Home Super Savers

The cost of living crisis has landed on our doorstep and we’re left feeling feeling stressed about our finances. And one of the biggest impacts on our earnings? Our energy bills. If you’re looking to minimise costs in the home but you’re not sure where to start, ColneLife has compiled tips to help you save some money!

Kitchen

Love your freezer – Freezers can often be used for nothing more than oven chips and fish fingers but freezing your leftovers for later can save you plenty of pennies and rescues food that would otherwise be chucked out.

Batch cook – It’s an obvious tip, but it can be hard to relegate your Sunday afternoons to chopping vegetables. Rather than attempting to batch cook all your meals for a week, try making a larger version of what you are already cooking for dinner and freeze what you don’t eat.

There’s an app for that – Most big supermarkets have apps for their loyalty cards, you can view the points you’ve earned but also any deals you’re entitled to. Check this when writing your shopping list and plan meals around discounted products.

Living room

Switch it off – Appliances left on standby, such as television and games consoles are still sucking up energy, impacting your electric bill. Make sure you turn appliances off at the wall when you aren’t using them. Just turning off one television will save you £11 annually according to Eco Cost Savings.

Decorate with books –Purchased at charity shops and second-hand stores, they can make beautiful decorations as well as ensuring a good read. Display your literature collection proudly.

Netflix & bills – Check your streaming subscriptions, especially those which provide free trials for certain channels, make sure you cancel any that you don’t watch. Before ordering movies double check your DVD stash to ensure you don’t already have them.

Bedroom

No more boredom buys – You know the drill: you’re checking your phone when an advert pops up in your feed and before you know it, you’ve bought something. Here’s a new rule to try before you buy, send yourself the link to the page and have another look the following day to see if you still want it.

Patchwork quilt – Keep cosy with a patchwork quilt using scraps of old fabric. Not only does it save on heating bills, you can utilise fabric you already own, from too tight jeans to faded t-shirts.

Keeping warm – Closing your curtains or blinds in the evening will stop heat escaping through your window. To ensure your windows are draft-proof add self-adhesive strips between any gaps. This should help to keep the cold air out.

Bathroom

Turn off the tap – A running tap can use more than 10 litres of water a minute, so turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face.

Get a cistern displacement bag – These devices can be popped into your toilet cistern – when you flush, the device inflates, saving you around one to two litres every time you flush.

Use cold water – Cold showers are not only good for your wallet, they can also be incredibly beneficial to your health, increasing circulation and calming skin conditions. If you can’t face a cold shower, try washing just your face in cold water to wake you up in the morning and save those pennies!

ColneLife Autumn 22