Personal Finance: Possible areas where spending can be reduced

UtilitiesIs there a cheaper provider? Comparison websites, such as Moneysupermarket.com and Confused.com, will let you find out. Some households can cut over £300 off their annual bill by moving from a standard tariff to an online, dual-fuel deal.

Telephone, mobile and internet

When did you last check if a better deal was available? If you get all three separately, it's worth seeing if there are any "bundled" home communications packages that suit your needs, as these can be cheaper, depending on your usage.

Satellite or cable TV

Could you reduce your subscription to a smaller package or switch to a cheaper, or free, supplier?

Vehicle expenditure

Are all of the vehicles used by your household essential? Could you cut down on mileage?

Food, toiletries and household products

Do you use own-brand products or make use of special offers that are available in the supermarkets? Websites such as mysupermarket.co.uk can help you compare prices between the main supermarket brands.

Insurance

Shop around for a new deal when your car and home insurance policies expire. Simply renewing with the same insurer often means that you will be missing out on much better deals available elsewhere.