SPRING’S shown its face at last, which means it’s the key season to re-write your budget. April was the big price-change month for the NHS, local authorities, utility firms and more. Here are the winners:

THE BASIC STATE PENSION

It’s up. Those entitled to the state pension will feel more in their pockets: it’s increased from £95.25 to £97.65 per week for singles and £152.30 to £156.15 for couples.

Yet the additional top-up called the second state pension, which some get, is frozen. Any pensioners on relatively low incomes should check whether they’re entitled to the pension credit. Check on 0800 991234.

NEW CASH ISA ALLOWANCES

The amount you can put away in a cash Isa has increased. It used to be £3,600 per person, now it’s £5,100 for everyone and the total Isa allowance, if you include stocks and shares, is £10,200.

NHS PRESCRIPTION PRICES DROPPED

The cost of prescriptions has dropped from £4 to £3 in Scotland, while in England they have been held at £7.20 each. Some have fared even better though, as Northern Ireland has joined Wales in getting them totally free.

And the losers:

BT EXTENDS HIGH CALLS CHARGES IN THE EVENINGS.

BT has cleverly shifted its cheaper off-peak times to 7pm to 7am, rather than 6pm to 6am. It may not sound like much of a change, but what they have done is make an unpopular hour in the morning free rather than a more popular one in the evening. That means calls in that part of the evening will be more expensive.

STAMP PRICES UP 2P

Yep, that little piece of paper just got more costly. For a standard sized envelope, it’s now 41p for first class and 32p for second class.

PERSONAL TAX ALLOWANCES FROZEN

Personal allowances are the amount anyone in the UK can earn from work or savings before they pay income tax. While this might not sound like a ‘loser’, actually it means that, as wages are still rising, but tax limits aren’t, you end up paying more.

TV money guru Martin Lewis runs the consumer revenge website MoneySavingExpert.com
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