Top Ways to Save on Your Household Bills This Year
When it comes to household bills, fuel bills can account for a large chunk of your expenditure. Not only that, but there’s internet, phone, and streaming services to pay for too – with the latter holding greater importance during lockdown restrictions.
But although the bills can stack up, you can make some simple changes to help keep your wallet a bit heavier after payday. Today we look at the top ways to save on your household bills this year.
Energy bill savings
There’s no better place to start saving than your heating bills. Keeping your home nice and warm accounts for approximately 60% of your total energy bill – so it’s important that you get the most out of your heating supply.
Here are some quick tips on how you can lower your heating costs:
- Heating controls – installing a room thermostat, programmer, and thermostatic radiator valves could save you up to £75 a year according to the Energy Saving Trust. This will allow you to control which rooms you heat and at a comfortable temperature.
- Switch fuel supply – if you’re still relying on oil to heat your home, you could lower your carbon footprint and energy bill by completing an oil to gas conversion.
- Cut draughts –Stopping heat from escaping from your home could save you £20 a year or more with professional draught-proofing.Use draft-proofing strips for gaps around doors and windows to trap heat in.
Other energy-saving measures include using LED lightbulbs, which use almost 90% less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb.
You can also reduce your consumption by opting for energy-efficient appliances, such as your washing machine, tumble dryer, and fridge freezer. Look for products with an energy rating of A+++ to A the next time you’re in the market for a new appliance.
Quick wins
Aside from reducing your energy bills, there are hundreds of ways to save the pennies when it comes to spending more time indoors. Here’s just a few ways you can reduce your spending:
- Drink water – the cost of soft drinks can soon add up. Bottled water is cheaper and tap water is free. It can also be a great way to live a healthier lifestyle.
- Bulk batch cooking – Continue to support your local takeaway but for a night off from spending dough on, well, dough, try making meals that use store cupboard classics and freeze the leftovers. That way, when you do want a treat, you’ll have spent less to earn the reward.
- Keep the change – If you’ve got spare cash lying around the house, whether that be pennies, pounds, or banknotes, now could be the perfect time to start saving what you may have previously used on everyday spending.
Lower your entertainment costs
The need to stay connected and entertained in the house has been magnified over the course of the last year. Millions of people have been working from home, relying on their internet connection to stay in touch with colleagues and clients.
Not only that, but a solid connection has also been vital for speaking to family and friends at a time where you can’t interact face-to-face.
You may well be paying for internet, a phone contract, and entertainment services all at once. The costs can soon add up, so here are a few simple ways to lower your expenditure:
- Stream for free – The streaming giant Netflix no longer offers a free trial, but if you’re looking for ways to watch without signing up, you can watch a selection of shows via their ‘watch free’ page. You may also be able to pick up a free trial of Amazon Prime Video if you’ve not been a Prime member before.
- Music trials – Most major music streaming services offer new customers free trials, some as long as three months. Check online for the latest offers.
- Compare broadband deals – If you’re looking to lower your internet costs, then using a comparison site can help you find the best deal. You may well find exclusive offers that can’t be redeemed elsewhere too.
- Tax rebate – You may not know this, but you can claim tax relief on the costs associated with working from home. It’s worth £6 a week, so over the course of a year it can add up to a nice little tax saving.
That’s our list of ways you can save on your household bills this year. If you’d like more information on how we could help you a cost-effective energy supply for off-grid living, then contact us today.