Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Category:
Personal Finance Tips
Recent news from Moneysupermarket.com has revealed that over 750,000 households will don extra clothes rather than put the heating on this winter. This is in an attempt to lower the cost of bills as the winter sets in.
Switching the heating on is reported to be a delicate subject for British bill players as almost a quarter quarrel with their families about when the heating should be switched on. 16 percent are reported as being cross due to the fact that someone else has put the heating on before they wish to whilst eight percent say they have bickered with their fellow housemates or families because they want the heating on before everyone else.
Five million householders are reported as postponing switching on the heating for as long as they can, and 62 percent of these individuals say they are doing this in a bid to save money. One in five are doing so as they simply cannot afford the cost of their fuel bills.
Moneysupermarket.com have offered some top tips to keep gas and electricity bills to a minimum. Firstly, turning the thermostat down now by 1 degree celsius could potentially cut bills by ten percent. Secondly, switching appliances off rather than leaving them on standby could mean more savings as being on standby still uses power. Thirdly, investing in insulation could help maintain heat – up to 25% which can be lost via poorly insulated roofs. For smaller families, it could be more cost effective to heat only those rooms which are used the most. During the winter, closing curtains as soon as it gets dusky will also help keep the heat in and lower bills. Switching from normal to energy saving bulbs will also help lower the bills. Sealing draughts around doors and any space which lets the cold in can help prevent heat escaping the home. Double glazing is said to help make a difference to bills over time, cutting heat loss by as much as 50%. Using only the amount of water needed to make a cup of tea when putting the kettle on will also use less energy. Taking showers not baths means less water to heat and lastly, switching the heat in the washing machine down to 30°C will also help save money.
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Homeowners who would like to make some energy saving home improvements and who are looking for the finances to do so, could consider a secured loan for
home improvements. Secured loans for home improvements could be used to replace old windows and doors with new UPVC versions which will help maintain heat. Other energy saving home improvements which could be funded with a secured loan for home improvements include adding insulation to loft spaces, helping to prevent heat from escaping.
