Feeling the change in the weather yet? As the evenings draw in and we find ourselves well on the way to winter, it can be easy to switch on the heating without a second thought. But if you’re on a budget and not looking forward to the prospect of facing those mounting winter fuel bills then you want to look at some ways you can save money without getting too much colder this winter.
In this blog we take a look at some money saving tips for beating the cold without breaking the bank.
Image from Pixabay: CC0 licence
Insulate
You’ve read it before but it bears repeating. The advice to start with your home insulation is the best we can give. Those drafty windows and doors are blowing out your money along with any heat that’s in your home. If you had an energy test, an EPC from a company such as https://nexusenergysolutions.co.uk/office-locations/epc-glasgow/, when you bought your home, you’ll already have a good idea about how energy efficient it is.
While it may involve you spending some money, consider it an investment. Pop down to your local DIY store and get some insulating door tape, under door material and some draught blocking tape that’s going to stop those curtains rustling in the breeze.
You will notice a big difference in how you feel and in your bill. It will allow you to drop down the thermostat a couple of degrees too, making an impact on cost and the environment.
Think too about the fabric of your home. Does the loft have adequate insulation or is there very little between your roof and ceilings? Stuff it full of insulation – a quick and effective way of preventing your warm air from rising and escaping out.
Save All Round
It’s not just your heating that takes a hit, your basic electricity consumption can go up too. More hot drinks being made, more slow cooked food and vacuuming up of mud from walks outside. All these things make an impact.
You can help keep electricity costs down by always unplugging your devices from sockets at night, not overfilling the kettle and regularly emptying your vacuum cleaner to make it run more efficiently and therefore in use for less time.
Swap over those old bulbs for energy efficiency ones and, as tempting as it is to wallow in a long, hot bath jump in the shower instead for a short burst of warmth, keeping both heating and water costs down.
Finally, think about how to make your appliances work better for you. Keep your fridge at between 3 and 5 degrees for maximum efficiency, turn your oven off five minutes before cooking time and try and avoid hanging clothes over radiators, making it harder for them to heat the rest of your home.
You don’t need to suffer this winter but do employ a few great cold-beating tips to make sure that your house and all its appliances are working at maximum efficiency, driving down your heating and electricity bills and helping you stay in control.
This is a collaborative post.
Leave a Reply