Savings Stories – How Dean saved £965 on his bills with Nous

Dean is a 33-year-old data scientist who lives in Norwich with his partner, plus his dog and two cats. He saved £965 after Nous switched him to better deals for his phone, broadband and energy. Dean joined Nous after he was offered membership by his employer, By Miles. 

What’s your attitude towards budgeting?

I’m probably somewhere in between a spender and a saver. I’ve been fortunate in the job I’m in so I’ve become more comfortable. In the past I was more of a saver and looked after my bills, but as time has gone on I’ve become lazy with that side of things. 

I just find sorting bills so annoying. I’m one of those people falling into the trap of paying inflated renewal premiums. I know it’s stupid but I just don't really have the time to think about it and I don’t want to think about it.

How did you manage your bills before joining Nous?

I put very minimal effort in. With things like gas and electricity I find it’s overly complicated and I don’t understand my bills. That means I'm not that interested in looking at tariffs, it’s just too complex. I know the rates of energy have gone soaring in the last couple of years but I couldn’t be bothered to educate myself on it.

Were you surprised to find out how much you were overpaying for your bills?

The one I was most shocked at was my phone contract. For years I’ve had a SIM-only deal and I’d noticed it slowly going up. I didn’t realise how much it had got to. I was paying 30 quid a month for something I'm now paying seven quid a month for. It’s ridiculous and was just laziness on my part.

What do you look for when choosing a provider?

When I was younger, it would definitely be price. Now I'm more concerned about the service I'm receiving. I’ve had some bad experiences so going with reputable companies tends to be a priority.

‍What did you think when you were offered Nous membership by your employer?

I'm not very good at managing my bills – though it turns out I wasn’t aware to what extent I was bad at it. For that reason I thought it sounded really good, it was a no-brainer to try it out. The culture at By Miles is very much one of looking after the employees, which Nous fits into. In terms of supporting people’s wellbeing, they really care about that side of things.

What do you think are the key benefits of being a Nous member?

The main thing is saving money – who doesn’t want that? I also really appreciate the knowledge of the customer service team – bills can be so complex and hard to understand. So I’d say the money-saving is the most important thing, and the expertise comes after.

Were you surprised to find out how much you were overpaying on your bills?

Yes! When I signed up I thought I might save about £200, I never expected it to be so much. I was shocked.

How will you use the money you’ve saved?

It’s going to go into a savings pot, and then hopefully towards a holiday at some point. I’ve got a couple of trips booked this year. I like travelling so I’m always saving for trips away.

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