We are consumer experts, nine smart ways to save big on your bills this winter

WE are all increasingly aware of how much household and utility bills will cost this winter.

But thankfully, a slew of energy, consumer and financial experts have come to the rescue and revealed their smart tips on how to save big bucks as we welcome the colder weather.

There are many smart steps you can take to save money

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There are many smart steps you can take to save moneyCredit: Getty
Experts shared their top tips on how to lower invoice prices

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Experts shared their top tips on how to lower invoice pricesCredit: Getty

As part of Channel 5′ useful one-time program 30 Tips to Lower Bills, the panel took turns taking the lid on the things they have implemented to lower their bills.

So here we detail nine of their insider tricks on how to save our well-earned cash – but with minimal effort…

  1. FINE TUNING RADIATORS

Even before you reach for your winter coat and boots, pay close attention to the radiators in your home.

Which? Consumer rights expert Harry Kind explained that it’s important to bleed your radiators in preparation for the falling temperatures (but don’t forget to top up the central heating pressure when you’re done).

He explained: “Venting your radiators will definitely save you money as the boiler system doesn’t have to work as hard to keep the room warm.

“It will vary from house to house how much that will be, but it’s one of the easiest ways to raise the temperature in a room.”

James Lawrence, who works at Plumberperts, added, “If the top of the radiator is cold, it means less BTUs (British Thermal Units) of heat going into that room.”

In addition, the show revealed that reflective foil behind a radiator can help to distribute heat more efficiently throughout the room, while easily cleaning the airways can also be an important factor.

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  1. BE YOUR OWN SMART THERMOSTAT

While many people have invested in smart thermostats to lower their bill prices, the old-fashioned way is just as good.

Harry Kind told viewers, “You can be your own smart thermostat if you can’t afford to buy one.

“You can be there to lower your temperature. Each degree should reduce your bills by about ten percent.”

While Lynn Beattie, a personal finance expert of Ms. Mummypenny, says, “Get the temperature on your thermostat.

“The average is about 23 degrees, which is what people would have had last year, so I’d recommend bringing that down to 20 or even 19 if you can tolerate it.”

Each degree should reduce your bills by about ten percent

Harry Kind

  1. PUT YOUR BOILER ON ‘RECYCLING MODE’

If you have a condensing boiler that was installed after 2005, there is one simple thing you can do to save money – and it has everything to do with the operating temperature.

There is a rotary knob on the front of the boiler, which you must slowly but surely turn back until the temperature in the room has dropped noticeably.

Jo Alsop, the founder of Heating Hub, explained to the Channel 5 audience: “That will help the boiler spend more time in what is known as condensation mode.

“But actually it’s recycling mode — it helps to capture waste heat that would be thrown around the room and recycle back into the boiler.”

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  1. MAKE DIY DESIGN EXCLUSIONS

We all know how important it is to keep warm air in the house and cold drafts out.

So besides making sure all doors and curtains are closed whenever possible and putting carpets on hard floors, there are some extra genius techniques that can save you up to $45 a year.

Weatherstrips can be purchased inexpensively in stores or online and placed over problem areas, such as keyholes.

And Lynn Beattie revealed it’s just as easy to make your own. She explained: “I’m going to quote my mom’s super tip here.

“Take an old pair of tights and cut the legs off and we’ll all have weird socks because the washing machine eats up socks.

“Fill up your tights with your weird socks, turn them into a snake, make a weatherstrip and hang them on your front door and back door.”

Fill your tights with your strange socks, turn them into a snake and turn them into a draft strip

Lynn Beattie

  1. MAKE EXCEPTIONAL CUPS OF TEA

It’s a British cliché that we solve all our problems with one cup of tea – but ironically, that can also be the case when it comes to our energy bills.

Experts say that instead of overfilling your kettle and wasting a lot of water, remember exactly how much water it takes to make each cup.

Harry Kind explains: “The special thing about a kettle is that it consumes a lot of energy, but does so in a very short time.

“The easiest way to get around that is to boil no more water than is necessary.

“Get to know your kettle – know where to fill it so it can make exactly one cup of tea.”

The easiest way to get around that is to boil no more water than you need

Harry Kind

  1. TURN YOUR DEVICES OFF STANDBY

It sounds simple, but turning off all devices and gadgets at night instead of leaving them on standby can really help.

According to a recent report from British Gas, you can save up to £147 every twelve months if you take all appliances over five years out of standby.

Lynn Beattie said: “If you have a smart meter, you can really see what your minimum energy consumption is in your home.

“If you have everything on standby, see what it is and then turn everything off and see how much it costs – and you’ll see how much it costs you.

“So I run around every night, which my kids love, and I turn everything off — Wi-Fi, everything except the fridge.”

How to save on your energy bill

SWITCHING energy suppliers may sound like a hassle – but luckily it’s quite easy to switch suppliers – and save you a lot of money.

Shop – If you’re on an SVT deal, you’re probably throwing away up to £250 a year. Use a comparison site like MoneySuperMarket.com, uSwitch, or EnergyHelpline.com to see what deals are available to you.

The cheapest deals can usually be found online and are fixed deals – meaning you pay a fixed amount, usually for 12 months.

Switch – Once you have found one, all you need to do is contact the new supplier.

It helps to have the following information – which you can find on your invoice – to hand to provide the new supplier.

  • Your postal code
  • Name of your existing supplier
  • Name of your existing deal and how much you pay
  • An up-to-date meter reading

It will then notify your current supplier and begin the switch.

It will take no more than three weeks to complete the switch, during which time your delivery will not be interrupted.

  1. SWITCH YOUR LIGHT BULBS

How’s this for a light bulb moment? With just one simple swap you’ll get something from £1-£4 per year per light bulb.

Halogen bulbs, which are popular in households across the country, are much more expensive than the more efficient LED bulbs.

Harry Kind explains: “LED lights are fantastic. They are so cheap, they last for years and years and years.

“If you have any bulbs that aren’t LED, really consider replacing them because they’re the best thing since sliced ​​bread when it comes to keeping prices down.”

They are so cheap they will last for years and years and years

Harry Kind

  1. FILL YOUR FREEZER

There is a common misconception that the more you have in your freezer, the more expensive it will be to use.

However, the reality is very different and the experts encourage you to have a full freezer to cut costs. In fact, a freezer works best at 70% capacity.

So if you don’t have enough food to fill every shelf, it’s time to get creative.

Financial expert Emmanuel Asuquo continued, “What you can do is fill water bottles and put them in your freezer to take up space and that will make it work more efficiently.”

Meanwhile, social media users have suggested that cheap breads also help fill the gap and can be used to make toast.

Fill water bottles and put them in your freezer to take up space

Emmanuel Asuquo

  1. LET YOUR OVEN HEAT YOUR HOME

If you choose to turn on your oven instead of trying out a cheaper slow cooker or air fryer, you might as well make the most of it.

Harry Kind concluded: “If you’re going to go to the trouble of heating up your entire oven, don’t put one thing in it.

“If you’re cooking a chicken, throw in some roasted veggies and maybe try baking something in it too.

“Even if you have to cook more than you will eat, you can freeze that and eat it at a later time.”

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Another great idea is to use the heat from the oven to heat the rest of the house.

Emmanuel Asuquo said: “Another use for an oven is that you can leave it open after you’ve finished cooking. It can potentially heat up your home depending on the size of your home.

30 Tips to Reduce Bills is now available to view on My5

Venting radiators can save money

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Venting radiators can save moneyCredit: Getty
You can also use your thermostat smartly

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You can also use your thermostat smartlyCredit: Getty
By making just one cup of tea at a time, you can reduce the energy you use

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By making just one cup of tea at a time, you can reduce the energy you useCredit: Getty