Let’s start with the need and wisdom of shopping around to reduce the cost of living.
Shoppers in Thurles are noticing striking price differences between local supermarket products. A local check in Thurles this week found that an 18-can slab of 7UP Zero was priced at €8.99 in Aldi: – €9.00 in Dunnes Stores: – €11.00 in Tesco: – €11.99 in Lidl: and €14.00 in SuperValu, demonstrating a spread that boldly underscores the point I am about to make and provides proof (as if proof was needed) that it pays to shop around and forget about loyalty.
Locked-In Loyalty – Why Staying with the same Provider is a costly mistake.
Households today are under pressure from multiple fronts, stagnant wages, rising rents, an inflationary drift in everyday goods purchased. In that context, taking time to compare providers for utilities, insurance, broadband or mobile and food is no longer a luxury; it’s a survival tactic. Because when you’re already squeezed, paying above-market rates for services and products you cannot do without, feels less like choice and more like injustice.
The smart consumer doesn’t just accept the default: they should demand value, they should compare, they should switch and not out of triviality, but out of necessity.
Moreover, competition only works if consumers engage: if everyone stays loyal out of inertia, then suppliers have no incentive to drive down costs or improve service. So shopping around is not merely savvy, it’s a civic duty in a market where you’re obliged to pay, but you still deserve fairness.
The Elephants In The Room:
Now let’s address the elephants in the room: the cost of essential services in Ireland, particularly electricity and internet, is woefully high and increasingly indefensible.
The internet provider Vodafone is down in Thurles yet again this morning, leaving people working from home without a service.
Regardless they will still send the same monthly bill at the end of this month and expect people to pay. Over the past 12 month the Vodafone service failed over 34 times; on one occasion last August for a period of 3 consecutive days. It is easier to ride a camel through the eye of a needle, than to complain to the commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Why they still continue to exist, few people understand.
When it comes to internet access, Irish consumers got 39% less value for their internet compared to UK users, and is placed only 22nd among European countries.
Put simply: one of your most basic bills is much higher here than most of our European neighbours; this isn’t an incidental detail; it’s a structural cost burden.
Household electricity prices in Ireland were measured at €0.3736 per kWh in the first half of 2024, the highest in the EU for Irish households.
In effect, Irish households are paying €350-plus annually, more for electricity than is the EU average.
What is especially galling is that when something is labelled “essential” it really ought to be priced in a way that doesn’t punish people just for being connected or powered. The fact that despite high VAT, network/levy costs, infrastructure investment and other “legitimate” components, the final bills remain so elevated it suggests a failure somewhere, either in regulation, competition, or both.
In short: shopping-around is vital; but it also shouldn’t be the only defensive mechanism. The system should not rely solely on consumers being alert and mobile. When essential services carry a premium burden, it erodes disposable income, squeezes savings, and perpetuates inequality.
Where to Find the Cheapest Bills in Ireland.
How to shop smart and cut your household costs.
Irish households continue to face some of the highest utility costs in Europe. Here’s how and where to compare providers for cheaper electricity, broadband, insurance, and more.
The Invisible Tax : How Irish Households Fund High Utility Costs
Rising Costs, Shrinking Choices: With electricity, broadband and insurance prices ranked among the highest in Europe, Irish households are paying a heavy premium for essentials. The truth is that loyalty rarely pays, and staying with the same provider year after year can cost you hundreds of euros more than is necessary.
Fortunately, there are independent tools that make comparing and switching simple. Spending just an hour reviewing your main bills once a year can make a real difference to your budget.
Shop Around or Pay the Price: How to Fight Back Against Sky-High Utility Costs.
Electricity & Gas:
Bonkers.ie : – the most comprehensive comparison site for Irish consumers. It lists every licensed energy supplier, breaks down standing charges and tariffs, and estimates your annual savings.
Switcher.ie : – a clear, easy-to-use alternative, often with cashback offers for new customers.
CRU.ie : – the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. It doesn’t compare prices, but it regulates the market and ensures the above sites remain impartial – supposedly.
Tip: Watch out for 12-month “introductory rates”. Once they expire, prices jump sharply, so set a reminder to review before renewal.
Insurance
Chill.ie : – compare car, home and travel insurance in one place.
CompareInsuranceIreland.ie : — independent comparisons that include smaller providers.
Note: Sometimes it pays to check insurers directly; Aviva, Allianz, AXA, or 123.ie can offer better rates to new customers than through a website or program that collects related items of content and displays them or links to them, (known as aggregators).
Tip: Never accept automatic renewals. The biggest insurance savings go to switchers, not loyal customers.
Banking & Mortgages.
CCPC Money Tools : – the official comparison hub from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. It covers current accounts, credit cards, personal loans, and mortgage rates.
Tip: If you took out a mortgage more than three years ago, check your rate. Switching lenders can save thousands over the lifetime of your loan.
Final Word – Financial Self-defence and Resistance.
Ireland’s high cost of living is not likely to drop overnight, but smart shopping can make it more manageable. Reviewing your main bills; for energy, broadband, and insurance, once a year is a simple act of financial self-defence.
In a system where essential services cost more than they should, comparison isn’t just wise; it’s a quiet form of resistance.
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