Obviously with Economy 7 you'll use more energy during the night than the day, so you will save money. However, you need to be using roughly 20% of your energy consumption at night to be making a saving. And when they say night, they really mean night - the cheaper tariff usually starts around 1am and finishes around 8am (this can vary by supplier and region).

Another important factor to take into consideration with Economy 7 is that is that, although you can heat your water and storage heater continually throughout the night, this may be insufficient to last you through the day. The morning is generally nice and warm, with enough hot water for a bath or shower, but as you reach the evening your house will probably start growing colder. If you were thinking about having a lovely hot bubble bath after work - forget about it!

If you're interested in comparing your current Economy 7 tariff against those offered by other suppliers, then use the online price comparison service. You may discover you can save money simply by switching suppliers. If you don’t currently have an Economy 7 meter, you’ll need to convert your meter before you can use uSwitch.com to switch supplier.

Be aware that some Economy 7 tariffs may charge you almost double the standard rate for any energy you use during the day, which can quickly cancel out any savings you've made through using Economy 7 at night.

Moving to an Economy 7 tariff involves a change of meter, which your current supplier should be able to arrange for you (sometimes for a price).

Once you have changed your meter you can switch between suppliers, so make sure to check out the energy comparison calculator on uSwitch.com, to find the cheapest deal available to you.

 

Wi-Fi, ISP, ADSL, VoIP – do you think broadband language is just there to confuse you?

We goes behind the jargon to examine broadband; what it does, what it means and how it affects you. Whether you want to understand the latest technology or make sure you get the best deal, we’re here with an explanation.

 

How do you want to connect?

Connecting to the internet with broadband offers you a world wide choice of options. If you want to keep things simple ADSL broadband uses your existing BT line. Just sign up, plug in the modem and connect. Or maybe you want more choice? If available in your local area, cable broadband comes with home phone and digital TV too. Compare if you get more with a bundled package. Or maybe you want broadband on the move? We put WI-Fi and hot spots under the spotlight.

As broadband has to work with the existing phone line infrastructure, where we live can affect the broadband that is available to us. We look at the issues around broadband availability and how it can affect your broadband choices.

Deal or no deal – you don’t want to make the decision on which broadband you choose on a whim. We go behind the broadband deals and cheap internet to spotlight the costs you really should pay attention to.

 

Traditionally if you wanted to borrow money you went to your local bank manager and tried to persuade him

(it was always a him) to lend you some money. Today there are abundant choices when it comes to borrowing money:

• high street banks and building societies
• internet loan providers
• supermarkets and high street stores
• secured loan providers

Each provider has their merits and there is no one "best loan provider". The best provider for you is the one who can

offer the best personal or secured loan for your circumstances.

Here are the key differences.

Personal loans:

• your borrowing is based on your personal credit rating
• maximum borrowing is £25,000
• maximum time for re-paying the loan is up to 10 years

Secured loans:

• you're required to use your property as security against the loan. If you default on your repayment you could lose your home
• you can borrow more than £25,000 (the maximum borrowing varies between lenders)
• maximum time for repaying the loan is up to 25 years

Here are some golden rules about loans:

• always borrow responsibly. Never borrow beyond your means
• always read the small print
• Is there an early repayment fee (also known as a redemption fee) if you pay back the loan before the end of
• the loan term? If there is one this can be as much as two months' interest, considerably adding to the cost of your loan
• be aware of whether there is an arrangement fee for setting up your loan
• know the implication of loan payment deferments and breaks – these can give you a break from paying the
• loan for a specified time. Any interest you would have paid in this time, is still payable and is added to your outstanding balance
• always shop around before signing on the dotted line. Getting a comprehensive overview of the loans available
• to you ensures you get the best value personal or secured loan for your needs

Your gas and electricity switching options
uSwitch is the UK's #1 energy switching service offering a comprehensive, secure and trusted comparison of deals. Compare and switch right away or save your search and switch later.