There’s no doubt that the last few years have been extremely difficult to deal with. Many are still recovering from the financial carnage of the pandemic, and now the cost of living crisis fuelled by other major world events is making things even harder. Individuals, families, and homeowners around the country are looking for ways to cut down on their energy usage and save money. If you are doing the same, you are far from alone. However, cutting costs doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, there are many simple things that you can do to reduce your bills. Here are just seven to get you thinking.
Switch off standby
You may not release it, but leaving appliances on standby, even though they are not switched on and in use, still uses electricity. If you can remember to turn these appliances off completely, you could save yourself about £65 a year, which is no small amount. Turn what you can off at the plug. To save yourself time running around the house turning everything off, you can get a standby saver or smart plug that enables you to turn everything off at once.
Stop draughts
You will likely be losing some of your house’s hear through draughty windows and doors, the chimney, or gaps in the floors. Look for anywhere that could be letting cold air in or warm air out and take action to block it. Even though there may be some expense involved in doing these little renovations, you will save yourself a lot more in the long run.
Turn off your lights
Simply turning off lights then you’re leaving the room and no longer need them could save you about £25 a year on your energy bills. Additionally, you can improve your energy efficiency by upgrading to LED bulbs which use much less energy and will therefore save you a lot more money.
Watch how much you wash and dry
Be careful about how often you use your washing machine and the settings you use it on. Wash on a lower temperature cycle and see if you can reduce your number of a washes a week. Little changes like this can make a big difference. Also, try and avoid using a tumble dryer for your clothes but hang them out instead, either inside during winter or outside during warmer weather. You will still get fresh clean clothes but will save yourself money in the process.
Cut down your baths and shower quickly
If you can cut down your baths, even just swapping one a week for a shower instead, could save you some money on your energy bills. Furthermore, keeping your shower to a brief 4 minutes will also do the same. Not only will you be saving water which is good for the planet, but you’ll be saving money which is good for your wallet.
Think about your kitchen use
Use the kettle to boil only what you need and think about fitting an aerator onto your tap to reduce the amount of water it dispenses. They are cheap and easy to fit and can save you money too.
Insulate
A great way to improve your efficiency, reduce your bills, and save yourself money is to invest in good insulation throughout your home. Various options can be purchased from reputable retailers like Materials Market, who can also advise you on the best option for your purpose.
You don’t have to be a victim of rising fuel charges! Take control and save yourself money by following these and other handy money-saving tips!
