April marks the start of a swathe of major money changes that will add to households finances, leaving millions up to £443 worse off. This month ushers in price hikes on , , and bills, alongside hikes to , car tax and stamp duty. The increases mean it's going to be a tougher month financially for many households, although costs may be slightly offset by increases to the from April 1, with the pay boost worth £1,400 per year for eligible full-time workers.

This pay increase will be followed by uplifts to inflation-linked benefits and the from the start of the new tax year on April 6, helping to put a bit of extra cash into pockets. But for the most part, the April price hikes will overshadow these increases and will leave many UK households worse off financially than they were in March.

Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Bestinvest by Evelyn Partners, said: "For a while it seemed as though the cost-of-living crisis was behind us; inflation was easing, interest rates were coming down and the road ahead looked brighter. But a mixed bag of miserable macro-economic news of late has radically shifted that outlook.

"The result of all this turmoil is that British households now face a barrage of bill hikes in April that will take a swipe at their living standards by eating away at their disposable income.

"Anyone lucky enough to receive a pay rise in recent months will be dismayed to see most of that swallowed up by sharp hikes in household bills, whether that is council tax, water or energy, among other costs and taxes.

"Going back to budgeting basics will be key for households to ensure they don't stray into overdrafts or find themselves forced to pay bills on credit cards because they cannot make ends meet."

Listed are all of the household bills that are rising from April 1 and the impact this could have on your finances.

Annual energy bills for households on a standard variable tariff in England, Wales and Scotland are rising by 6.4% from April 1 as Ofgem increases its price cap from £1,738 per year to £1,849. This amounts to an annual rise of £111 on average .

The unit price of gas is increasing from 6.34p per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 6.99p per kWh while electricity is going up from 24.86p/kWh to 27.03p/kWh.

The price cap sets the maximum rate per unit and standing charge that customers can be charged by suppliers for their energy use - not the total bill, so those who use more energy will ultimately pay more.

Water bills are going up by £123 on average (a 26% hike) from April 1 for households in England and Wales to help fund upgrades in the water sector, with smaller percentages to follow in each of the next four years.

Regulator Ofwat says further price rises are planned over the next five years, allowing water firms to increase average bills by £31 per year, or £157 in total, to £597 by 2030.

Some regions face higher rises than others, with Southern Water hiking bills by 47%, whereas Anglican Water and Northumbrian Water are only rising by 19%, according to Water UK.

The majority of customers who took out a broadband or mobile phone contract on or before April 10, 2024 will face an increase of 6.4% from April 1, based on the inflation rate last December and an additional charge.

Some customers will see rises in line with inflation, while others may face fixed hikes depending on when they signed up or upgraded.

For those on inflation-linked contracts, broadband prices are going up by £21.99 annually on average, but some newer plans will see increases of up to £42 a year, according to Uswitch. Meanwhile, mobile phone users face an average increase of £15.90 for inflation-linked contracts and up to £48 for newer deals.

So combined, those on inflation-linked broadband and mobile contracts are looking at around £37.89 extra per year on average, while those on newer deals face paying up to £90 more per year on average.

Council tax bill rises will hit 5% from April 1 for the third consecutive year as almost all councils hike bills up to, or close to, the maximum allowed.

The average annual band D bill (the standard measure of council tax) will be £2,280 including all precepts this year - an increase of £109 compared to 2024.

A total of 293 out of 384 lower and upper-tier councils subject to referendum principles (which allow them to raise the levy by 4.99% without triggering a local referendum) have opted to hit the threshold, while 56 chose to go close to the maximum. It means 91% of councils felt it necessary to impose significant increases.

The cost of a TV licence will increase by £5 from April 1, rising from £169.50 per year to £174.50. For a black and white TV it will go up by £1.50, rising from £57 to £58.50.

You can claim a free TV licence if you're aged 75 or older and claim Pension Credit or you live with someone who receives the benefit. If you live in a residential care home, supported housing or sheltered accommodation, then you may be entitled to a reduced fee TV Licence.

If you're blind (severely sight impaired) and can provide the appropriate evidence, you can apply for a 50% discount on your TV Licence.

If none of these apply then you'll have to pay for a TV licence at the full rate.

The standard rate of tax for cars registered after April 2017 is rising to £195 from April 1 - a price hike of £5.

Some owners may pay more, or less, if their car was first registered before 2017, with the rate dependent on when a car was first registered and the type of fuel it consumes.

Owners of electric vehicles (EVs) are also now subject to car tax for the first time. Any EVs registered since April 2025 must pay the lowest tax rate of £10 in the first year before moving to the standard rate of £195.