Fearing the autumn chill

ACT NOW TO KEEP ONE STEP AHEAD OF COST INCREASES

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As the leaves begin to fall, so too can our bank balances, with the seasonal rise in household costs.

Energy bills increase, the weekly shop creeps higher and before long, we'll be forking out for the festive period.

So with household budgets under pressure, we hear from three leading financial experts who give their best advice on how to weather autumn's financial squeeze without too much sacrifice.

Prepare now for rising energy costs

Planning ahead is key when it comes to energy bills. With the price cap rise on October 1, households on variable deals may find costs increasing just as winter sets in.

Many smart meters are still reporting estimated usage rather than actual readings, as TV's consumer finance expert and co-founder of Nous, Greg Marsh, says: "The majority of households are on a variable deal and can save by switching to a good-value fix."

Submitting manual meter readings helps avoid being overcharged, and checking direct debits to ensure they're set at the correct level can prevent unnecessary hits.

Trimming discretionary spending now can also help cushion seasonal spikes.