// BBC BUSINESS NEWS — FINANZA
Mum says 'no fat left to trim' on household costs as water bills set for 42% rise
Victoria Owen said there is "nothing left to waste" on her household bills
A mum says there is "no more fat left to trim" off her household bills despite making changes at home to use less water.
Victoria Owen said she had implemented a "don't waste it" rule, encouraging her children to have short showers and re-use the water after washing dishes.
It comes after water companies across England and Wales were given the green light to increase bills for customers by an extra £3.4bn in the coming years, to meet increased pressures on infrastructure and the environment.
Welsh Water, Wales' main water and sewerage supplier, said it was working to support its most vulnerable customers and planned to invest £4.2bn by 2030 to improve services.
People in most parts of Wales faced a 27% increase in their water bills from April 2025, with the average annual bill going up from £503 to £639.
It marked the start of a five-year period of bill increases from Welsh Water, totalling 42% by 2029-30.
Pay more for your water bill or wait longer for a better service - new boss
Water bills set to rise for many after firms permitted extra funding
Victoria, from Cardiff, who is a single parent, said she spent "almost every single spare penny" on her household bills and there was "nothing left to waste", other than a Netflix subscription she had bought for her children.