Life is getting more expensive. This much has become clearer and clearer over recent months.
Tax has gone up, bills have gone up, and food is going up. Some of this is post-covid, some post-Brexit and some post-Russia invading Ukraine.
Either way, unless you happen to negotiate a big pay rise, it means everybody is tightening their belts at the moment. Whether it's driving more economically, buying cheaper brands of food, or wrapping up warm at home to save on heating, people are trying to save money everywhere they can.
Read more: Bristol's cheapest petrol and diesel right now
One area we could all look at is our home insurance. There's the standard advice to shop around to get the best deal, of course, but there are also a number of factors that may affect your premium without you knowing.
One little-known tip, for example, is that your premium could be cheaper if you have certain smart devices, such as CCTV cameras or security lights. These help deter burglars and/or detect issues early on, making it less likely you'll need to make a claim on your insurance, so your quote could be lower.
Other factors you may not have thought of could actually make your insurance more expensive, though. Many home insurance policies don't automatically cover damage caused by pets, for example, so if your puppy ruins your new sofa, you could be out of pocket.
For that reason, it's likely worth checking your policy and letting your insurer know you have a pet. Be warned, however: this could make your premium more expensive.
The same is also true if you have lots of people living in your home, or if you have a lodger, or if you are getting work done to the house, according to Compare the Market. The more people living in your house, the more expensive your premium could be, since it's more likely damage will be caused and you'll have to make a claim.
Similarly, standard insurance plans don't always cover lodgers or damage done by builders, so be sure to check your policy and let your insurer know. That said, most builders will have their own insurance, so check with them first, while having a lodger may just mean your insurer wants some more information on their identity.
