £1,000 into the account within 31 days of requesting the switch – not counting transfers from other Nationwide accounts or Visa credits – and pay for something at least once using your debit card.

Some transactions – like gambling – don’t count towards this, so do your due diligence. The switch needs to be completed within 28 days to be eligible for the £175 cash offer.

Nationwide said: ‘You can get £175 by switching to a FlexPlus, FlexDirect or FlexAccount.

‘If you already have one of these bank accounts, you can still switch over your non-Nationwide bank account and get £175 if you log in to our internet bank.’

Be warned that if you switch your account to a FlexPlus Nationwide account, you’ll be charged an £18 monthly fee, while FlexDirect and FlexAccount are both free.

Nationwide’s Fairer Share Scheme

Nationwide customers also have just three days left to qualify for a £100 payment from the building society.

Last year, Nationwide paid 3.85 million members £100 each as part of its Fairer Share scheme, and they’re set to issue a fresh round of bonuses in the coming months.

In Martin Lewis’s Money Saving Expert (MSE) newsletter, he shared a guide on possible conditions for the ‘reward’, urging: ‘Go quick to boost your chances.’

MSE explained: ‘In previous years, the scheme has been announced in May and paid in June, though whether you got it depended on if you met the qualifying criteria in the first three months of the year.’

That means existing members have just a few weeks left to ensure they fulfil any requirements, while non-members need to switch to Nationwide ASAP to be eligible.

If you’re already a Nationwide customer, your account must still be open on March 31, 2025, so don’t close it between now and then. Additionally, you need to have used it within the first three months of this year.

If you have a FlexAccount, FlexBasic, or FlexDirect account you must have received £500 and made two payments out of your account, or have made 10 or more outgoing payments in January and February this year.

Having a FlexPlus account means you’ll need to have kept up with your fee to be eligible, while FlexOne, FlexGraduate and FlexStudent accounts require one payment in or out of your account.

If you have a mortgage account with Nationwide you must owe at least £100 by the end of March and if you have a savings account you must have a balance of at least £100.

You don’t need to request this £100 bonus payment, the bank contacts eligible members typically by May 31, with bonuses deposited into members’ accounts between June 13 and June 28.

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April is almost upon us – and with it comes yet another increase in household bills.

From the first of the month, a whole range of utilities will be getting more costly, including energy, water, council tax, and, alas, the TV licence.

Along these lines, Brits could see their expenses rise by an average of £32.17 per month, totalling more than £360 each year.

This amounts to a whopping £10,200,000,000 in extra costs, spread across 28,000,000 households.

So, is there any way to beat the hikes, and is it worth switching to save a few extra pennies?

Which bills are rising in April, and by how much?

Council tax

It’s bad news on the council tax front, as rates are set to rise by up to 5% across most of England.

But, as Amy Knight, personal finance expert at NerdWallet UK, tells Metro, some residents will see even steeper hikes of between 7.5% and 10%, effective across Birmingham, Bradford, and Newham.

For the average Band D property in England (the rates for which were £2,171 in 2024), a 5% increase amounts to an extra £109 annually – which is roughly £9.08 per month.

Meanwhile, in Scotland, rates will increase by at least 8%, while Wales is set to range from 4.5% to 9%.

Water

Water bills are set to jump up next month, with the average bill rising by 26% (£123 annually, or around £10 per month).

But as Amy notes, customers of Southern Water (which covers Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent), will see an increase of 47% (equating to £224 per year), while South West Water users will see their bills spike by 32% (an extra £166 annually).

Energy

From April 1, the energy price cap will increase by 6.4%, which will facilitate an average annual increase of £111 (an extra £9.25 per month for most households).

TV licence

Things are also going to get more costly in the entertainment world too, as the price of a standard colour TV licence will be increasing by £5 – or 42p each month.

However, if you don’t watch live TV on any channel or device – and you don’t use BBC iPlayer – you aren’t legally required to buy a licence at all.

So if you exclusively get your pop culture kicks from the likes of Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime, you could save some extra money by cancelling your licence fee.

Broadband

In the world of broadband, most customers are expected to see a price hike – though this depends on the individual terms of each contract.

‘If you signed up before January 17, 2025, your bill will rise based on a pre-set rate rather than inflation. However, some providers began implementing fixed-rate increases as early as April 2024, leading to a rise of around £3 per month,’ Amy shares.

‘Long-term broadband customers could see their bills go up by 7%, meaning an average £35 broadband package will cost around £2.45 more per month.’

Mobile

Those who haven’t recently signed a new mobile phone contract could also see price increases of 7%.

As Amy says, for the average £25 monthly plan, that amounts to an increase of approximately £1.75, while those on a fixed-rate contract could see sharper increases of around £3 per month.

Car tax

Things are skyrocketing in the motor world too, as from April, the standard road tax for cars registered after 2017 will rise by £5 to £195 per year – which adds on a monthly cost of at least 42p to most expenses.

It’s a similarly sticky situation for owners of electric vehicles too, which will no longer be exempt from car tax, incurring a £10 fee for the first year alongside the standard £195 charge.

There’ll also be an annual surcharge on electric vehicles exceeding the £40,000 price mark, which amounts to £420 annually. Ouch.

Is it worth switching ahead of April 1?

As Greg Marsh, consumer finance expert and CEO of household money-saving tool Nous.co tells Metro, nine out of 10 of us are overpaying on our bills – and could save by switching services like energy, mobile and broadband.

‘The average person who’s out of contract for their mobile and broadband could save more than £500 a year by switching to a cheap SIM-only deal and an affordable broadband package from a smaller supplier,’ Greg says.

‘For bills like water and council tax it isn’t possible to change suppliers, but households could potentially still save by getting a water meter or checking they’re in the right council tax band.’

And, according to Martin Lewis, 80% of households in England, Scotland and Wales currently overpay for their energy – but as Amy explains, many households might benefit from switching to a fixed tariff, which is where you ‘lock in’ a rate for a set period of time.

‘Even with a fixed deal, the total bill depends on energy consumption. Luckily for Brits, with longer daylight hours approaching, small habit changes could actually help lower costs,’ Amy shares.

‘For example, simple actions like turning off unused lights, unplugging devices in standby mode, and being mindful of heating usage can make a massive difference.’

Elsewhere, it’s also worth considering a reassessment on your council tax rates to ensure you’re being charged correctly – and as Amy adds, if you’re on a low income or receiving benefits, you may be eligible for a reduction.  

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According to Martin Lewis, 80% of households in England, Scotland and Wales currently overpay for energy — and in the coming months, it’s only going to get worse.

Ofgem just announced the price cap will be going up by 6.4% in April – following a 1% rise in January – with the energy regulator blaming an increase in the wholesale price of oil and gas.

That means the minimum bill for someone with typical dual-fuel use paying by Direct Debit will go up by over £100 a year, which Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley will pose ‘a huge challenge for many households.’

But thankfully, there is a way to avoid the worst of the hike, with Martin claiming it could result in a typical annual saving of £200.

And the personal finance guru’s advice is simple: ‘Most people should consider locking in a cheap fix to avoid the hike.’

On the Money Saving Expert (MSE) newsletter, he explained that ‘a fixed tariff is where you lock in a rate for a set time (you still pay more if you use more, though), giving you the peace of mind of price certainty’.

Martin also added on X: ‘The cheapest year-long standalone fixes right now are about 4% less than the current cap, never mind once it rises in April.’

As many people are nervous about switching to a relatively unknown energy company for their price fix, Money Saving Expert has managed to wrangle an exclusive 16-month fix with British Gas, that’s available for new and existing customers.

However, it’s only available until 5pm on Friday, March 28. So you’ll want to act ‘urgently’ if you want to snap it up as there are just three days from now until then.

According to the experts, there’s only one smaller firm (Outfox the Market) that has a cheaper deal right now, and this is the ‘most competitive deal’ British Gas has offered in a while.

Martin says that in general the deal ‘looks strong’ but the exact fixed rate tariff that’s best for you will depend on your region and how much energy you use.

To find this out, you’ll want to put your details into a comparison tool (like MSE’s Cheap Energy Club) to see more personalised options.

Regardless of which deal you choose, the new price cap will come into play on April 1 and will last for three months, so you definitely have to switch before then.

However, Martin also warns that deals are being snapped up fast, so ‘getting it done ASAP is safest’ as ‘each day you sit on the Price Cap is a day you pay more than needed’.

Alongside fixed rate tariffs, it’s worth looking into specialist alternatives that could save you cash.

EDF’s new Simply Tracker Extra tariff, for example, slashes £100 a year off the standing charge, and could be good for those with lower usage (roughly under £135 per month).

Alternatively, there are electric vehicle tariffs which could help EV drivers keep costs down, and rapid price-change options offering lower prices outside of peak periods for those who are able to shift their daily usage routine.

If you’re still struggling to pay, Martin recommends speaking to your energy provider to see how they can help.

‘Be polite and straight with it, and make sure you explain if you’re vulnerable,’ he says.

They may be able to put you forward for a hardship and debt grant, or work with you to negotiate a payment plan you can afford – everything’s decided on a case-by-case basis.

Under Ofgem rules, suppliers are obligated to help struggling customers, so get in touch with yours as soon as possible if you’re worried about your ability to pay.

A version of this story was first published on February 25, 2025.

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It was during lockdown that Peter Alexander, 35, began to think about reorganising his finances. 

While he’d saved some cash in bank accounts, he wasn’t satisfied with the low rates of interest on offer. And despite being interested in investing, he hadn’t got around to starting.

That’s when he turned to a smart money app that makes money management easier than ever before.

Plum helps people save and invest using the power of automation – with more than 2.2 million users onboarded so far. 

It works by linking to your bank account and calculating how much you can afford to save before setting it aside at regular intervals. Plum then puts this money to work in a way of your choosing, from saving it into an Interest Pocket or Cash ISA to investing it in one of its many funds.

Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future. If you choose to invest, keep in mind, the value of your investments can go down as well as up, and your capital is at risk.

Peter, from Nottingham, now has an impressive £15,000 saved with the app – with some of it funding the training he needs for his new career as a tree surgeon. 

‘The first lockdown five years ago gave me a new focus on organising my money,’ he says. ‘I was looking to put some savings away and that’s how I first became aware of Plum.  

‘I had some low-rate savings in bank accounts, but I don’t believe I had ever tried investing.’

Once you’ve set up Plum and enabled automatic deposits, its Splitter tool lets you select how you want to divide them up between your various savings and investment pots. 

The app also offers (depending on your subscription) a series of clever ‘auto saver’ rules that are designed to help you save more on a regular basis by targeting money that may otherwise be ‘left over’ at the end of the month.

Note that if you use automation, you will still need to review your funds periodically.

In Peter’s case, he splits his automatic deposits between a Plum Interest pocket and his pension, while the rest is divided evenly between his stock market investments. He also saves separately into a Cash ISA.

‘The algorithm seems to be effective at working out when you have more or less coming into your account, which is helpful given I’m self-employed,’ he says. 

‘Then when it comes to auto savers, I’ve enabled Round Ups, which rounds up my spending to the nearest pound and puts it straight into my savings. So far, I’ve saved £600 from that alone.’ 

Peter invests in several Plum funds including Global Tech, Balanced Bundle, Core UK All Share Fund, Core US S&P, Growth Stack, Balanced ESG, Core ESG and Growth Europe. He has also invested ‘a little bit’ into tech company Nvidia.

(The above is not a recommendation to buy or sell funds. You should not invest unless you understand your exposure to risk and are satisfied that investing is suitable for you.)

‘Plum makes it really easy to choose investments and monitor their performance,’ he says. 

‘I’m not massively savvy at investing but I’ve found it straightforward.’

When you are trying to boost your savings, setting clear targets can really help with motivation. 

Fortunately, with Plum, you can create different pockets for each savings goal – while taking advantage of its auto saver features to reach these faster.

But you are always in control, with the ability to withdraw your money or change how much you save – or how you divide your deposits – at any time. 

Peter was previously working as a teaching assistant and actor before switching careers to become a tree surgeon. He’s now putting some of his savings towards a chainsaw qualification.

‘Some of my money on Plum is going towards that,’ he says.

‘My friend is setting up his own business so I should have regular work with someone I get on with well.

‘It’s something that inspires me as I like being outside and it keeps me fit and active.

‘I’m also saving for a holiday to Thailand – but I’ve got other things to pay for first!’ 

Peter has become something of a disciple for Plum after it helped him get his own finances in order.

‘If I’m ever speaking to people about money, I’ll recommend the app to them and send a link,’ he says.

‘It’s saved me loads of money and seems to perform really well. I like the simplicity of the interface and the algorithms.

‘Plum has taken a lot of the stress away from managing my money.’ 

Download Plum NOW (it is available on both App Store and Google Play). 

Plum: The key info you need to know

Is it free?

Yes, you can download the basic version of Plum from the App Store or Google Play for free. Subscription options are available if you want to unlock more features that could help speed your way towards your financial goals.

What else can it do aside from saving and investing?

Lots more! Plum is a powerful budgeting tool that lets you keep track of regular payments and expenses.

The app offers a complete overview of your finances, letting you filter your transactions by account, and find specific retailers with a few taps. You also have the option to set weekly allowances to control your spending.

Is my money safe?

Millions of customers already trust Plum to keep their money safe, and the app uses encryption and face and fingerprint ID for added security.

Money held in a Plum Easy Access Savings Pocket, 95-day Notice Account or Cash ISA is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to a total of £85,000 per customer. There are also safeguards for a non-interest earning pocket, such as a Primary Pocket, which is protected by the E-Money Safeguarding Rules.

If you ever need help, friendly customer support teams are available 7 days a week.

Download Plum NOW (available on App Store and Google Play).

Plum is the trading name of Plum Fintech Limited and Saveable Limited. Plum Fintech Limited is registered and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 836158). Saveable Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN: 739214).

‘She has rigorous journalism, a keen eye for detail, and is adored by her teams.’ 

These words from an ex-boss – which take pride of place at the top of my CV – should, in theory, make getting a job easier, right? Wrong. 

At 67 I’ve spent decades building my skill set, yet in the last three years I’ve applied for 38 jobs and got absolutely nowhere. 

That’s partly because factual television is going through a historic downturn right now, so everyone is feeling the pinch. But for women over 50 it’s a harder market to crack than ever. 

We are vanishing from the workplace because of our age, and that has to stop. 

My first job in TV was as a researcher on the current affairs fixture, Nationwide, in the 1980s. 

I was twenty-something at the time and relished the adrenaline-fuelled atmosphere. I also had my eyes firmly set on becoming a film director.  

Perhaps that’s why I hardly noticed that, even then, older women were a bit of a rarity on TV. Or maybe I just didn’t think it’d affect me because I was young and full of hope and aspirations. 

Either way, the grey-haired men in suits that seemed to go from strength to strength both in front of and behind the camera didn’t faze me. 

Gradually I worked my way up the ladder and, by the turn of the 20th century, it honestly felt the tide had turned for women. 

I was a staff Series Producer at the BBC, running shows like Crimewatch UK and the UK’s first ever Holocaust Memorial Day event, meanwhile people like Lorraine Heggessey and Jane Root were Controllers of BBC One and BBC Two respectively.  

The glass ceiling seemed to have been cracked, if not shattered. 

But, by the time I was 51, I reluctantly took voluntary redundancy from the BBC because the roles I was being offered were beginning to wear thin.  

It was a difficult decision. I was sad to leave a job I loved, but felt it was my only option. 

Granted I used it as an opportunity to fulfil a lifelong ambition and gain my masters degree in creative writing and finish a novel, but part of my heart still belonged to TV. 

For a while afterwards, I developed a portfolio career combining TV with print journalism and establishing myself as an author, finally getting my novel published. The wonderful thing about the book world is that age is irrelevant – authors can go on forever.

However, as time has gone on, my ability to get television work has completely dried up. 

I appreciate that our industry is a project-based business staffed largely by freelancers who are hired ad hoc to fulfil each series commissioned by broadcasters and streamers.  

With that comes short contracts and a constant carousel of opportunity, but older women are simply being thrown off by those centrifugal forces.  

I once interviewed for a job where my CV matched the requirements perfectly, but later was gutted to see that they actually re-advertised the post without changing a word of the job description.

Either I performed shockingly on the day, or the executive producer twigged that she’d be boss to someone 20 years her senior. I could have handled it, but maybe she couldn’t.  

Perhaps it’s my grey hair that threw her off. I started going grey in my thirties – a family trait I don’t fight – but while I aspire to look like a chic older woman with an edgy silver bob, I probably remind some people too much of their mothers. Or grandmothers.  

But then I’m also fitter than many younger people. I do yoga, run and swim, and now that my three children are adults I am free to work long hours if I need to. Not that I ever get a chance to prove that. 

Women are undoubtedly affected more by these aesthetic biases, but men are not completely immune.  

My film director husband decided to retrain as a psychotherapist after work dried up. However in his new profession, his wisdom, grey hair and Freud-like appearance are assets, not handicaps.  

And it’s not just in looks that we’re being let down anyway.  

I’ve heard a 50+ applicant trying for a head of department position being advised to cheat her CV age by removing education dates and lopping 10 years off her experience. 

Or how, when another executive jobseeker mentioned she was 52, a head of HR – who himself was near 50 at the time – told her: ‘You’re too old, forget it.’ 

Those revealing, off-guard informal moments make me despair.

I’ve never lied about my age for a job but I’m paying the price for it.  

The singular role I’ve interviewed for in the last three years, I was overqualified for and still didn’t get it. 

I’m not alone, of course: In 2022 the Film and TV Charity calculated at least 23,600 older workers were missing from the combined workforce, about 12% of the total. And things haven’t improved. 

While over-50s’ off-screen contributions have increased over the past four years – from 21.5% in 2019/2020 to 23.5% in 2022/2023 – it still falls below the workforce average of 32.4%.

Diamond – which monitors industry-wide diversity – says that over-50s are now making fewer contributions as producers and producer directors than they were in 2019/2020.

This is a problem the whole industry should own. Broadcasters, streamers, production companies, PACT (the Producers Alliance for Film and TV) and the trade unions.  

Our industry already has ethnic and disability diversity targets enforced by financial penalties. I’d like to see the same rules apply for hiring people over-50.  

For now, I’ve reinvented myself as a writer first and foremost – my next book is non-fiction, about Hitchcock’s film Psycho – but I miss the buzz of TV and it will always be part of me. 

My generation doesn’t deserve to be written off prematurely. We deserve to be seen on screen, or heard calling ‘action’ from behind it. And it’s time we were given the opportunities to do so. 

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

It sounds almost too good to be true. Buy an Omaze raffle ticket for £10 and walk away with a James Bond-esque property worth millions, with no stamp duty, mortgage or solicitors fees to pay.

Indeed, in their last draw, those who fancy a flutter could stand to win a Georgian townhouse worth over £4,500,000 on London’s South Bank.

However, it seems the Omaze Million Pound House Draw may indeed be a little more complicated than it first appears, and the prizes (which have even included a £5 million Chelsea townhouse in the past) haven’t always turned out to be a dream come true.

In 2023, the Daily Mail reported that, out of the 14 luxury properties that had been won, just three were still lived in – meaning 10 of them had been sold on while one was rented out.

Winners have also reported high bills associated with the properties and even flood risks.

Since Omaze started their ‘win:win’ property draw in 2020, which raises money for charities like Marie Curie and the RNLI, it appears that some winners would rather have the cash, which is indeed an option as stated in the terms and conditions.

Omaze properties that have been sold

One of the properties in question was a seven-bedroom Cornish mansion, won by 74-year-old widower June Smith back in May 2023 for just £25.

Just three months later, she had listed the water-front home for sale to help her children and grandchildren with the ‘next chapter in their lives’.

June was given the freedom to either live in the house, rent it out or sell it, with local estate agents estimating it could achieve £5,000 to £7,000 per month from long-term rentals – and up to £14,000 a week from peak season holiday rentals.

June previously lived in her two-bedroom house detached house in Essex for the last 17 years, and last stayed in Cornwall in a caravan with her late husband, Ron.

She said she ‘wanted to enjoy at least one family holiday’ in the property before selling it and she got her wish.

This sentiment was echoed by Omaze winner Marilyn Pratt, 70, who won the property draw in April 2021, bagging herself a £2.9 million Fulham home.

But just eight months later, she sold it for £2.8 million so she could use the cash to support her daughters and grandchildren. She remains in her two-bed home with her husband David where she has lived for the past 40 years.

The ‘Omaze curse’

However, funding the lives of their loved ones isn’t the only motivation for abandoning their prize-draw homes.

For one winner, Glen Elmy, it was a more fundamental issue.

The foundry worker from Walsall won a James Bond-esque property on the north Devon coast with views across Combe Martin Bay in October 2021 – but it turns out the win wasn’t the miracle Glen first thought.

After just three days, Glen handed back the keys to Stealth House to Omaze and demanded a cash payout of £3 million.

Why? The five-bedroom home was being threatened by coastal erosion and neighbours even predicted the property will succumb to it within the next five to ten years, according to MailOnline.

However, as reported in the Daily Record, an Omaze spokesperson said: ‘As with all its properties, Omaze carried out extensive professional surveys, searches and inspections prior to purchasing the house in Devon.

‘Omaze can confirm that none of these reports raised any material concerns with the property, including in relation to coastal erosion. The property is fully insurable.”

Other Omaze winners, Darren Wordon, 49, and wife Mandy, 48, won the top prize of a luxury £2.5 million property in Radford near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, in 2021, but again there were some issues with the property.

Despite having celebrities like Jeremy Clarkson and the Beckhams as neighbours, other locals said the property was ‘built in a valley that floods every year’.

While the motivations are unknown, the property, known as Willowbrook House, was sold in December 2022.

The thought of losing not only money but also damage to the house was enough to deter Glen and other Omaze winners, while some have had concerns about finances.

Leicestershire winner Uttam Parmar, 58, put the Cornwall Rock property on the market just eight weeks after bagging the home for just £25 in the Omaze draw on August 12, 2022.

Mr Parmar told MailOnline he and his wife Raki, 53, had to sell the Cornish home because the upkeep was too expensive for them.

‘We are selling it and not keeping it as a holiday home. If we could afford to keep it we would. It is beautiful. But we are looking to buy some land or a smaller property instead,’ Uttam said.

The property was put on the market for £4 million but was soon £500,000 cheaper after failing to appeal to buyers.

But who wouldn’t want to be neighbours with Gordon Ramsay? We’d sure bag that home if we had the cash!

Another Omaze home near Deal, Kent, called the Gunnery was ditched by the winning couple soon after their ‘life-changing’ win.

Jade and her partner (who chose to remain anonymous) owned the home for less than four weeks before it was back on the market for a healthy £2.5 million.

Happy Omaze winners

However, not every single winner wants to ditch their instant life of luxury. Construction worker Kevin Johnson is over the moon with his £3 million Omaze property in Islington.

For what particular reason? Apart from it being a gorgeous four-bed Victorian home, it’s just down the road from 34-year-old Kevin’s favourite football team, Arsenal.

For 33-year-old mum Becca Pott, who won a £3.9million five-bedroom Omaze house in February 2022, it was the lifestyle the win afforded her that made her keep the keys to the home.

She told MailOnline: ‘We always knew we were going to move in and enjoy it for at least that first summer, just to experience living in a place like this as a family.

‘But after a few weeks we realised we didn’t want to leave – so decided we should keep it.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

While climate action stalls and diversity policies are rolled back across the world, Bevis Watts CEO of the UK’s leading sustainable bank Triodos sheds light on how you can align your finances towards a greener and fairer future with ethical savings and investments.

Last year was the hottest on record.

The world’s nations pledged in Paris in 2015 to keep global temperature rise below 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C. But last year, the annual temperature passed the 1.5C limit, and last month experts announced the 2C target – critical to avoid devastating climate breakdown – is at risk.

Despite this, too many political leaders act as if there’s no climate crisis at all and daily rollbacks on climate policy can leave us feeling powerless.

However, we still hold the power to drive positive change through our financial choices if we so choose. Now more than ever, you might feel it is time to ensure your money is contributing to the future you wish to see. Do you want to see us transition to a fossil fuel-free world? Do you want to see the clean energy revolution come to life? Do you want to stand up for an inclusive society? Then it’s time to explore ethical savings 
and investments.

The global backtrack on climate change policy

In January, with the LA fires still burning, Donald Trump took to the White House and withdrew from the landmark Paris Agreement – again.

Triggered by Trump’s return to office, the banking sector’s climate commitments have taken a significant hit. Major US banks have left the Net Zero Banking Alliance, a UN-backed coalition that was supposed to unite banks on a path to net zero emissions by 2050.

Climate action is better when everyone is involved; but for now, more progressive banks will have to lead the way on what impactful climate finance really looks like.

Meanwhile, big global corporates have begun abandoning diversity, equity and inclusion policies in what also feels like a backward move for those of us who believe in human dignity and fair access to opportunity for all.

We also see governments, including the UK’s, wrestling with how to deliver prosperity through economic growth and environmental targets, with the third Heathrow runway at the forefront of that debate.

The US regression on climate in particular leaves those of us dreaming of a more sustainable, fairer future in the lurch.

The science is clear – why are world leaders running in the wrong direction?

You can choose how your money is invested

The actions of policymakers and governments are crucial. However, as individuals we also hold immense power in what we do with our finances.

Collectively, we hold the key to unlocking a whole world of positive impact by choosing where we put our money and what it funds. The money that you save, through an Isa for example, isn’t locked away in a bank vault. Your bank, investment provider or building society will add it to the pot of money that they lend out to businesses, organisations or individuals.

According to Make My Money Matter – a campaign fighting for better awareness of where our money goes – there are shocking amounts of money going to finance fossil fuels, deforestation and other areas that you might struggle to square with your conscience. You can change this.

By selecting a sustainable bank, you can start funnelling your money towards projects and businesses that have a positive impact on people and the planet.

While you’re saving or investing for your future – whether that be to buy a house, taking a holiday, or just for a rainy day – you can also be making a difference.

Switching your current account, savings, investments and pension to ethical providers adds to a wave of change powered by collective action.

Be the change you want to see

Want to be part of the change? With the new tax year approaching and the annual Isa allowance resetting, now’s the perfect time to invest in a sustainable future and think about what your Isa is doing.

Firstly, it’s important to consider which option is best for you, so do your research. Independent advice guides such as Ethical Consumer, Which? and Bank.

Green offer rankings on current accounts, cash Isas, stocks and shares Isas and innovative finance Isas – so you can see how your current provider ranks and check out any better options for you and your values.

If you’ve got money you’re happy to put away for five years or more, an investment Isa could give you a better chance of making returns above the inflation rate. Impact investing, including investing in a stocks and shares Isa, connects investors with entrepreneurs and businesses working to create a better world.

An innovative finance Isa allows you to hand-pick investments for even greater control about the causes you support. That could be a charity, nature-based initiative, or a trailblazing brand. For example, Triodos Bank recently launched a new crowdfunding offer for the interiors B Corp brand House of Hackney, supporting its goal of becoming a measurably regenerative business.

B Corp businesses are those certified to higher than usual social and environmental standards.

With any investment Isa, you should keep in mind that all investments contain risk and you may not get back what you put in.

This is just one example of how 
your money could support business paving the way for a more sustainable future, even when governments are lagging behind.

It takes resilience to stay hopeful about the fight against the climate crisis when we watch those in charge take steps in the wrong direction.

The money in your bank changes the world, for better or worse.

By joining the ethical banking movement, you can both use your money to fund a better future and signal to world leaders that they must do better.

For some, it feels good to take a step in the right direction and use the power of your finances for good.

triodos.co.uk

'MY MONEY WON'T CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT IT CAN HELP'

Rosie Murray-West hears from investors for whom values are every bit as important as returns.

‘My money is not going to change the world,’ says poet Caroline Burrows, from Bristol. ‘But at least
I can choose something where I have more control about where my money is going, what it is doing and how it is sustainable.’

Caroline, 50, is one of many savers and investors who will be choosing to use their Isa allowance to reflect their values and principles this year. She has picked a cash Isa with Triodos, which promises to use customers’ money to affect positive change. Triodos publishes details of all the loans it makes, which include money for projects ranging from a farm shop in Bristol, a community wind turbine on the Isle of Barra and a Buddhist centre in Cheshire. Although the cash Isa rate at Triodos is lower than with other providers – 2.85 per cent for easy access and 3.75 per cent over two years – Caroline feels that she is getting a good deal.

‘I am happy with the trade-off because the real value is investment in the planet and doing less harm or as little harm as can be possible while existing on the planet,’ she says.

CASESTUDY: CAROLINE BURROWS

Other ethical Isa users have chosen to take more of a financial risk while supporting ethical causes. Former investment banker Manuel Peleteiro, from Scotland, has chosen to put half of this year’s Isa allowance (£10,000) into an Innovative Finance Isa (IFIsa) on the ethical investment platform Ethex.

If Isas allow investors to lend out money tax-free, and Manuel has chosen to lend to Salad Money, a lender that helps those with poorer credit scores to take out cheaper loans and ensures they also check for benefits they may be eligible for.

Salad Money is hoping to pay out ten per cent on the bond, meaning Manuel will get a far better rate than if he held the money in cash – it is risky, though, because if Salad Money went bankrupt he would not get his money back.

Manuel says he is happy with the risk, despite the fact he won’t get his money back for five years even if the project does well.

‘Ten per cent seems a fair return,’ he says.

‘I know the mission and how they help support people but the financial consideration has to make sense, too.’

Leila Green, 40, from south-east London, is another ethical investor taking advantage of tax breaks.

She opened a Lifetime Isa, or Lisa, to provide her with an income when she retires. You can save up to £4,000 a year, to which the government adds a 25 per cent bonus per year.

Unlike her husband, hedge fund manager James, entrepreneur Laila (leilagreen.com) has concentrated on choosing ethical funds for her Lisa.

CASESTUDY: LEILA GREEN

‘I picked the first fund I ever invested in because I liked the logo – it had an elephant on it and that’s my spirit animal,’ she says.
‘But overall I’ve only been interested in companies invested in things like renewable energy or otherwise doing some kind of good.
‘I was looking at that much more than past performance.”
Originally Leila’s Lisa, which invested in funds including Baillie Gifford’s Positive Change Fund, BlackRock’s Sustainable Energy fund and Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Sustainability fund, outpaced her husband’s.

‘For a while my Isas made more than
I was earning in a day, and I was like, “Right, I’m laughing,”’ she says. But in recent years they have not done so well.

‘I’m watching the volatility now, but because I know I don’t need the money
until I’m 60 I’m not so bothered as it is going to be tucked away until
I’m older.

‘And at least with the Lisa you know that you are also getting a government bonus, which I feel gives me a bit more of a cushion when the value of funds falls sometimes’