We're heading towards April 2022, a month that will bring higher bills and place a strain on struggling families.
Council tax and energy bills are among the payments that will get higher, with those on price cap deals for energy set to pay more than £500 extra for their bills.
The war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia are likely to send costs spiraling more and place more strain on households already stretched by a cost of living crisis.
Read more: Martin Lewis' money saving tips
Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis shared some useful tips to save on energy bills and how to secure a council tax rebate.
Posting on his TikTok account, Martin offered three tips. One is for people who pre-pay energy customers, another is for those who pay using direct debit, and a third to anybody who has not set up a direct debit to pay their council tax bill.
Do you pre-pay/top-up your energy bills, but don't have a smart meter?
If you pre-pay for your energy, like through a PayPoint till, then consider Martin's tip.
"The regulator, Ofgem, has confirmed to me that you get the rate on the day you top-up, not when you use the energy. If you max up your top-up in March, before the rate goes up, that's what you'll get, even if you then use that energy in April. So you can extend the cheaper rate you have no, for longer, by maxing your top-up, if you can afford it."
Martin added that the tip will work for all major companies, other than Scottish Power, who say they will add an additional rate.
Pay for your energy by direct debit?
Martin offered a separate tip for customers who pay by direct debit, who want to make sure they do not overpay for March's energy when the April rates kick in.
"Do a meter reading today, and diarise a meter reading on March 31, so you draw a line and tell your energy company, 'all this energy I've used should be at the cheap rate'."
If you don't use a direct debit to pay council tax
Council tax payers who live in properties within the A,B,C and D bands will get a £150 rebate in April 2022, to assist with rising energy bills.
Those who pay their council tax via direct debit get the rebate automatically.
If you do not pay by direct debit, Martin urges you to set one up now, to make sure you get the payment.
The Government says rebate payments should be made as soon as possible in April.
It adds that councils should be contacting non direct debit payments to make arrangements.
"Where a council does not hold live direct debit instructions for an eligible household, the government expects them to make all reasonable efforts to contact the household as early as possible to make them aware of the scheme and invite them to make a claim," the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities says.
