Here's a guide to Student Bills, how to get the best deals and save a load of cash.
We've got you covered on how to save money and not get ripped off by companies when it comes to paying to keep your student house a nice place to live.
Student bills: Gas and Electricity
Find out your current suppliers
Before you start, you should find out who your current supplier is for both Gas and Electricity.
If this information isn't readily available from your landlord or letting agent, you can call the national helplines.
For Gas, use the Meter Point Administration's Find My Supplier tool.
For Electricity, you can use the Energy Networks Association postcode search tool.
Compare
Use energy comparison websites like MoneySupermarket to see which company offers you the best deal for your personal circumstances. Also compare the costs of splitting your gas and electricity between separate suppliers, it could turn out cheaper!
Beware of fixed deals
A fixed deal may sound like a good idea but you could find yourself paying over the odds for energy you don't use. Especially given the short-term period you'll be living in student housing, a variable rate is often the cheapest.
Keep up to date meter readings
The more regular and accurate your meter readings, the more accurate your bill will be and you'll know exactly how much is due and whether or not you may end up owing cash, or being owed a refund, come the end of the year.
Cut back on usage
You can only save so much on money in the paper work, see our guide to cutting energy bills for more cash saving tactics.
Student bills: Water
Compare
As with Gas & Electric, and all bills, compare to see which supplier offers you the best deal.
Get a water meter
With a water meter you pay for exactly how much you use and so you could save a LOT of money. Furthermore, it means you can cut back on your water usage and reduce your bill further. Water meters are free and it's a tenant's right to have one installed.
Student bills: Broadband, TV and Phone
Compare
Again, look around for the best deals that suit your needs as a starting point.
Look at contract length
Assuming you'll be going back home over the summer, a nine-month contract is ideal for students and is something offered by companies like BT and Virgin. Be smart when it comes to comparing with longer contracts: The monthly cost might be higher, but is it altogether more than paying for 3 extra months you won't use?
Ditch your landline
You really don't need a landline phone and it avoids you having to pay monthly line rental fees too, assuming you can get broadband via cable or satellite.
Watch online
Most channels now offer free on demand catch up and there's always services like Netflix or NOW TV is cheaper than any pay-TV package.
Avoid download limits
Beware of stingy download limits especially if there will be lots of you using the same connection. Be sure to read the small print, even if a deal proclaims to be 'unlimited'.
Student bills: Council tax
If you're a full time student then you don't need to pay a penny in council tax. If you're sharing with non students or part time students, they may have to pay however could be able to claim for a discount.
Student bills: TV Licence
If you need a TV licence depends solely on whether your watch TV as it's being broadcast, even if online. A so-called TV licence loophole may allow you to ditch paying £145+ a year for your TV licence. Furthermore, you may be able to get a TV licence refund for what you've already paid.
Student bills: Rent
Saving money on rent is pretty hard but one thing to consider is to have a little haggle with the landlord over the monthly price. Do your research and see if the property has been on the market for a while or there are any issues which you can use to your advantage.