House and utilities
The University of Brighton does not endorse using one company or service provider over another, and as with all deals make sure you always read the small print.
Gas, water and electricity
For your gas and electricity always shop around for the best price. You can use one of the popular price comparison websites. Prices go up and down all the time so it’s definitely worth taking the time to do a bit of research. These sites are independent and show no bias towards one provider over another.
It often works out cheaper if you get all your utilities through the same provider.
Paying your utility bills
Make sure your bills get paid by setting up direct debits. They can save you money and you will know how much you're spending. They also spread the cost of utility bills over the year. Download a leaflet on the advantages of paying by direct debit (pdf 660KB).
- If you live in a house with other friends, try to share costs of food, utility bills etc by all paying into a 'house fund'.
- If you receive estimated utility bills, make sure that you take regular readings and let the utility company know before you pay.
- Always double check meter readings especially when you move in or out of a property.
- Check with your landlord if you have a water meter. They are free to install and you are only charged for the water you use. For more information see Southern Water's website
- Always open your post, even if you find it scary or intimidating.
If you fall into arrears with any of your utility companies see our advice on dealing with debt.
Saving water and energy
You can save money on your utiliy bills by:
- turning off lights when you leave a room.
- not leaving appliances on standby (many still use 70 per cent of their energy on standby)
- not having the heating on full for short periods - it's more cost-effective to lower the thermostat and leave the heating on for longer
- some suppliers give you cheaper electricity in the evenings or at weekends, so plan how you use your appliances to coincide with cheaper rate times.
Telephones
Landline
Shop around. Remember that you can have a different landline provider and main call provider (for example you can have a BT landline with calls provided by TalkTalk). Use comparison sites to find the best deal for your needs, for example some providers will offer cheaper evening and weekend calls. To save on your calls and manage your costs:
- avoid 0870 calls – for alternative numbers check out www.saynoto0870.com
- if you don't have a BT number you might be charged for 0800 numbers too (info on the cost of 08 and 03 numbers)
- get an itemised bill if you share the phone so you can share the costs fairly
International calls
To save on international calls you could:
- buy an international calling card to cut down the price of calls - you can get them from most corner shops
- use Skype instead – from £3.99 for unlimited calls might save you more
- check if your call provider has special deals to for calls to specific overseas countries.
Mobile phones
Before you decide on a mobile phone, look at how much and how you use your phone. Do you use it mainly for texting, using the internet or making calls? Do you need pay-as-you-go or a monthly contract? Pay-as-you-go is easier to manage but often incurs a higher cost per minute.
To save money on your mobile phone bills:
- consider what network your friends use - some providers let you have free calls to the same network.
- be wary of taking a longer contract (eg 18–24 months) if you think your circumstances may change - it could cost you more in the long run
- invest in an Orange SIM for £5 to enjoy 2-for-1 cinema tickets on ‘Orange Wednesdays'.
Internet
To get the best deal on broadband internet, use an Ofcom-accredited comparison site to research student-specific deals. One example is Cable.co.uk
If you are looking into a phone/TV/broadband package, make sure you shop around as it may depend whether you have a 6, 9 or 12 month tenancy. If your tenancy runs for 9 months, you may be interested in Virgin Media’s student package.
Insurance
Make sure you have adequate insurance for your belongings. For a student insurance quote, visit Endsleigh Insurance
TV licence
If you have a TV or you watch live TV on your laptop you must get a TV licence. Even if you live in halls, if you are caught without one, you could be fined up to £1,000. It may be possible to claim back part of your licence fee if you are not in your accommodation over the summer.
TV Licensing has detailed information on TV licences for students
