Money experts have explained how to use a cheap £3 hack to cut the cost of your energy bills by more than £200.
The UK is in the middle of an energy crisis with gas and electricity bills rising - and warnings they will increase even further next April.
The energy price cap - which sets a limit on the rates you pay for gas and electricity - has just shot up, meaning a rise in energy bills for 15million households.
Ofgem has raised the price cap for standard and default tariffs from £1,138 for a typical user to £1,277 - an increase of £139.
Meanwhile, the price cap for prepayment customers rose by £153 from £1,156 to £1309.
The price of gas, which is at record highs, is being blamed as nine energy firms went bust last month, affecting around 1.7million customers.
If you're worried about rising energy costs, Norton Finance has shared a tip to cut your bills by draught-proofing your home.
It involves using specialist excluders - which effectively act as a seal - to stop cold air coming in through gaps around windows, doors and chimneys.
By keeping cold air out, you'll need to switch your heating on less - this means you'll use less energy.
It is also super cheap to purchase excluders and they can be easily assembled just by sticking to areas where you feel cold air.
For example, on Amazon you can buy 10 metres of the self-adhesive seal for only £2.89.
Or if you're looking for a draught excluder just for your door, you can buy a one metre brushed strip for £1.79 from Screwfix.
Norton Finance estimates that draught-proofing your home could save you around £215 on over five years.
Other DIY energy-saving hacks
There are plenty of other cheap things you can do to help keep your home warm this winter - and they don't involve spending money on a handyman.
We've previously written about specialist radiator foil that reflects heat around your home.
It is simple to install as you just cut it into place and stick it behind an external wall radiator.
We found a roll that measures 500mm by 1.2 metres on sale being sold online at Toolstation.
Some people say you can also use regular tin foil behind your radiator but energy experts say there isn't enough evidence out there to say how effective this is.
Are you worried about rising energy bills? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
You can also ensure you're getting the most from your central heating by bleeding your radiators.
Bleeding your radiator essentially involves getting rid of trapped air inside that causes warm water to stop circulating around your radiator.
To do this, you need a radiator key - which can be found at your nearest DIY store - and a cloth or rag.
Other simple changes you can do include turning your thermostat down by just one degree - doing this could save you around 10% on your bill, depending on how much energy use.
You should also turn appliances off - not just leave them on standby - when you're not using them.
We've got twelve tips to lower your energy bill here.
Energy bill help explained
If you're really struggling to pay your energy bills, you should talk to your supplier straight away to see what help they can offer.
For example, they may be able to put you on a payment plan or offer you some sort of other tailored support.
You should also check if you're eligible for £140 off your energy bills through the Warm Home Discount scheme.
The discount is normally paid directly to your energy supplier, who will then apply the discount to your energy bills between October and March.
Or if you have a pre-payment meter, you'll be sent a £140 voucher that can be used to top up your meter.
To qualify for the Warm Home Discount scheme, you must fall into one of the two categories:
- You get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as the "core group"
- You’re on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme - known as the "broader group"
