IT’S that time of year again when many of us are counting the pennies and doing our best to save wherever we can.
With Christmas being a pricey season and the January paycheck feeling like it’s miles away, it’s no surprise that people are looking for ways to cut back on their expenses.
One area where many are trying to save, especially as they are set to rise in January, is their energy bills.
But this can feel tricky, especially for those who work from home.
However, one money saver has managed to find just the trick to keep her energy bills low.
The woman, who is known as ‘fixingmyfinances’ on TikTok, has revealed that she is in £12,000 worth of credit card debt and she is trying to pay it off by the time she is 30.
This means she needs to scrimp and save in any way possible and her energy bills being one of them.
Sharing a video on TikTok, she said: “I’m in £12k worth of credit card debt and one of my favourite money saving hacks as a working from home girlie is using my heated blanket instead of turning the heating on.
“The heating costs £1.65 per hour vs my heated blanket which costs 2.7p per hour.”
In the caption of the video, she goes on to explain: “So far we’ve had the heating on three times this side of the summer so this hack works.
“Just a side note that I’m not glamourising keeping the heating off and I know that some people will struggle to afford to put the heating on to keep their families warm.
“I’m aware of my privilege to have the choice to turn the heating on if I need it and this is just something I’ve found to help save some money on my debt free journey.”
Her video gained lots of attention with many people rushing to the comments section to share their thoughts.
“A heated blanket is one of the best things I’ve ever bought,” praised one TikTok user.
A second added: “The rest of the house can stay cold, I’m a cosy queen wrapped in my 3p an hour bargain!”
A third said: “100%, until your fingers start freezing.
1. Draught-proof your home
It takes time and money to heat up your home, so it’s important that you do as much as you can to keep in the warmth. Close your doors and windows, and fill any gaps with a draught excluder.
2. Dial down your thermostat
According to Energy UK, turning down your thermostat by just one degree Celsius could cut your heating bill by up to 10%, and save you around £85 per year. Plus, if you don’t have a thermostat, installing one could save up to £70 per year!
3. Move furniture around
Make sure not big, bulky furniture like sofas are blocking radiators.
4. Wash clothes on a lower temp and add an extra spin
Unless it’s bedding, towels or really dirty items, dial down the temperature to 20 or 30 degrees, and do a double spin to remove excess water.
5. Heat the person not the home
There’s not point heating up a room that no one is sitting in, so be mindful about which radiators are on.
“I got some hand warmers as well to combat it.
“Heating is so expensive, are you an all electric household?”
To which the creator of the video replied: “Yeah I do get cold hands. No, we’re gas and electric.”
Others added some more tips in the comment section as well, with one writing: “Just a tip from someone who didn’t turn the heating on for a whole winter after getting a heated blanket: make sure you still have the heating on some of the time or you will get mould.”
Another added: “I know they’re not exactly cheap to buy but my Dyson fan/heater is amazing.
“It costs so little to run and heats up a room in 30 mins. I put it in my hallway and it heats up the whole flat eventually.”
The woman bought her electric blanket from Amazon, with prices starting from £4.39.
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.
