There are a few changes that you can make around the house that could save you hundreds of pounds a month! Some of them are as simple as clicking a button or turning a dial.
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• Over half of households are expecting to make improvements involving double glazing, a third set to add or improve insulation, 13% planning solar panels and 7% introducing measures to be carbon neutral.
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Switch your utility supplier
Your first port of call should be your utility bills. A recent study by Energyhelpline found that the average household can save over £600 a year by switching suppliers. You should consider changing the supplier of your television package, broadband and energy to a competitor who might offer you a better deal.
Consider your energy set-up and habits
Switching supplier is a good start, but your next job is to take a closer look at your energy habits. This can be as basic as turning your thermostat down by a few degrees or making use of the timer control on your boiler. Clothes horses can be utilised to dry your laundry, meaning you don’t need to have the heating on for longer than required.
If you want to make more of an impact on your energy bill, you could also consider your property’s energy efficiency. Just one in every thirteen properties sold across England and Wales over the last year achieved an energy rating of A or B, London the greenest region with one in eight. However, over 40% of the properties sold could reach an A or B with energy improvements.
To combat wasting energy, you could deploy draught excluders around the house to trap heat or hire a professional to examine the insulation in your walls and roof. 2.2 million households are anticipated to spend just over £16 billion on ‘green’ improvements to their homes this Spring according to new research by AA Financial Services.
Turn electrical appliances off when not in use
The Energy Saving Trust recently revealed that across the UK, households were spending between £50-86 a year on gadgets in a ‘non-active’ or standby state, equivalent to 9-16% of the average electricity bill.
Set your washing machine to a lower temperature
Washing at 15 or 30 degrees rather than 40 degrees can save you a third of the cost to run the cycle. Think about how much that could be saving you on the day you decide to tackle the overflowing laundry basket!
Switch to a cheaper mortgage deal
Mortgage repayments are often the biggest monthly expense a household will have, so it could be worth checking if switching to a new deal can help you save.
For example, if you have a £180,000 20-year mortgage, a deal that charges 4% would cost your household £1,091 a month. Remortgaging to a 2% rate could save you £180 a month (£2,160 a year).