Everyone is feeling the pinch! We’ve just had Christmas, it’s been cold, damp, food has gone up, fuel has gone up and our bills are through the roof. We wanted to share with you our top tips for saving money, especially considering the price of energy, how to be more efficient in what you do purchase!
Some of these changes cost money but long term will save you money:
- Choose energy-efficient appliances;
- Replace your lightbulbs with energy efficient bulbs;
- Change light fittings to ones with less bulbs or consider using a lamp instead of main light;
- Get a smart meter. You can keep an eye on spending, also see what’s really eating up the energy and costing you the most;
- Get an eco-kettle;
- Get double glazed windows;
- Check the insulation in your loft and replace it if needed.
Things you can do right now that won’t cost you money:
- You could also compare energy tariffs, shop around and see if switching to another energy supplier would save you some money. Is fixed or variable better for you?
- Being mindful of what you use – remembering to turn lights off, washing on a lower temperature, and shutting doors when the heating is on to keep each room warm.
- Do you actually know what things in your home cost the most? Tumble dryers, ovens and kettles come out high on the electric front
- Check no warmth is escaping – do you have a draughty doorway where you could pop a draft excluder? Are the seals on your windows in good condition? Do you have an open chimney that’s letting in cold air? Doorways and chimneys are big culprits for letting heat escape!
- Use a throw on your bed; when it gets chilly in the night you can quickly add an extra layer.
- Turn lights off as you leave rooms.
- Make your own lunches and batch cook when you have time.
- Try to eat a meal all together, or if someone is going to be late, keep their dinner in the oven, as this will keep it warm for some time. Ovens are an appliance that take a lot of energy, so minimising the amount one is used will save costs.
- Keep your walls and loft well insulated.
- Be careful not to waste water. Could you bath your children together? Be mindful of leaving the tap on when brushing your teeth, and try not to spend too long in the shower.
- Have showers instead of big baths.
- Turn your heating down a degree or two.
- Only fill the kettle for the exact amount you need.
- Get tax relief when working from home – you can claim tax relief on your expenses and bills whilst working remotely.
- Choose where to work if you are working from home – which space in your home is the warmest and has good natural light?
- Layer up – it sounds obvious, but thick socks and a big cardigan means you might be able to turn the heating down a few notches or even off.
- Use small heaters instead of central heating. If you are only using a room or two then you could just heat those individual rooms.
- Plan meals so there are fewer leftovers, and find recipes to use up odds and ends. Soup or stew is a great one for this!
- Look out for vouchers and offers for eating out to save big! Places like Pizza Express give you rewards on their app and freebies when you visit.
- Make gifts for birthdays and special occasions. Winter crafts for Christmas presents will save money. Could you meet with friends and spend time together doing an activity or invite them for a meal, rather than going to a restaurant and purchasing expensive gifts?
- Try not to use credit cards and look at budgets! If you feel anxiety about checking your bank account, then this indicates that it’s a great idea to check your bank account!
- Buy in bulk – always look at supermarket or large store offers carefully, and buy in bulk if there’s a good offer on.
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