The winter can be a huge drain on anyone’s finances. Not only do you have festive celebrations and gifts to plan for, but you’re also paying more on your gas and electric bills too. On top of that, there’s a significant risk that something might go wrong with your home or car too. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to reduce your chances of needing to spend extra during the colder months of the year.
If you’re worried about spending over the odds on your bills and other expenses during the colder seasons, the following tips will help you to keep your cash on track.
Repair Issues Immediately
We know it’s easier said than done – but bear with us. If you notice a problem with a leaking roof, or an issue with your boiler when you’re first stepping into the colder months of winter, it’s much better to find the money to get the problem fixed immediately. Borrowing some cash with a personal or emergency loan for bad credit is better than trying to “wait the issue out”.
Not only does waiting around increase your chances of the problem getting worse, meaning that you need to spend more to fix it, but there are other concerns too. For instance, what if your problematic boiler decides to break down on Christmas Eve and leave your family frozen for Christmas day?
Switch your Energy Supplier
Stop sticking to the same old energy supplier just because you can’t be bothered to take your information somewhere else. Switching your energy supplier could help you to access a much better deal than you can get from your current company.
A lot of businesses stop trying to win over their customers after they’ve had them for a few months. That means that the entry deal that you got when you first signed up won’t be the same as what you’re paying later on. Switching to another provider can ensure you don’t get as many nasty shocks with your bills.
Try Getting Free Insulation
The biggest energy companies in the UK are currently working with the government to give people free energy efficiency solutions that will make their homes warmer during the winter. The scheme is offered through the Energy Company Obligation, which you can learn more about online. The improvements that might be available to you include everything from free loft insulation to replacement boilers.
Contact your energy supplier and see whether you can request a free survey. The company should send someone out to your home to see what sort of energy strategies you can use to reduce your bills. If insulation isn’t available for you, find out what other freebies you might be able to get.
Get your Boiler Serviced
While there are a lot of things that can go wrong during the winter months, one of the biggest issues you might face is a problem with your boiler. As the weather starts to cool down, consider paying for a professional to come and service your boiler before it conks out completely. If you have found that your boiler has been refusing to work a lot lately, then you might need to forget the service and looking into replacing it completely.
If you do need to replace your boiler, look into the ECO scheme that we mentioned above, as some homeowners will be eligible for support from their energy provider to help them install a more affordable new system. While you’re at it, remember that you can get extra support for your cash during the winter months with things like the Warm Home Discount scheme, which gives you up to £140 off your bill that you can put to a new bouiler.
Remember Your Everyday Energy Saving Tips
Finally, when the festive season arrives, don’t forget to use your energy-saving tricks properly. That means wearing extra layers when you’re cold instead of automatically turning the heating up. You can also try using a programmable or smart thermostat to time your heating for when you’re waking up in the morning, and a couple of hours before you go to bed at night.
Other ways to keep costs low with your everyday energy-saving tips include:
- Washing your clothes at a lower temperature
- Turning heaters off in rooms that you’re not using
- Making sure you don’t leave devices on standby
- Turning your thermostat down by a degree or two
- Excluding draughts with big curtains and plenty of draught excluders
- Switching off lights that you’re not using around the home