TEMPERATURES have well and truly dropped in the UK and many of us will be considering putting the heating on already.
But with energy bills expected to hit harder this year without last year’s government support, we’re all trying to find cheaper alternatives to central heating.
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Currently the average household is paying around £1,923 a year thanks to the energy price cap, but that’s just the unit charge.
How much you pay can be higher depending on usage, so it does pay to keep it as low as possible.
Households will be aiming to cut back as much as possible during the colder months when bills are typically higher.
And putting the heating on is one of the biggest drains on your energy bill.
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The latest figures from CheckaTrade show that the average cost of running your heating per hour is 7p per kilowatt-hour.
It means that if you have a 24 kW boiler, it could cost you £1.68 an hour.
So if you have your heating on for eight hours a day, it could cost you £13.44, over a month that’s £403.20.
Luckily, there are several other ways to keep yourself and your warm without bursting the bank, and you don’t need the central heating on.
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Electric under blanket
Electric blankets are a great way to keep you warm during the colder months.
You just have to fit them on top of your mattress, plug in and wait for the heat to start emanating out.
You can get them on the cheap and they don’t cost much to run either.
There’s one currently on sale on Dunelm‘s website for £22, and the retailer says it only costs 1p to run.
That works out as just 8p for eight hours, enough for a normal night’s sleep.
Lidl has also brought back its bargain heated blanket, and it also costs just 1p to run.
Close curtains and blinds
Another handy tip uses a home furnishing most of us already have in our homes.
Keeping all your curtains and blinds closed throughout the evening and the day if you can can keep the heat inside your home.
That’s because they act as a barrier between your windows and the inside of your home.
The thicker our curtains are the more they’ll stop heat from escaping, especially if you have drafty windows.
That means you’re making the most of the warmth inside the house.
Insulate walls, pipes and loft
Insulating walls, pipes and your loft can be very cost effective.
Installing installation in these parts of your home can prevent draughts from flowing through the gaps and keep your house warm.
Most DIY stores sell foam lagging, which can be cut to fit the pipes and fixed in place with insulation tape.
Previous estimates suggest that loft insulation can save you up to £315 per year on your energy bills, so it pays for itself fast.
According to experts, it’s not too difficult to insulate it yourself – however, those who need their walls insulated are better off calling experts.
Draught-proof windows and doors
One of the most effective and easiest ways to spend less energy and save money is draught-proofing – and there are plenty of ways homeowners can do this.
In the past engineers have suggested opting for self-adhesive foam strips, which are perfect if there’s a gap between your door and the floor.
Even small areas, such as keyholes and letterboxes, can allow cold air into homes, so it’s important to get these covered too.
You can pick up two rolls on Amazon or just £1 for a metre, all you have to do is cut off the amount you need and peel off the film and stick it on where you need it.
The slightest change could make a big difference.
Plug-in mini heater
Another alternative to central heating is plugging in an electric heater.
You don’t have to fork out buying a full-sized gadget, you can opt for a mini one instead.
They obviously won’t give off as much heat, but they can be useful for keeping you warm if you’re sitting in front of the TV or working from home.
They won’t cost as much to run as a larger heater either, and they have a lower upfront cost too.
Currys is currently selling a Russell Hobbs model for £24 and it comes with plenty of five-star reviews.
It uses just 700W so costs 19p to run for an hour.
Rugs aren’t just for show
Another handy and stylish option for your home is to lie a rug down.
It’s pretty simple, as with insulating your walls and loft, rugs will help insulate from the ground up.
A rug also helps keep your feet warm if you’ve got tiles or wood flooring.
They help to keep heat in and also add sound insulation too.
You can buy area rugs from most homeware retailers.
We found one on Dunelm’s website for just £30, and you can find lots of different sizes to fit the size of your room too.
Give your oven some overtime
This one may sound a bit odd but it can help give the warmth in your home a little boost.
By simply keeping your oven door open after you’ve cooked you could warm your house.
This is something that has been recommended before by savvy savers.
It essentially means that rather than heating the inside of your oven when you’re done cooking, you can at least make the most out of the heat which has built up inside.
Heated mattress toppers
Self-heating mattress toppers have a unique heat-reflecting layer that combines with a deep-filled quilted top layer.
The mattress topper reflects all the body heat you produce back into itself to retain heat and keep you snug at night.
It uses no electricity so you won’t have to worry about it affecting your energy bill.
Asda is selling their Lux Self-Heating Mattress Topper for just £25 online and it’s sure to keep you toasty a night.
You can get a double size for £30 and a King size for £35 also online.
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Meanwhile, here are six cheap gadgets to avoid putting the heating on this winter.
Plus, millions of households will get paid to reduce their energy this year, with several big-name suppliers taking part.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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