How To Lower Your Energy Bills Through The Cost Of Living Crisis

We have had without doubt the strangest three years most of us have had to live through. The Covid pandemic was undoubtedly difficult to live with, with all of its restrictions, but we managed to get through it. We’re maybe a little bit battered and bruised but we made it. Unfortunately we then headed into other problems, some have been global such as the war in Ukraine, and the incredible rise in energy costs and interest rates and inflation rising to record levels.

The biggest cost to normal family homes in the last six months has been without question the massive increase in our energy prices. Our household energy has reached record costs. Whether that be gas, electric or fuel for our cars, they have all risen to unaffordable levels.

So what can we do to lower our energy costs? I have some suggestions that we could all do so our energy consumption is lower and will consequently reduce our bills. This article: The Ultimate Guide To Energy Bills, is also very useful and has loads of information to help with energy costs. Now onto my suggestions to help you reduce your energy bills to get through this cost of living crisis.

1. Cooking

The average electric oven costs around 52p per house to use. Using an air fryer will only cost you around 30p per hour. An air fryer cooks quicker so may only use a fraction of that 30p as many foods cook very quickly in an air fryer.

If you make a cup of tea, only put enough water in to make one cup of tea. Don’t overfill the kettle. This will use less energy.

Plan and prepare your meals for the week and eat as a family so you are only cooking once and not making multiple meals at different times. This will use less energy and cost you less.

2. Central Heating

As winter is now upon us this is when our central heating will be used more and more. In previous years we have not worried what setting the heating is on, but it is a good idea to turn down the thermostat a couple of degrees and you are very unlikely to notice the difference but it will save you money.

It’s also important to make sure your boiler is working properly so for a small cost it is a very good idea to have a yearly service on your boiler to make sure it is working efficiently and of course it’s safe.

3. Leaving household appliances on stand-by

This is another way that you can save money on your energy bills. We are all guilty of leaving many household appliances on stand such as televisions, microwaves and washing machines. There is no doubt that leaving them on stand-by 24 hours a day will use electricity and the cost of this will add up over a year. So when it’s not in use, turn it off at the mains to save money on your energy bills.

4. Thermostats on radiators

Many radiators nowadays have thermostats fitted as standard so if your radiators have thermostats, it’s time to go around and turn them onto a lower setting. This will use less energy and it would also be a good time to bleed the radiators so that all of the radiator is heating and working efficiently.

5. Washing clothes

The washing machine is easily one of the most used appliances in the home especially if you are a family and have children and every time it’s turned on it. It roughly costs around £89 per year to run. To save money on this appliance make sure you have full loads of clothes to be washed this will save money on your energy bills, also if it is a tumble dryer which are expensive to run try to find other ways of drying your clothes such as picking a sunny day to wash your clothes.

6. Washing dishes in the sink and not using dishwashers

Dishwashers cost approximately £75 per year to run. A great way to save money is to ditch the dishwasher and wash all dishes in the sink. Yes it might be a pain but it will save you a great of percentage of £75 you spend in energy by using the old fashioned way of washing dishes.

7. Shower not bath

Finally my last suggestion is the heating of water. It is proven that filling a bath full of hot water is expensive. The cheapest way to heat water for washing is by using a shower. This also uses less water so you will be saving money in two ways.

So there are my suggestions of how you can lower your energy bills during this cost of living crisis.

If you have any ideas on how to save money on your energy bills I would love love hear in the comments below.