# Household money check-up: make a practical savings plan

Canonical HTML: https://moneyguide.org.uk/money-check-up/

Updated: 2026-10-07

Build a household money checklist, compare the full cost of two deals and download a renewal reminder. Free, private by default, with no account required.

## Your household checklist

1. **Find the gap between income and spending** — Use bank statements and include annual bills, repairs, travel and other irregular costs. The budget planner converts different payment frequencies into a monthly picture. [Open the budget planner](https://moneyguide.org.uk/tools/budget-planner/)

2. **Check benefits and other support before switching** — Review help you may qualify for, even if you are working. Use the guidance for your circumstances and nation; an estimate is not an award decision. [Explore eligibility and support](https://moneyguide.org.uk/eligible-for/)

3. **Check Council Tax discounts and support** — Check the people counted in your household and your council's reduction scheme. Rules and application routes differ between England, Scotland and Wales; ask your council about your circumstances. [Review Council Tax discounts](https://moneyguide.org.uk/benefits-tax/council-tax-bands-and-discounts/)

4. **Compare energy using your actual usage** — Use annual kWh from a bill, unit rates and standing charges. A Direct Debit is a payment towards your bill, not a guaranteed annual cost. Check any exit fee before changing tariff. [Compare energy tariff costs](https://moneyguide.org.uk/tools/energy-tariff-comparator/)

5. **Check broadband and mobile contracts** — Find the contract end date, future price changes, coverage or speed and any handset balance. Check social tariff eligibility before comparing a new retail deal. Use the full-cost comparison below for fixed monthly charges. [Check social tariffs and contract changes](https://moneyguide.org.uk/bills-utilities/broadband-social-tariffs-and-mid-contract-rises/)

6. **Compare the full cost before accepting an offer** — Compare the same service over the same number of months. Include setup fees, price changes and the cost of leaving your current contract. Confirm terms and affordability with the provider. [Compare two household deals](#compare-deals)

7. **Set a date to review the next renewal** — Use a date early enough to allow for your contract's notice period. Download a calendar event below, import it and check the reminder setting in your calendar app. [Create a renewal reminder](#renewal-reminder)

The default checklist above is for England. Choose your nation on the HTML page; Northern Ireland has separate domestic-rates and energy guidance. Urgent bill problems show free debt support first.

## Compare contract costs

Enter the current and new deal's monthly prices, introductory periods, later prices and one-off fees, plus the cost to leave the current deal. Use the same comparison period. The result adds payments and fees using integer pence; it is not a live quote, affordability assessment or eligibility decision. For energy use annual kWh in the energy tariff comparator instead.

## Save progress and renewal dates

Saving is optional and local to your browser. The page can export an all-day calendar event for a user-entered renewal date. Import the file into your own calendar and check its reminder settings; Money Guide does not send reminders.

## Common questions

### Where should I start if I cannot afford my bills?

Start with free debt advice and contact the organisation you owe. Use the budget planner to understand the shortfall and check support. Switching may help future costs, but does not clear existing arrears.

### Does the deal comparison include fees and price rises?

It includes the first monthly price, a second price for the remaining months, one-off fees and an exit fee for leaving your current deal. You enter every figure. It does not fetch live offers, forecast inflation, check eligibility or model more than one price change.

### Is my checklist saved automatically?

No. Choose Save on this device to keep a snapshot of your selections, completed tasks, comparison figures and renewal details in this browser. Use Resume saved plan to restore it. Nothing syncs between devices; you can delete the saved snapshot.

### Will Money Guide send me a renewal reminder?

No. Download the .ics calendar event, import it into your own calendar, and check its reminder and notification settings. The event requests an alert before the date you choose; support and delivery depend on your calendar app. It does not renew or cancel a contract.