With winter upon us, it’s worthwhile to consider how you might go about decreasing your monthly heating bills through some simple and low-cost approaches. Depending on the size of your budget, just how bad your flat leaks warmth and how you intend on paying for the upgrades, your results will vary. But given how large the savings can be for certain projects, whether you’re using savings, a payday loan or borrowing from friends and family to make changes now, the benefits will be permanent as long as you live in the same place (and there might be some summertime cooling benefits as well as better energy efficiency). Here are a few simple tips to consider right now:
Dress for Winter! This is one of the most basic, yet most abused opportunities to save money (including in our home!). People like to walk around in short-sleeve shirts and summer-type clothing in the middle of winter! By simply lowering the thermostat in your home or flat and dressing warmer in either sweaters or layers, you can save hundreds of pounds each year. Maybe you need to buy an extra sweater and warm slippers; the savings will be well worth it!
Seal Those Gaps! If you have an older home or flat, chances are there will be certain areas where there are gaps for hot air to escape. This might be around electrical receptacles, windows, the fireplace, doors or other places that should be addressed. By using either silicone caulk or plastic sealing kits, you will prevent drafts and heat loss.
Use the Sun to Your Advantage. A cost-free recommendation is to open your curtains on windows facing the south during the day to allow sunlight in to help heat the home and then close the curtains at night to help retain that same heat. It may seem tough to measure or notice, but this is a common piece of advice from home efficiency experts.
Water Heater Help. For one, you can lower the setting on your water heating in the winter. But to take this a bit further, insulate your water heater itself with an insulating jacket you can find at a local store and also insulate the hot water pipe leading from the heater. This can all be done for under £50 and may well save that much over the first couple years. Then from there, it’s all extra savings.
About the Author:
Darwin is an engineer and MBA who takes an "evolutionary" approach to finance, writing about adapting to evolving financial management, tax, investing and savings opportunities. Making more money and saving more money is an adaptive process — join the evolution! He blogs at Darwin's Money www.darwinsmoney.com and ETF Base www.etfbase.com
Darwin's Money Blogger – who has written 56 posts on Quid Corner.
