LGA: 10 ways to save people money

The LGA is encouraging people to contact their local council to find out ways in which they could save money and keep monthly bills down and encouraging all councils to advertise as widely as possible the financial help that they can offer.

Cllr Margaret Eaton, Chairman of the LGA, said: “These are tough times for everyone and people are feeling the pinch. Weekly budgets are being trimmed back and many people are in need of support and assistance like never before.

“Many people just wouldn’t realise that their local council can provide them with a whole range of ways of keeping household costs down. From giving people allotments to grow their own fruit and veg to helping people to keep energy bills down through insulation and free efficient light bulbs, town halls will be able to give hard pressed residents a helping hand.

“An eye-watering£1.8bn of council tax reductions goes unclaimed every year. Around one in three households are eligible and many are simply unaware that they can get help with their council tax bills. One and a half million children and one million pensioners in poverty are living in households that pay full council tax.”

The LGA lists the following savings:

Benefits: Many local authorities provide or fund local advice services which can provide advice on eligibility for a wide range of benefits. In particular,£1.8bn of reductions on council tax goes unclaimed every year whilst one in three households is eligible.

Home insulation: Insulating your house reduces energy costs. Many councils are working with energy suppliers locally to subsidise the cost of insulating homes, which can knock around£280 a year off household energy bills.

Car sharing: A number of councils run special car-sharing schemes where they match up residents on their websites. An average commuter sharing a car with one other person can save around£1,000 a year.

Energy saving light bulbs: A number of councils give away low cost energy light bulbs that can reduce households’ lighting costs by up to£45 a year.

Real nappies: Real nappies that can be used again and again work out£200 cheaper than disposables. Some councils hand out free real nappies or reimburse residents.

Use local libraries to borrow books and CDs: Households spend an average of£118 a year on books and£53 on CDs, which could be borrowed for free from a local library.

Allotments: Growing your own vegetables on a council-owned allotment helps people to avoid rising food prices.

Discounted gym membership: Councils provide gym membership for around£30 a month, cheaper than most private gym packages. Leisure Connection, which manages 70 local-authority sports centres has recorded a 15% increase in members since the start of the year, adding over 5000 members a month.

Free school meals and uniform grants: Residents who are on income support or who receive some benefits can get free school meals and uniform.

Free access to local cultural centres: Access to centres such as museums, city farms and subsidised theatres.

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