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Introduction

Running a household is hugely expensive these days, and although you can’t do much about

some costs – like the mortgage or the rent – you can significantly cut other household

expenses.

This eBook gives you practical tips on how to reduce your household bills. You’ll find simple

steps that explain where you can make savings on your utility bills and other household

expenses, as well as tips and tricks to help you save money on your electricity, gas and water

bills.

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Contents

Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 2

Chapter 1: How you can cut your household costs .................................................................. 5

Watch where the money goes ................................................................................................ 5

Read your meter .................................................................................................................. 5

Go for a bundle .................................................................................................................... 5

Claim cash incentives ........................................................................................................... 5

Generate your own energy .................................................................................................... 6

Change how you pay ............................................................................................................ 6

Waste less ........................................................................................................................... 6

Choose the right tariff ........................................................................................................... 6

Look into meters .................................................................................................................. 6

Switch supplier .................................................................................................................... 6

Chapter 2: How to switch providers – and avoid the hidden costs ........................................... 8

1. Your needs ...................................................................................................................... 8

2. What’s included? .............................................................................................................. 8

3. Use comparison sites… ..................................................................................................... 8

4. …Then call the provider .................................................................................................... 8

5. Invite competition ............................................................................................................ 9

6. Opt short-term.................................................................................................................. 9

7. Avoid fixed tariffs ............................................................................................................ 9

8. Use the cooling-off period ................................................................................................. 9

9. Pay by direct debit ............................................................................................................ 9

10. Track your spend ............................................................................................................ 9

Chapter 3: How to save on your electricity bill ..................................................................... 10

Upgrade your storage heaters .............................................................................................. 10

Wash wisely ...................................................................................................................... 10

Cooking ............................................................................................................................ 10

Switch to a cheaper fuel ...................................................................................................... 10

Energy efficient white goods ............................................................................................... 11

Fridge and freezer costs ...................................................................................................... 11

Switch off ......................................................................................................................... 11

Don’t fill the kettle ............................................................................................................. 11

Replace light bulbs ............................................................................................................. 11

Get an immersion timer ...................................................................................................... 12

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Chapter 4: How to save on your gas bill ............................................................................... 13

The right boiler .................................................................................................................. 13

Heating controls................................................................................................................. 13

Radiators .......................................................................................................................... 13

Toughen up ....................................................................................................................... 13

Cooking ............................................................................................................................ 13

Insulate your loft and cavity walls ........................................................................................ 14

Draught-proofing ............................................................................................................... 14

Chapter 5: How to save on your water bill ........................................................................... 15

Switch to a water meter ...................................................................................................... 15

Check your water usage ...................................................................................................... 15

Read the meter ................................................................................................................... 15

Water saving freebies ......................................................................................................... 15

Flush less often .................................................................................................................. 16

Turn the taps off ................................................................................................................ 16

Take a shower… ................................................................................................................ 16

… Or a reduced capacity bath .............................................................................................. 16

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Chapter 1:

How you can cut your household costs

Energy bills can take a huge chunk out of the budget, but here are a few tips to help

bring them down.

Watch where the money goes

If you want to see just where your money goes,

invest in an energy monitor – a nifty handheld

gadget which will show you at a glance where

savings can be made. Turn off all your

appliances, then switch them back on one by one –

you’ll soon see where you can cut down. Or try

the free home energy check at

EnergySavingTrust.co.uk, which it claims could

save you £250 per year.

Read your meter

Don’t ignore those emails that tell you it’s time to read the meter. If you don’t supply regular

readings your bills will be based on estimates, and you could end up shelling out for more gas

or electricity than you use.

Go for a bundle

It’s not quite two for the price of one, but many providers now offer internet, phone and TV

packages at a discount. Buying your gas and electricity from the same firm is also often

cheaper – but not always, so look around before you tie yourself in.

Claim cash incentives

Believe it or not there are people out there who want to give you money to make your home

more energy-efficient. Depending on your circumstances you could be eligible for grants or

discounts to lessen the cost of loft and cavity wall insulation, draught proofing and central

heating – while the Renewable Heat Incentive offers cash to help with the cost of renewable

technologies like heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar water heating.

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Generate your own energy

Fed up with price hikes from the ‘Big Six’ energy firms? Produce your own with renewable

technologies and you’ll not only save on bills but could earn hard cash for selling any extra

back to the national grid.

Change how you pay

Quarterly bills can be a shock to the system, but change to direct debit and you’ll know

exactly what to pay when. Plus, lower admin costs make it cheaper to go paperless, so switch

to an online plan and pocket the difference.

Waste less

Day to day the best way to take the edge off

household bills is simply to waste less

energy. There are plenty of ways to save,

from using energy-efficient products to

changing your habits so you only use what

you need. Below are a few more tips and

tricks to help you save on your electricity,

water and gas bills.

Choose the right tariff

Dual fuel, prepay, fixed or green? There’s a ridiculous array of tariffs out there making it

hard to compare like for like, but as a rule the cheapest tend to be dual fuel online deals.

Don’t be fooled by advertising – think carefully about your needs and always read the small

print before you sign on the dotted line.

Look into meters

Having a meter can sometimes help us budget and cut costs on our utilities, particularly water

meters. As a rule of thumb, a house that has fewer occupants than bedrooms will save money

with a meter.

Switch supplier

Six out of ten consumers have never changed supplier, but make the switch and you could

save hundreds on your gas and electricity bills each year. Check out a comparison site, then

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call your current provider to see if they can match the best deals – but be wary of long-term

contracts which come with strict financial penalties if you want out later. Also, read on to

find out how to avoid the hidden costs of switching providers.

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Chapter 2:

How to switch providers – and avoid the hidden costs

Switching your phone, broadband, TV or gas and electricity provider is supposed to

save money but all too often there are hidden costs. Follow these top ten tips to getting

the most out of your switch…

1. Your needs

Think carefully about what you want from

your new provider. For instance, do you

usually use the phone at the weekends or do

you often call abroad? Is most of the energy

used in the evening? By focusing on the

needs of your family, you can pinpoint what

you’re looking for in your provider and not

be bamboozled by smooth marketing tactics.

2. What’s included?

Find out exactly what’s included – will you still retain your voicemail services? Is there a

UK-based call centre if you need any help? Good customer service is sometimes worth

paying a bit extra for, so work out the best deal for you.

3. Use comparison sites…

Look on comparison websites for the best deal. It will save you a lot more time than going

through each provider separately. And consider a bundle package that incorporates broadband

and phone, and even TV, as this can work out cheaper.

4. …Then call the provider

Once you’ve seen a deal that looks appealing, ring

the provider direct as comparison websites can add

on their own commission. See if they have an even

better offer for you.

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5. Invite competition

Before you change providers, speak to someone on the customer service team at your current

company. It’s surprising what kind of offer can suddenly be arranged when they think one of

their customers is about to defect to a competitor.

6. Opt short-term

Be wary of very large discounts. Usually big savings are offered in conjunction with a long-

term contract. These can last up to two years. If you later decide you’ve chosen the wrong

provider and want to leave the contract early, then you could be subject to a substantial

penalty.

7. Avoid fixed tariffs

Avoid fixed energy tariffs. They guarantee the price you pay will stay the same for a set

amount of time and help you budget, but if prices fall you could end up paying more for your

energy. You’ll probably have to pay a premium for the privilege too. Instead, consider

standard or capped tariffs. Some companies still reserve the right to increase fixed energy

tariffs anyway, if the costs of raw commodities – such as oil and gas – rises.

8. Use the cooling-off period

Make use of the cooling-off period provided by your new utility provider, when you have the

right to change your mind about the transfer without being fined. Make time to look through

the deal again before this window closes.

9. Pay by direct debit

If you’ve always paid by cash or cheque, then consider setting up a direct debit. There are

often savings to be made, plus you don’t have to worry about incurring a fine for late

payment because it’s done for you.

10. Track your spend

With regards to gas and electricity, look into energy-efficient grants for insulation and ensure

you read the meter on a regular basis. Double-check that your payments match the energy

you’ve been using.

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Chapter 3:

How to save on your electricity bill

Need an extra mortgage to pay your electricity bill? Try these tips to help save energy

and cash.

Upgrade your storage heaters

Storage heaters can eat electricity, but if a new central heating system is out of the question

think about upgrading your existing set-up. According to the Energy Saving Trust, new fan-

assisted models with better controls could save you up to £150 per year.

Wash wisely

Up to your neck in laundry? The average washing machine handles 274 loads each year, but

stick to 30 degrees and you’ll use up to 40% less electricity than washing at higher

temperatures. Gas tumble dryers use just 10% of the energy an electric model consumes, or

better still hang your clothes out in warm weather and save £15 on your annual bill.

Cooking

Cooking accounts for about 4% of your electricity bill but you can still save money by being

more energy-efficient in the kitchen. Don’t preheat the oven unless absolutely necessary,

cook more than one dish at a time, and keep the door closed to prevent precious energy

escaping. And if you’re just reheating – use a microwave.

Switch to a cheaper fuel

Electricity is by far the most expensive way to heat

your home so switch to gas or oil wherever possible.

Check out what financial assistance is available as you

could be eligible for a grant to help with installation

costs.

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Energy efficient white goods

Domestic appliances account for almost half of our

electricity consumption, so if you’re replacing white

goods like cookers, fridges and washing machines look

for the EU energy label which tells you their energy

efficient rating from A to G. Labels are required by law

and also include useful information on capacity, noise

and water consumption.

Fridge and freezer costs

Is your fridge working harder than it needs to? Give it a helping hand by letting food cool

first, making sure seals are intact and not leaving the door open. Keep your freezer full,

defrost regularly and try cleaning the condenser coils at the back as dust can stop it from

working efficiently.

Switch off

It’s a myth that gadgets don’t use power when they’re ‘sleeping.’ Leaving your TV in

standby mode will just waste energy so either switch off, or get a standby saver which

automatically cuts power after a set time. Additionally, switch off printers, speakers and

monitors and unplug chargers as soon as they’ve done their job.

Don’t fill the kettle

Heat your water more efficiently and even a simple cuppa could cost less. Figures show that

could power a TV for a day on the energy wasted by overfilling the kettle, so top up less

often, or invest in an eco-kettle which only heats the amount you need.

Replace light bulbs

If you’re still using traditional light bulbs you could save £25 a year by switching to energy

saving ones which use up to 80% less electricity and last around 10 times longer. Try fitting

a dimmer to use even less power, and don’t fall for the myth that it’s cheaper to leave the

lights on – switching them off will save energy whichever bulbs you use.

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Get an immersion timer

Does your immersion heater need to be on all day? Chances are you’re just wasting energy,

so invest in a timer to make sure you’re only using what you need. Turn down the

temperature to 60% max, and insulate your tank to retain as much heat as possible.

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Chapter 4:

How to save on your gas bill

Does your gas bill make your eyes water? Here are a few ideas to help reduce energy

consumption and keep costs down.

The right boiler

If your boiler is more than 10 years old you could be losing as much as half of the gas you

pay for. A new condensing boiler will be 90-95% efficient, which means it converts over

90% of the fuel it uses into heat, compared to 70% for a conventional boiler. Look for the

Energy Saving Recommended logo and get it serviced regularly – you’ll be less likely to fork

out for emergency repairs later…

Heating controls

…. Get the right controls, however, and you could make your existing boiler more energy-

efficient. Thermostatic radiator valves may sound like something from Dr Who but in fact

they simply allow you to control the temperature of individual rooms by regulating the flow

of hot water to the radiator. Also consider time controls, and room thermostats which switch

the heating off when the room reaches a set temperature.

Radiators

Make your radiators work a bit harder and according to USwitch you could save up to £140 a

year. A radiator booster uses a small fan to circulate heat more efficiently, while a simple

reflector bounces heat back into the room that would normally be lost through the wall. Also

try an automatic radiator bleeder, which releases trapped air saving you both energy and cash.

Toughen up

Do you really need to stay in a T-shirt year round? Turning down the heating by one degree

could save you up to 10% on your bills so put on a jumper before you reach for the controls.

Cooking

Cooking with gas is cheaper than electricity but there are still ways you can reduce the

amount of energy you use in the kitchen. A hob energy saver means you’ll use less gas to

cook, while the kettle will boil water more quickly than the stove. Use the right sized pan for

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the job, put in just enough water to cover your veg and always put the lid on to keep the heat

in.

Insulate your loft and cavity walls

The average home loses around one third of its heat through the roof and walls, but

increasing your loft insulation to a depth of 270mm could save you £150 per year, while

cavity wall insulation could shave a further £100 from your bill. Both are inexpensive and

quick to do, and if you’re on a low income you could also be eligible for a grant or discount.

Draught-proofing

Windows are the enemy of central heating, but a few simple measures could save you up to

£50 a year according to the Energy Saving Trust. If double glazing isn’t an option, head to

your local hardware store for self-adhesive draught excluders to seal windows and doors.

Keep the heat in by shutting curtains, closing doors between rooms and sealing up gaps

between your floors and skirting boards.

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Chapter 5:

How to save on your water bill

With water bills set to soar to an average of £376, switching to a meter could save you

10% off your annual costs. Here’s how to use water more wisely.

Switch to a water meter

When it comes to water the market isn’t open to

competition, which means that unlike gas and

electricity you can’t shop around for a cheaper

supplier. However you could still save money by

switching to a meter and just paying for the water

you use. Whether it’s worth it depends on your

usage, but the general rule is that if you have more bedrooms than people in your house it’s

worth looking into. Installation is free and you could cut 10% from your bill, plus if it does

turn out to be more expensive you can switch back within a year.

Check your water usage

If you want to see just how much water your family gets through, check out the water energy

calculator at EnergySavingTrust.co.uk. You’ll get a report which shows how much you use

along with quick wins to help you use water more wisely and save up to £150 per year.

Read the meter

As with any utility, if your bills are based on estimates you could be shelling out when you

don't need to. Most water companies say they will try to read your meter twice a year, but if

they are unable to obtain a reading you'll be sent an estimated bill. Reading your own meter

regularly will ensure your bills are as accurate as possible as well as alerting you to any leaks

in your system.

Water saving freebies

Most water companies offer a range of freebies designed to help you save water, including

water efficient showerheads, flush saver bags, bath buoys and shower timers. Check out the

consumer council for water to see what’s up for grabs in your area.

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Flush less often

The loo accounts for one third of domestic water consumption, so each time you go you’re

flushing money down the pan. Think about how often you flush – is it really necessary

every time? If you don’t have a dual flush toilet try a flush saver bag which sits inside the

cistern and can save up to two litres of water each time.

Turn the taps off

A dripping tap can drive you mad but at just one drip per second it could also waste 15 litres

of water each day, so turn taps fully off and change washers as soon as they start to drip.

Don’t leave taps running when shaving or brushing your teeth and fill the sink with water to

wash dishes. Try fitting tap aerators which reduce flow rate and could save up to 12 litres a

minute.

Take a shower…

A shower uses just 35 litres of water compared to 80 for a bath, but with a few tricks you

could save even more. A water efficient showerhead could cut water used by 30%, while

shaving just one minute off your daily shower could save you £10 over the year, so invest in

a timer to help keep showers short.

… Or a reduced capacity bath

If you still prefer a bath there's no reason why you can't save water as you go. A reduced

capacity bath is the same size as a traditional tub, but cleverly shaped inside so you need less

water for the deep soak experience. And an inflatable 'bath buoy' for the kids could save up

to 30 litres of hot water each time, so even if you're not on a meter you'll be saving money on

all that water you're not heating.