I’m a money-saving mum, a £10 B&Q purchase will keep your rooms warm without the heating on
With Christmas approaching, saving every penny you can on your energy bills can be crucial.
And for many families, the cost of turning on the heating can be stressful enough without even having to think about gifts.
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But by making crucial and inexpensive improvements to your home now, you can relieve the pressure and make your home more energy efficient.
And they prove that you don’t have to make big or drastic solutions to reduce your bills.
Money-saving expert Gemma Bird – nicknamed The Money Mum – has teamed up with B&Q to share affordable tips for improving energy efficiency in your home.
She says: “There is no doubt that many of us across the country are struggling with our energy bills.
“But there are plenty of ways people can save money on their bills by getting a little crafty around the house with some energy efficiency improvements and hacks.
“It doesn’t just have to be big projects like insulation and double glazing; there’s a lot that can be done easily, and without spending a lot of money.”
And Gemma’s best tip? Buy some self-adhesive weather stripping to trap the heat in your home.
She says: ‘Heat escapes from our homes mainly through holes in doors, windows and other openings, forcing heating systems to work harder to keep rooms warm, while allowing cold air to leak in.
“Self-adhesive weather stripping is a quick and very affordable solution to retain heat without having to make permanent changes.
“Just place them along the bottom of doors, around window frames or anywhere you feel a draft.
“They help keep the cold out and maintain a comfortable, stable indoor temperature – no professional help or special tools required.”
Gemma’s favorite product, Diall White Self-Adhesive Draft Excluder, costs just £9.97, making it a super affordable solution to keeping heating costs down.
The savvy mum isn’t the only fan of the concept tape either, as it has racked up a host of five-star reviews on the B&Q website.
A satisfied customer said: “Convenient and cheap product!!!!!!! Highly recommended!!”
A second wrote: “I bought this to block drafts from my doors and windows. It seems to have done a good job.”
A third agreed: “I bought this item to seal the front door. It stopped drafts and strong winds. Used on that bathroom window stopped another draft. Just what was needed. Peal and stick.”
Meanwhile, a fourth wrote: “We bought this and it was easy to stick and more importantly no air gets into our house now.”
Gemma also revealed her four other purchases that could help reduce energy bills.
Smart plugs
Gemma says: “Whether you’re at home or on the road, smart plugs provide a convenient way to control your electrical home appliances.
“This ensures that you do not have energy-consuming products such as lighting, TVs and sound systems on standby.
“It’s a small, affordable technology upgrade that can make a difference on energy bills.”
Plus, smart plugs can be picked up in B&Q for just £15.
It allows you to control connected devices directly from your phone, whether they are home appliances, Christmas tree lights or even a TV.
It is also voice controlled via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Curtain solution
“Creating a thermal barrier around drafty doorways is a simple but effective way to retain heat in the rooms where you spend the most time,” Gemma points out.
Using a pull rod (£17) to hang a thick curtain in a doorway can make a very big difference in the warmth of a room, as it acts as a buffer to prevent cold drafts from entering.
Gemma adds: “This temporary solution can be moved from room to room or taken down without damage and reused in your next home, making it ideal for renters.”
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Heated clothes rack
Winter makes it difficult to dry clothes indoors without causing your energy bill to skyrocket.
Leaving the heating on all day can be prohibitively expensive and wasteful, and tumble dryers are expensive too.
Choosing a heated airer is therefore a more efficient way to dry clothes in the winter.
For example, B&Q’s £45 version costs 6p an hour to run.
Gemma says: “Choose one that has enough space to spread out your clothes, as overlapping will lengthen drying time and increase the chance of a damp smell.
“In small spaces, combining it with a portable dehumidifier can speed up the process.”
Portable dehumidifier
A portable dehumidifier can also be an efficient solution for drying clothes indoors, Gemma claimed.
She says: “Simply place it in the room where your clothes dry, and it will draw moisture from the air, helping clothes dry faster without having to rely on constant heating.
“It also prevents condensation from forming on windows, keeping your home dry and comfortable and combating winter fears such as mold.”
Paul White, Commercial Director at B&Q, says: “Both tenants and homeowners may feel unable to take control of their household bills.
“However, at B&Q we have a range of energy efficiency solutions, from thermostatic controls to draft excluders, which can make it easier for customers to control and reduce their energy consumption, and prevent their bills from becoming overwhelming.”
