I hated that my energy bill was so high, but six quick tips helped me save money
WE’ve officially said goodbye to summer, and now that the cold days are here, Brits will be looking for cheap ways to stay warm.
With the government announcing a rise in energy bills, including an increase in the UK price ceiling to £1,717 per year from October to December 2024, many of us will be doing our best to avoid leaving the heating on.
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This equates to an increase of 10 per cent, or around £12 more per month, for an average household using gas and electricity and paying by direct debit.
And it doesn’t stop there, because the price ceiling is expected to rise again in the first quarter of 2025.
That’s why so many homeowners and renters are eager to find ways to stay warm and use their electricity without spending a lot of money.
Many of them have adopted this online forum Mumsnet to share their best tips and tricks.
There are those who, despite everyone’s energy bills rising, have managed to keep their bills low.
One wrote: “Turn off all sockets when not in use, we have always done this and never had a high bill.
“Don’t leave the lights on.
“Keep the doors closed when the heating is on, close curtains and blinds to keep the heat in.
“Use a drying rack to dry the laundry, place a dry fitted sheet over the drying rack and the radiator.
“Don’t overfill the kettle, if you have a lot of tea/coffee, fill a large bottle in the morning.
“Shorter programs on washing machines.”
And the list doesn’t stop there.
Another suggested: “Use an air fryer instead of your oven.
I’ve always had low fuel bills, despite having four adults at home during the day
Mumsnet user
“Only fill the kettle as much as you need.
“Limit heating to minimal rooms. Electric throws are excellent and use little power.
“Insulate your home if you can.
“Most devices use very little in standby.
“Light also consumes very little, but clearly adds up.
“If you have TV boxes (such as Sky), put them on energy-saving standby mode, as they can consume a lot on standby.”
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While a third mother said: “I’ve always had low fuel bills, despite having four adults at home during the day.
“My tips are: turn on the washing machine and dishwasher quickly, never tumble except in an emergency, such as a DC (darling child) who has been sick on his favorite blanket etc.
“I always fill the oven full and don’t have it on, for example just a baked potato.
“I don’t like warm houses, so I never go above 19 and during the day I like around 17.5/18.”
5 Money-saving tips for autumn/winter
1. Make your home draught-free
It takes time and money to heat your home, so it’s important that you do everything you can to keep the heat in. Close your doors and windows and fill any gaps with weather stripping.
2. Turn down your thermostat
According to Energy UK, lowering the thermostat by just one degree Celsius can reduce your heating costs by up to 10% and save you around £85 a year. And if you don’t have a thermostat, installing one can save you up to $70 per year!
3. Move furniture
Ensure that large, bulky furniture such as sofas does not block the radiators.
4. Wash clothes at a lower temperature and add extra spin cycle
Unless it is bedding, towels or very dirty items, turn the temperature down to 20 or 30 degrees and rotate the machine twice to remove excess water.
5. Heat the person, not the house
There is no point in heating up a room with no one in it, so pay close attention to which radiators are on.
