Reducing your bills

Bills can be daunting and a source of stress, but there are many things you can do to keep the cost down and minimise the impact of the recent price hikes.

Here are our top tips for reducing your energy consumption and your bills. Following them will also contribute to a more sustainable planet, so it's a win-win situation.

Turn down the heating and wrap up warm

It may sound eye-roll-worthy, but doing this makes a lot of sense. While it's tempting to turn up the heating when it gets a little colder, try throwing on your thick and warm comfy clothes first. Reducing your heating by as little as 1℃ can cut your annual bills by up to 10%, equating to saving hundreds of pounds. 

If you have a thermostat in your home, set it to 19 or 20℃ instead of 21 or 22℃. And if your heating works on a timer, only have it on when you're in the house, and reduce the duration as the weather warms up.

If you're prone to being extra cold, a hot water bottle and some thick slippers can sort you right out and are a worthy investment.

Use large appliances during off-peak hours

Many energy suppliers charge different rates for using electricity at different times of day. As there is great demand for electricity during weekdays, it is often charged at a peak rate. When demand drops in the evenings and weekends, electricity is cheaper to use—typically half price. 

You can take advantage of this by only using large appliances like ovens and washing machines during off-peak hours. Each energy company has different off-peak hours, so check with your supplier (or Google them) to confirm yours. You may need to be on a specific tariff or contract to take advantage of cheap off-peak rates, so check this with them too.

To give you an idea of the savings you can make, here are a couple of examples:

The average electric oven costs 59p/hour to run. Used once per day during term-time, this equates to roughly £118/year. So, by switching to off-peak hours, you can save £59/year. 

Similarly, using the oven for cooking your food at the same time as your housemates will reduce how long it is on, allowing you to make further savings.

This off-peak approach also applies to baths and showers, which cost roughly the same as each other (between 60p to £1, depending on your system's efficiency). Taking the middle figure of 80p per bath/shower and assuming you take one a day during peak hours, this will add up to around £160 each academic year. So, by timing your showers to be during off-peak, you could save a further £80/year.

Use a more efficient cooking method

While an electric oven costs around 60p an hour to run, a gas hob only costs about 10p. This is because gas is cheaper than electricity, and a pan is much smaller than an oven, so heating it up uses far less energy.

Switching to stovetop cooking instead of using the oven can bring you considerable savings. It's also highly versatile, allowing you to fry, boil, or steam your food.

But nothing beats the microwave for efficient cooking. While it lacks the versatility of other methods, it is easily the cheapest way to cook.

For more tips on energy-efficient cooking, see this page. (Ignore the prices, as they are out-of-date and unrealistically low, but the principles are all sound.)

Wash your clothes at a low temperature

Laundry detergents work just fine at lower temperatures, such as 30℃. Using less hot water in this way will help minimise your bills. 

Never put on half a load—always fill the washing machine to maximise energy efficiency (but separate your light and dark clothes to avoid the colours bleeding). Otherwise, you'll use the washing machine more often, which will bump up your bills.

Avoid using tumble driers, as they are expensive to run. Instead, a simple air-drying rack should suffice. If you need to dry clothes quickly, putting them on the radiator and turning the heating on for a couple hours is a cheaper option that will also heat your house.

Pay your energy bills via direct debit

Many energy companies give you this option, which can result in a cheaper rate. When you move into a new property and set up your bills, look for a fixed tariff so you can lock in current prices and protect yourself against future price hikes.

Submit your meter readings

This is the best way to ensure you're only paying for what you use, rather than letting the energy companies guess for you. And it's easy—you can do it online in less than two minutes.

This might increase your monthly costs if you're currently underpaying, but it will save you the shock of a huge bill to settle when you submit your final meter readings before moving out. And if you've been overpaying, you'll be able to reduce your monthly direct debit and have more cash in your pocket.

Want more advice?

We hope these tips help, but if you're worried about your finances, you can access support through our Information and Advice Service. 

Our advisors are trained to help you with finances, housing, mental health, and academic issues. They are free to access, so make sure you reach out and book an appointment if you're struggling with anything.