The costs associated with living are rising. Everything from the food on supermarket shelves to the charges of home energy is increasing, placing a greater strain on household income while simultaneously prompting residents to seek out ways in which costs can be saved. Now, as we approach the winter period, there is an even greater urgency to reduce costs associated with living as the need to heat homes increases.
For those looking for inspiring methods of money-saving at home, we’re sharing five creative ways residents are reducing their energy bills and saving themselves money throughout the winter period.
Cooking For Warmth
Switching on the oven and heating up the hobs is often a necessity for cooking a meal. The heat from these meals, however, can also be used to help warm a home. Slow-cooked meals and hearty soups will keep a kitchen warm as they sit bubbling away, while ovens can be left open once they have been used, expelling their heat into the kitchen and warming living spaces.
Keep this in mind when cooking dinner because the type of food you make and the methods you use to cook can help to make your home cosier without the need for extra heating.
Seal Your Spaces
Windows and doors are often the culprits of draughts. General wear and tear lead to these portals letting in cold air during winter and increasing the need for heating indoors. It is worthwhile identifying if your windows and doors are letting in any air, which can be done by covering them with plastic wrap and tape. When it comes to sealing the final corner, it will become clear how much cold air is being let in!
Focus On Rooms
If you don’t intend to spend much time in a room during the winter period, consider sealing it up and keeping doors closed. By eliminating areas in which heat can escape to, the most occupied rooms will stay warm. This is also why residents will generally favour choosing a more focused living space during winter periods, such as in attics or log cabins, since these contained areas can be easier to keep warm, reducing the need to heat an entire home.
Choose Your Gadgets
If your washing machine can be used through the night, then be sure to change your washing schedule. The same goes for other high-consumption gadgets since energy costs tend to be reduced during certain hours, meaning that it can be a money-saving decision to rethink your routine. Some residents will even take to only charging their devices during off-peak energy hours.
Move Your Furniture
Changing the layout and dynamic of your living spaces can influence the way heat is transported. One of the best examples of this is with radiators, from which their heat potential can be improved if certain room layouts are considered.
Move furniture and fabrics away from the radiator itself and be sure to close any nearby windows. This way, the heat they produce will be best directed through the home.