With households already seeing their energy bills soar and further price rises expected in the coming months, many families have been left wondering how they will cope as the cost of living crisis worsens.
Citizens Advice issued a stark warning that a quarter of homes will struggle to afford paying their energy bills if the price cap rises as forecast to £3,582 in October, with that number expected to climb to more than a third by January when prices are expected to soar again. Financial expert Martin Lewis branded the predicted price hikes “catastrophic” earlier this month , saying that the UK is facing a “national crisis” over energy costs.
With the next price rise just weeks away, many are looking for ways to save on the amount of energy they use at home - and there are plenty of small changes you can make that could add up to a big difference. Here are 50 things you can try at home today to help cut back on your bills, according to The Mirror .
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Heating and keeping warm
1. Turn down your thermostat
You can save around 10% on your energy bill by turning your thermostat down by just one degree. Your thermostat should be set between 18 and 21 degrees for the ideal home temperature.
2. Only heat the room you’re using
Avoid wasting money by heating rooms of your home that you aren’t actually spending any time in. Check that the radiators are switched off in unused rooms to help bring your energy bill down,
3. Bleed your radiators
Trapped air builds up inside radiators over time, causing warm water to stop circulating and reducing the amount of heat given out. You can fix this by bleeding your radiators using a radiator key, as well as a cloth or rag to catch any water, and should do this at least once a year.
4. Move furniture away from radiators
Furniture can make your home’s heating system less efficient if items are obstructing radiators and stopping the heat from spreading to the rest of the room. Consider rearranging your furniture if you have anything placed directly in front of a radiator to help warm up your home.
5. Try tin foil behind your radiators
Sticky-back aluminium foil, which works by bouncing heat back into the room when placed behind your radiator, can be bought for £7.59 from Screwfix. Some have claimed that this hack also works using regular foil, which is worth trying given that the price of a roll of foil from Asda starts from just 68p.
6. Fix any draughts
It’s worth checking whether there is any cold air making its way into your home through small gaps in windows and doors. There are a few ways to combat this problem, from investing in draught excluder tape or a rug to cheaper options such as creating a makeshift draught excluder out of old jumpers and socks.
7. Close your curtains in the evening
According to research from the University of Salford, keeping your curtains shut in the evening when the temperature drops can reduce heat loss in your home by up to 17%. Drawing blinds can also help, though curtains are said to be the best option for retaining heat.
8. Keep your curtains open in the summer
While you should ensure you close your curtains at night, do the opposite during the day during the summer months when it’s warm outside. This will allow the sun to heat up your home and keep you toasty for longer.
9. Layer up your clothes
MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis has advised families to “heat the human, not the home”, and following this advice it’s worth looking at what you can wear to warm yourself up before you reach for the thermostat. Try layering up and wearing as many clothes as possible if you’re feeling cold at home - although you should always put your health first and don’t avoid switching the heating on if you think it could impact your health.
10. Buy USB gloves
We can often feel the cold first in our hands and feet - but MoneySavingExpert says that one of the cheapest options to look into are USB gloves. The site estimates that the gloves can heat up your hands at a cost of less than 1p per hour to run, with an upfront cost of around a fiver.
11. Invest in heated insoles
Another way to keep your extremities warm is to get yourself some heated insoles for your feet. Costing approximately £8 to buy, these also cost less than 1p per hour to use.
12. Invest in double glazing
If your home has single-pane windows, it may be worth going for the upgrade to double glazing if you can afford it in order to save on your energy bills in the longer term. Heat is lost through single glazing around twice as fast as through standard double glazing.
In the kitchen
13. Don’t overfill the kettle
If you’re making yourself a cuppa, only fill up your kettle with as much water as you need for that boil. Not only will this help you save on water, but your kettle will use up less energy as it won’t take as long to boil.
14. Use a saucepan with a lid
Keeping lids on when you’re cooking uses around 10% less energy than cooking with the lid off. If you keep the lid on your saucepan while rustling up your next meal, you will save on energy by trapping the steam and heat in.
15. Keep your hob clean
If you haven’t given your hob a good scrub for a while, it may be time to think about it now. Dirty hobs with burnt-on food and grease use more energy and can take longer to cook food, as the heat has to push through all the grime first.
16. Bulk cook in the oven
If you find that you often have some leftover space in your oven when you’re cooking meals, think about putting some extra bits in there to make full use of the space and reduce the amount of times you need to use your oven. You can cook meals for the coming week ahead of time, and freeze or chill food for later use.
17. Keep the oven door shut
It can be tempting to check up on how your dinner is coming along - but you should resist peeking in the oven, as this uses up more energy as the oven works to get back up to temperature. According to Uswitch, an oven can lose up to 25 degrees in heat when you open the door.
18. Use the microwave
As long as you double-check your food labels to make sure your dishes are microwaveable, Uswitch says that a microwave is the most efficient way to heat up and cook food. This is due to it being smaller in size than an oven and taking less time to do the job.
19. Defrost food in the fridge
While you should consider using a microwave to cook your food where possible, there are some occasions where it’s best to avoid one. This is the case when it comes to defrosting food - letting it thaw out in the fridge rather than using the defrost setting on your microwave can help you save energy.
20. Clean behind your fridge
It’s worth adding a dust-down to the back of your fridge and freezer onto your list of regular cleaning duties. A build-up of dust on the condenser coils can mean that the appliance has to work harder to keep your food cold.
21. Defrost your freezer
Another way to save energy when it comes to your fridge-freezer is ensuring that you defrost your freezer section regularly. If you have a build-up of frost, this could mean that the freezer’s motor has to work harder to keep food cold.
22. Use your dishwasher more efficiently
If you have a dishwasher at home, it’s best to wait until you have a full load of dirty dishes before running it and use the eco setting if your appliance has one. It’s worth noting that Uswitch says there is “no absolute proof” that a dishwasher is more energy-efficient than washing by hand.
23. Use a washing-up bowl
When washing dishes in the sink, make sure that you use a washing-up bowl. This will catch the soap and warm water and help to avoid unnecessary water waste.
In the bathroom
24. Swap the bath for a shower
If you generally love a bath but want to save on your bills, you could think about swapping for a shower instead. Having a four-minute shower instead of a bath just one a week can save you £12 a year on your energy bills and an extra £7 on your water bills, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
25. Spend less time in the shower
On the other hand, if you’re already more partial to a shower there are further ways to save. The Energy Saving Trust says that keeping your shower time down to four minutes could help you cut your bills back by £70 a year by using less energy to heat water.
26. Change your shower head
Swapping a shower head out for a more energy-efficient one can help save around £55 on energy bills and £45 on water bills for the average family of four. Head to the Save Water Save Money website to check for free or cheap energy-saving appliances.
27. Turn off taps
It’s one of the most commonly heard pieces of advice when it comes to saving water - and it’s also one of the easiest. Make sure your taps aren’t running when they don’t need to be, particularly while brushing your teeth.
Lighting and appliances
28. Turn the lights off
It sounds simple enough, but it can be easy to forget to turn the lights off when you leave a room. It’s worth making sure you do it though - remembering to switch off can save you around £20 on your annual energy bills, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
29. Switch to LED light bulbs
Although it means forking out cash in the short term, replacing traditional or halogen bulbs with LED versions can pay off in the long run. The Energy Saving trust says that households save between £1 and £4 a year per bulb they switch.
30. Wash your clothes on 30
While cleaning your clothes, save energy by ensuring your washing machine doesn’t have to work as hard to heat the water to a higher temperature. Washing your clothes at 30 degrees uses approximately 40% less energy compared to a higher setting.
31. Use a shorter washing cycle
Turning down the temperature isn’t the only way to save when it comes to your washing machine. You can also try washing your clothes on the shortest cycle setting, which will use less water as well as energy.
32. Fill up your washing machine
Avoid wasting energy running multiple cycles by waiting until you have a full washing machine load’s worth of clothes to clean. However, make sure that you’re not overloading your machine - this could result in your clothes coming out having not been washed properly.
33. Dry your clothes outside
Where you can, avoid using your dryer and instead make the most of the outdoors when the weather is dry by hanging up your clothes outside. If you don’t have access to outside space or it’s pouring down outside, consider using a clothes horse in a well-ventilated area indoors.
34. Switch appliances off standby
Appliances such as your TV still use energy when left on standby even when their power is switched off. Make sure to turn off any electricals off at the wall when you’re not using them to stop these so-called “vampire devices” ramping up your bills.
35. Don’t charge your phone overnight
Similarly to appliances on standby, things left on charge continue to use up energy even when their battery is full. For this reason, it’s best to avoid leaving things plugged in overnight unnecessarily like your mobile or laptop.
36. Look at energy ratings
It’s worth taking a look at the energy ratings of the appliances in your home - each one will have a rating of A to G, with A being the most efficient. If you discover that some things you own are lower down on the scale, you may want to consider replacing them now to save on your energy bills later.
Your boiler
37. Turn down the boiler temperature
Most experts recommend that a natural gas boiler should be at 55 degrees - but boilers are often set to a higher temperature than they need to be. You can save approximately 6-8% on energy for each 10 degrees you lower the temperature by on your boiler.
38. Programme your boiler
Ensure that you are only using your boiler when you actually need it by preventing it from coming on when it doesn’t need to and wasting heat. Take a look at programming your boiler so that it’s timed to stay off when you’re out of the house or asleep.
39. Get a new boiler
It may be a costly option in the short term, but if you find that your boiler is no longer up to scratch when it comes to heating your home then it may be time to spend the money now to save on your bills in the future. Modern boilers can be up to 60% more efficient than older boilers, depending on the make and model.
Paying your bills and getting support
40. Get a smart meter
Although getting a smart meter installed won’t directly cut the amount you’re spending on energy, it may help you to save some pennies as it will make it much easier to see what’s using up the most electricity and gas in your home. Most energy providers offer to install smart meters for free, allowing you to see how much you’re using and where you could be making savings.
41. Submit regular energy readings
Don’t forget to submit regular meter readings to your provider to ensure you’re only being billed for the energy you use. If you don’t, your provider is likely to predict your energy use instead which could see you paying more than you should be.
42. Check your energy bill carefully
You should also read your energy bill carefully to make sure you’re not being overcharged. If there's a sudden increase or decrease but you haven’t changed your usage, get in touch with your supplier.
43. Pay your energy bill by direct debit
Direct debit tends to be the cheapest way to pay your energy bills, and it gives you the benefit of knowing exactly how much will come out of your bank each month. However, be aware that direct debits are based on the amount your energy supplier thinks you’ll use over the course of the year, so you could end up overpaying if your usage comes under their estimations.
44. Talk to your energy provider
If you find yourself in a position where you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, get in touch with your energy provider as soon as possible. They may be able to offer help tailored to you, such as a payment plan.
45. Check for grants
Further support is available from all the big energy firms in the form of charitable hardship funds and grants. You can check whether you meet the eligibility criteria - and you may not even have to be a customer, such as with the British Gas Energy Trust which can be accessed by anyone.
46. Check for customer-only energy deals
It’s also worth getting in touch with your supplier to ask what customer-only deals they have. This can help you make sure that you’re definitely on the cheapest deal available when it comes to your energy bills.
47. See if you can claim benefits
You may be entitled to additional support that can go towards your energy bills, and it only takes ten minutes to check this online. You can head to Turn2us , Policy in Practice and entitledto and use their calculators to see whether you could qualify for a range of benefits.
48. Look out for cost of living payments
There is a £150 payment being made to those who claim certain disability benefits and £300 for pensioners in receipt of Winter Fuel Payments. A one-off payment worth £650 is also being given to those who claim certain means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit and Tax Credits.
49. Don’t forget the £400 energy discount
Remember that every home in England, Scotland and Wales will also receive £400 in total off their energy bills, spread out over six months from October. This money is applied to your energy bills automatically - you don’t need to apply for it.
50. Get energy debt advice
For energy debt help, you can speak to National Energy Action (NEA) for advice. For wider help around debt, you can also contact Citizens Advice , StepChange or the National Debtline .
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