How to save money during winter (Cost of Living Crisis)

By improving our budgeting, becoming more savvy shoppers, cutting back on our energy and water use, and looking at alternative ways of getting around, we can stretch our money farther and tackle this cost-of-living crisis together. We may not be able to control energy price caps, but there are some simple things we can do to help lower the cost of our bills. Cheaper energy rates are pretty much impossible to come by these days, so the best tips for saving money are simply about using less power. The best way to lower your energy bills is by trapping as much heat production inside your home as possible, so insulation is a great investment for the long run, provided you can afford the upfront costs.

Around one-quarter (25%) of all heat is lost through your roof, and so adding insulation to the roof is an easy, quick way to save hundreds on heating costs each year. Meanwhile, about one-third of heat is lost through the walls, and while cavity-wall insulation is harder and more expensive to install than roof insulation, it will save you money over the long run too. Draught-proofing windows, doors and joists could be wise investments, and the Energy Saving Trust estimates it could save you about £45 a year on energy bills. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that having a professional carry out a loft insulation installation at a typical detached house will cost about £480 in October 2022, but when done, it will save £355 per annum from your energy bills.

Draught-proofing is another big money-saving tip, and would reduce your energy bills by £30 a year in a typical house. Link opens in a new window. Using a heated blanket on its own rather than turning up a radiator, you should be saving over about £20 in bills during winter.

To avoid having to run your heating, particularly when working from home, just hook up an electric blanket for warmth. A heated blanket can help you save on energy bills, as well as make sure that you are staying warm and comfortable in the colder months. Lowering your heat exchanger temperature means that the boiler uses less gas and operates more efficiently — that means instant savings in energy bills, all while keeping the house warm.

In the era of political instability, rising costs, and working from home days, saving on bills is a problem that all of us are stressed about daily. Some electricity companies may offer subsidised insulation schemes, and so it is always worth checking with them as to whether they will assist in the cost of insulation.