Low Cost Living - Cutting Electricity Bills

Cutting Electricity Bills

One sure fire way of cutting electricity costs is not having kids around!
Discipline and routine are the key words for keeping your bills down enabling you to either live more within your means or generally saving money which could be better spent elsewhere.

Here are tips which will help.

Always switch lights off when leaving a room

Use energy saving light bulbs

Don't leave TV's and other entertainment electricals on standby (Up to 6% of your electricity is used this way)

Always buy the best energy efficient kitchen appliances

Use a kettle to boil water to put in a saucepan for cooking. It'll take a lot less time than an electric stove.

Use reflectors behind radiators to throw out more heat keeping the thermostat less busy

Use microwaves for the smaller cooking jobs, they use less than half the electricity of a normal stove

Don't pull the plug out the hot bath for a while, it's heating

Turning a heating thermostat down by 1 degree can save you 10% on costs

Always draw your curtains at night

Service your heating boiler on a regular basis. An inefficient boiler will keep going. Un-serviced it will break down and call out charges for repair are huge.

Make sure your house is well insulated (see other pages)

Turn down the temperature of your refridgerator and avoid openeing the door too often

Many people swear by paying bills with direct debit. For fixed amounts ie car insurance etc., this may be good. With electricity this can be both good and bad.
You may find that you are paying too much and have to wait til the end of the stated year before you get an adjustment or refund or pay too little and have a nasty shock at the end of it.
Remember, if they owe you, they're gaining interest out of the money they 'have banked' in your name.

Search around for the best deals and get what's best for your needs, not theirs!

Government grants for insulation