MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares how to keep energy bills low as we move into autumn and chillier days
The days are closing in again and the mornings have a chill in the air. But before we get to snow-deep winter, it can be a frustrating time of year knowing whether to put the heating on.
And, as the energy price cap is due to rise in October, we’re all looking for more ways to save money on our energy bills. Follow these tips to keep warm and cosy as the nights draw in, without putting on the costly central heating.
Install thermal curtains
One of the quickest ways you can help retain heat in your home, and prevent cold draughts getting in, is to install thermal curtains or blinds. You can opt for something like the MaxShade Blackout Blind from Blinds2go if you want additional sunlight blocking, too.
If new curtains are out of your budget, you can buy thermal curtain liners that hang behind your existing ones which do the same job. If you’ve got a really tight budget, grab a shower curtain from the pound shop and pop it on the rail. It won’t look overly stylish (unless you’re handy and sew it into your curtains), but does the job.
Remember, too, to close your curtains once the sun goes down. It will help keep the day’s sunlight-heated air in and prevent the cool night air sapping heat from your windows.
Open the oven
This one works particularly well if you have a shared kitchen-living space. Once you’ve cooked dinner, keep the oven door open. It’ll contribute warm air to the room without costing you anything extra!
To save even more energy, turn the oven off as you near the end of cooking. It will stay very warm for ten minutes at least, and saves you a lot on your energy bills if you make this a habit. If you’re not a big oven user because of the cost of running one, consider an airfryer – more than just a fad, these are now kitchen staples because they are so easy to use and energy-efficient compared to an oven.
Make up a hot water bottle
Old school but cheap and effective, a hot water bottle is a great way to stay warm for hours with very minimal energy use. You can pick up a hot water bottle for around £5 from most chemists and supermarkets.
If you’re feeling particularly frugal, use any clean hot water left over from washing up, or your bath water, to fill your hot water bottle and avoid putting the kettle on to heat the water.
When you’ve finished with your hot water bottle and the water is cooled, remember to use the water for your plants instead of throwing it away!
Exclude draughts
Take an hour to walk around your home and spot draughts. It’s easy to do if you have something light, like a feather or a piece of kitchen towel. Hold it against windows and doors and look for movement – this is a sign you have a draught.
You can buy draught excluder tape for windows and doorframes from about £3 a roll. And it’s really easy to make a DIY door draught excluder to place on the floor in front of a door with a gap underneath. Simply get an old pillowcase and stuff it with newspaper, magazines, or old carrier bags, and sew or tie off the end.
Another easy trick is easy to do with an old towel. Roll it in from both short ends so you have two rolls, and secure the ends with elastic bands. Open the door and slide the towel underneath, so that a roll sits either side of the door. This trick lets the draught excluder move with the door, so you’re not tripping over it or constantly pushing it back into place!
Use a heated airer
Heated airers are very cheap to run in comparison to tumble dryers – about 14p an hour compared to £2.40 an hour – and they also help to take the chill off the room they’re in.
A three-tier airer like the Black and Decker Heated Airer from Robert Dyas is enough for a large load of laundry. Smaller versions are available for flats and small homes without much space, too. Find one with a cover to speed up the drying process, too.
Pop down a rug
If you have solid wood or laminate flooring, it can make a room feel much cooler than with carpet. Putting down a rug adds a cosy feel to any room and also helps it stay warmer as the temperatures cool down. They don’t need to be expensive, either – shops like Primark, B&M, The Range, and Wilco have budget-friendly ranges with small rugs from about £5.
Jump around
A few minutes getting your heart rate up can be all it takes to boost your temperature without putting the heating on. Do a few jumping jacks, run on the spot, or take more time to complete a home workout with a free YouTube video.
You can get outside, too: an outdoor run or a walk with the dog in cooler air will raise your temperature but also make your home feel warmer when you come in from the chill. Not only will you save on your energy bill, but you’ll also feel great from the endorphins released from exercise.
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