The storm called St Jude sweeping across the UK was an alarm call that winter is finally on the way. While we have enjoyed high temperatures deep into autumn it can be easy to forget the impending winter where the rise in energy costs becomes inevitable.
Here are some tips to help to lower these costs without investing a fortune.
Switch energy providers
Switching energy providers could be the quickest way of reducing your bills, especially after several of the biggest UK energy companies have raised their prices. It is worth looking into whether you can get a better deal by getting your gas and electric supplied by the same company.
Keep the thermostat low
It is that time of year where we all start to turn on our central heating. It is a good idea to start off by setting the thermostat to just a degree or higher than the temperature in your house when you are feeling cold. Because the weather isn’t overly cold a raise in temperature of just a degree or 2 could be enough to take the chill off the house without spending more money than you need. You may find that you are able to cope with the lower temperature for much longer than you think saving you even more money! It is all too easy to whack the heating up to feel snug, but once you have done this for a few days even a moderately warm house can feel chilly.
Buy fuel early if it is safe to do so
If it is at all possible it can often pay to buy your fuel early. As winter quickly approaches the price of fuel such as logs and coal can climb along with the level of demand. If you have a safe place to store the fuel it can be a good idea to by an extra bag of logs or coal each week so that you can make the most of the pre-winter prices.
Prevent Draughts
It is well worth checking all of your windows and doors to make sure that all of the draught prevention methods are still effective, especially if you live in an older property. If you have a particularly draughty window or door it can pay to invest in a thick pair of curtains, which can keep the chilly air at bay.
It can also help to close the curtains in your home early, as this can help the house to warm up as the evening takes hold.
Check your loft insulation to make sure that is in place and check your roof for loose tiles. There can be nothing more disheartening than trying to warm your home while knowing that good money is just seeping out of your roof.
Did you know that lots of the UK energy companies offer grants to help you cover the costs of cavity wall insulation and loft insulation?
There are lots of things you can do to help save money, especially in the winter. See how many you can think of and remember, lots of small savings equals big savings!
Image credit: Rach