In a day and age when we’re increasingly dependent on technology, it can be difficult to reduce spending on gas and electricity. If you dread your bills arriving, it may be possible that you’re paying over the odds for energy. Here are some top tips to help you lower costs, secure the best deals, and become more energy-efficient.
Are you paying over the odds?
Take a look at your most recent energy bills, and work how much you’ve spent in the last few months. The chances are that you’re paid these bills without even looking at the unit price or the amount of energy you’ve used. You may not have even opened the bill, and just paid it via direct debit without giving it a second thought. When you’ve got a bill in front of you, take a minute to look at the finer details. When you’ve got figures and numbers in front of you, turn on your tablet or laptop, and start doing a bit of research. Using sites like simplyswitch.com, you can compare prices offered by suppliers in your local area. You may have assumed that every company has the same fees, but this is not the case. You may be able to find a better tariff and make use of incentives that are designed to tempt new customers away from their existing provider. If you do get a better offer, it’s worth calling your current supplier to see if they could match or better it. If they can’t, it’s very easy to switch.
If you’re happy with your provider, but your bills a little higher than you’d like, give them a call and ask if you’re on the best tariff. Companies offer different rates for various times of the day. If you do most of your washing at night or you tend to watch TV and use your laptop in the evenings, for example, you should look for a low evening rate.
Do you need to use as much energy as you do?
If you use a lot of electricity or gas, it figures that your bills are going to be high. Have a think about whether you actually need to use all the energy you do. Do you put the dishwasher on every day when it’s only half-full? Do you leave lights on even when you’re not in the room? Is your TV always on standby? If so, you could save money by switching appliances off at the socket, ensuring you have a full washing machine or dishwasher and making sure you turn lights off when you’re not around. For more simple energy-saving tips, you may find this article helpful http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/household-bills/9611963/Ten-energy-saving-tips-you-havent-heard-before.html.
If you find that you lose track of what’s on and what’s not, use a smart meter. This small device shows you how much energy you’re using so you can keep an eye on your bills. You’ll also be able to see if you’ve got lots of appliances running unnecessarily.
If your energy bills are too high, start taking steps to bring them down now!
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