Money-saving tips to keep your household bills low

Posted on Wednesday, October 4th, 2017

Understand your bills

First and foremost, when looking to cut down on your household bills, give your bills a close reading and ensure you understand what you’re paying. Are you making the best use of your free phone calls? Do your energy bills include a cheaper tariff off-peak or at night time – as some do. By simply using your utilities at a different time of day it’s possible you could save money. Moreover, smart meters are now being made available to customers that offer different rates at different times of day, so look into having one installed.  

Switch off

You’ve probably heard this before, but leaving your appliances on standby costs you money, so switch them off, don’t leave things ‘idling’. Also, don’t leave lights on in rooms you’re not using – switch them off; and when you come to replace your bulbs, fit LED ones – they’ll last longer and save you energy.

Insulate, insulate, insulate

When it comes to your home, ensure you have adequate insulation. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that a quarter of the heat from your home is lost through the roof if it’s uninsulated. So insulating your loft, attic or roof is an effective way to cut your heating bills. For help installing insulation, look out for businesses belonging to the National Insulation Association, and you’ll make an investment that will last for many years to come.

Insulate your home adequately, and you’ll use less energy, and make more efficient use of the energy you do use. In fact, insulating your home will also keep your home more cool and comfortable in the summer too.

Draft-proof your home

Look to draft-proof your home with either DIY or professional solutions, so you don’t let heat escape through open chimneys or the gaps around the doors, windows or floors of your home.     

Keep a watch on windows

Double or triple glaze your windows and it will help to keep your home warm, and reduce your energy consumption. Moreover, you’ll also benefit from a quieter home. If you can’t run to double glazing consider fitting secondary glazing, thicker curtains or shutters to provide greater protection. Remember, if you live in a conservation area or a listed building; and in some other circumstances too, you may be prohibited from fitting certain types of windows and may require consent from your landlord, so check before you proceed.  

A word on water consumption

When it comes to saving on water consumption you probably already know the drill, don’t leave taps running unnecessarily, so wash up in a bowl not under a running tap for example. Don’t brush your teeth while the tap is running and when it comes to showers, make them short. Making a cup of tea? Then just fill the kettle with the water you need, don’t fill it up completely.

Adopt the spirit of hygge

We’ve heard a lot about it recently the spirit or art of hygge and you could adopt it too and make your home cosier. Yes, hygge as a lifestyle goes beyond mere home comforts, but installing a few cosy elements into your home is a start. So look for throws, cushions and thick rugs as a start; and make your home warmer too.

So as you can see, there are a number of ways in which you can save money on your household bills, some of which don’t require any investment at all. Use energy at a different time of day and switch off appliances that you’re not using as a start. Also, if possible, draft proof and insulate your home; and you’ll be well on your way to saving on your household bills.