It’s another tough day for household budgets as money expert Martin Lewis appeared on Good Morning Britain to explain why so many of our regular bills are going up – again. Sitting with presenter Susanna Reid, he broke down all the price increases that are about to hit people’s wallets in the coming months.
The numbers make for grim reading. Water bills are shooting up by about a quarter for many families, with Lewis pointing out that while these companies are privately owned, customers don’t actually get to choose between different suppliers. At the same time, these water firms are paying billions to shareholders while piling up huge debts. Energy bills are set to rise too, with the typical household paying about 6% more soon.
Phone and internet bills are another pain point, with most providers hiking prices by 6-7% this year. Lewis explained that while new rules stop companies raising prices mid-contract for new customers, millions of existing customers will still see their bills jump. “It shouldn’t be allowed,” he said, “because it just adds to the inflation problem we’re all dealing with.”
Council tax is going up as well – by 5% across England and even more in other parts of the UK. Lewis was clear that these increases come straight from government decisions, not local councils. “When your council tax bill arrives and it’s higher,” he said, “remember it’s the government that set the rules allowing these rises.”
The show took a call from a worried mum living in a two-bedroom house who got a shock when she saw her water bill could reach £900 this year. Lewis had some straightforward advice: “If you’ve got more bedrooms than people living there, you’ll almost certainly save money with a water meter.” He explained that without a meter, you pay based on what your home was worth back in the 1990s, which often means bigger homes pay much more than they should.
With prices rising across so many essential services, Lewis’s message was clear – now’s the time to check every bill carefully and see where you might be able to cut costs. “People feel like they’re being hit from all directions,” he said, “but there are still ways to fight back and save where you can.”
The discussion highlighted how many of these price increases are locked in by regulators and government policies, leaving families with little choice but to find ways to stretch their budgets even further. As the cost of living crisis continues, experts are urging households to review their spending and check if they’re eligible for any help or cheaper options.
