Featured post in collaboration with icount.
For many households in the UK, the arrival of winter acts as a signal for homeowners to hike up their heating to cope with the winter chill. Research from prepaid Mastercard providers icount, have found that this has had a significant impact on Brits and their finances.
The icount survey revealed that over a third of Brits have had to make the difficult decision of whether to heat their homes or cook a meal. Not only this, but three quarters of the population admit to limiting their central heating usage at this time of year! See the ‘Heating or Eating’ infographic below for more information.
If you too find yourself struggling to pay your energy bills during the winter months, it’s time for change! With our 7 helpful tips, you can reduce your energy bills this winter and enjoy financial freedom in years to come!
1. Switch your supplier
If you’ve never switched to another gas, electricity or water supplier, what are you waiting for? You could experience significant savings by shopping around and taking advantage of deals from other providers.
This great Which? guide details everything you need to know about switching suppliers; from the length of time it takes to switch, to the best and worst providers on the market today.
Alternatively, get your detective hat on and do some digging to see which suppliers are offering the best deals. Take advantage of comparison sites such as uSwitch and Confused.com or go directly to the supplier for a quote. Whichever method you choose, you could see yourself saving at least £200 per year by switching!
2. Monitor your heating usage
This doesn’t mean keeping a hawk’s eye on the thermostat to see which guilty party keeps hiking the heating up! It simply means being more mindful of the heating that you’re using.
For example, invest in a central heating timer if you don’t have one already. This allows you to only use the heating whilst there is someone in the house, helping you save money during the winter months.
As well as this, be sure to keep all windows and doors closed whilst the heating is on and make sure that all drafts are blocked with an excluder. This keeps all the heat locked into your home, and therefore you won’t need to turn the heating up so much and so often.
3. Stop leaving items on standby
Leaving items on standby can really eat away at your budget, causing your electricity bill to be much higher than it needs to be.
Unplugging your gadgets or switching them off at the socket when they’re not in use not only saves money, but you’ll also be saving the planet by reducing your energy usage!
4. Bring out your interior design flair
Don’t rush out to buy a whole new 3-piece suite. Instead, rearrange your furniture to improve the circulation of air in your home.
That’s right, you can reduce your heating bills by moving your furniture around! If you can have a sofa right in front of your radiator, not only is it absorbing most of the heat, it’s also blocking the flow of air in the room.
Whilst this may seem like a minor change, making some simple changes this winter can see you saving more money in years to come!
5. Change your payment method
Did you know that paying online rather than by cash or cheque can save you a pretty penny?
Many providers offer discounts for online customers and for going paperless.
So – save money, save the environment and save time by paying your bills online!
6. Take advantage of freebies
If you meet certain criteria, you may be eligible for a whole host of freebies from the government that can help you save on your utility bills.
You can take advantage of free loft and cavity insulation, and even a free boiler if you qualify! Money Saving Expert’s guide on free loft insulation lists everything you need to know about how to find out if you’re eligible and how to apply.
7. Switch up your habits
Avoiding high energy bills in winter can take a bit of persistence, but the results will be well worth it!
Switching up your habits will not only help you save this winter, but it’ll put you in good practises so you can save money all year round.
Turning lights off when leaving rooms, air drying clothes, wearing warmer clothes around the house and taking shorter showers are just a few of the things you can do to save a little here and there. When you add all the little changes up, you’ll be well on your way to avoiding sky-high bills over the colder months.
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