Households could save up to £369 on their energy bills by making some changes in their home.
Britons with average energy usage are already preparing for their energy bills to rise following Ofgem’s hike to price cap.
However, Liz Hunter, the director at Money Expert, has shared how people can slash their gas and electricity costs by making small changes to beat the cold weather price rises.
The money saving expert recommends making changes to laundry by using washing machines earlier in the morning or later at night to avoid a surge in price.
Energy bills are on the rise but people
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Making sure the appliance is full before use to avoid doing multiple washing cycles on a 30-degree eco-wash could lead to an annual saving of £27.
Draught-proofing and insulating homes could also prevent the cold weather from seeping through and reduce energy usage, she suggested.
Using DIY fitting foam insulation around exposed hot water pipes could cut costs long-term, with households able to save up to £50 a year.
The expert is also telling households to turn the thermostat down by just one degree as this could save households around £145 a year on their heating bills.
Households can try to set the timer to come on when they are only at home to avoid energy being wasted, according to Ms Hunter.
Finally, the energy saving expert suggested that households turn off “vampire” devices which push up electricity costs.
This is term used to describe electric devices which are left on standby, including microwaves, coffee machines and chargers. Turning these appliances off could save families £147 a year.
Ms Hunter also reminded households struggling to manage their energy bills to reach out to their supplier as soon possible.
She explained: “For some, simply cutting down on usage or making small changes won’t save enough in order to make their energy bills more affordable.
“Some households may need extra help or support to pay their energy bills. If this is the case, contact your energy supplier as soon as possible.
“Talking about it with your provider may feel like the last thing you want to do, but it’s the best way to get help.
“Your options could include agreeing a payment plan to pay each month by direct debit, signing up for a different tariff, more time to pay, payment breaks or they may have grants and schemes or hardship funds you could access.”
