Let’s be honest, winter is nothing more than a financial headache. We all whack the heating on, light up our homes like Sydney on New Year’s and spend more time having a hot shower than necessary. It’s no wonder why our bills are burning an even larger hole in our pockets.

But – don’t panic. We’ve shared lots of practical tips to help you cut costs and shake off those winter blues.

Use warm clothes and blankets

Rather than constantly using your heater or air con system, dig out your warmest clothes. It won’t cost you a penny to wrap up in more layers from neck to toe. Feet tend to be one of the hardest things to keep warm, so wear two pairs of socks and some good slippers. You can also keep a cosy blanket on the couch to snuggle under when reading a book or watching the TV with a warm cuppa. You’ll be toasty warm, and all for free.

Seal any air leaks

There’s nothing worse than feeling a draught when you’re desperately trying to stay warm, and those air leaks could be costing you too. Check to see whether there are any gaps around the edges of your doors and in your windows. Even the tiniest of holes or cracks can let heat escape from the home, so seal them with weather stripper or some caulks and sweeps. When your home is able to retain warmth, you won’t need to run heaters as often – which will save you on energy costs.

Install LED light bulbs

The days are shorter in winter, which means it gets dark earlier. Instead of using incandescent bulbs, light up your rooms with some energy efficient LED light bulbs. They might be a little more expensive to buy, but they last 20 times longer than cheaper light bulbs and use a fraction of the energy. Don’t let the purchase price put you off, as they’ll actually save you some valuable dollars in the long run.

Turn down the heating

It’s so easy to just crank up the heating to keep you warm in the house, but doing so is going to cost you big in winter. Start by turning it down as low as is comfortable while wearing warmer clothes. You could also program your heater to turn on 10 minutes before you get out of bed, or just before you get home from work. Just remember to switch it off every time you go out. 

Use your curtains

Even though it’s winter, the sun could still show its face every now and then. Let the sun in during the day and remove any blockages like pot plants and large ornaments that may prevent light from coming through the window. As soon as the sun goes into hiding later on in the day, close your curtains to stop heat escaping.

Take shorter showers

It isn’t always easy, but try to resist the urge to take long, hot and steamy showers. The average shower is around eight minutes, so do your best to cut that time down. Not only will you save on hot water costs, but you’ll also be doing the right thing by the environment.

Cook at home

Although it’s tempting to get a takeaway delivered to your door every night, your bank balance won’t thank you for it. Besides, cooking home-made meals in the oven means extra heat for your household. When you’ve finished cooking your scrumptious meal, switch the oven off and leave the door open to let the warm air circulate around your house. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes.

If you’re looking for affordable heating solutions for your home, check out Yellow Pages listings today.