The real mum guide to spending less on heating bills
Louisa Sherlock
Contributing EditorSpring may not be a time when you usually think about your heating bills, but it's the perfect time to think about preparing for next winter. Check out these simple ways to keep your house warm without spending a fortune.
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Want to save money on heating? Well now you can thanks to these tried and tested tips from our Netmums members.
From simple ways to stop heat escaping from your home through to tips for keeping yourself and your kids warm and cosy, here’s our real mum guide for slashing those heating bills. What's more, they'll help to cut your carbon footprint, too!
1 Keep your heating on low
Keeping a constant temperature in your home will use less energy than repeatedly heating it up from cold.
But be savvy with your thermostat: lowering the temperature by just one degree could save you up to £75 a year.
Netmums member Claire K says:
‘I keep my heating on the lowest level all day so when I come home the house is warm. There is no need to keep turning the heating on for a blast of heat until it's too hot then turning off and on again.’
And mum Sarah G adds:
‘The heating is now fully on in our house but not ALL day everyday.
‘We have it on a timer so when the house goes below 20 degrees the boiler will kick in and regulate the temperature.’
2 Use government grants
There are several government schemes available to help with the cost of heating your home. Depending on your circumstances, you could get anything from a little extra money towards your heating bills, to a whole new free boiler!
Grants can vary from place to place, so the best bet is to contact your local council; they'll be able to tell you exactly what you can get, and how to apply. You can find your local council and how to contact them on the government website.
There's also an initiative known as the 'Energy Company Obligations (ECO) scheme'. Under this scheme, if you receive certain benefits - including child benefit and child tax credits - you could get serious discounts on a new boiler or insulation for your home (up to 90%).
Making your home more energy-efficient can save you serious money on your heating bills, so it's well worth considering.
If you think you might qualify for help under the ECO scheme, you can find out more about it and how to apply on the Simple Energy Advice website.
3 Snuggle up with blankets
Want to stay warm without spending any money? Then embrace the hygge way of life and create a warm and contented atmosphere in your home by layering up with loads of cosy blankets.
Netmums member Cat S says:
‘We are all fans of snuggling up in dressing gowns and blankets (especially for story time) which minimises how long the heating needs to be on.’
Another Netmums member Sam P says: ‘In the front room we have a king-size 10.5tog duvet the kids snuggle under on the sofa.’
And Lauren D says ‘This is the season for big fluffy socks in nice cosy slippers at all times in the house. We are avid dressing gown wearers too and blankets are always ready on the sofa and the beds for extra warmth.’
4 Draught-proof your home
An easy way to keep your house toasty is by making sure the warm air stays in … and the cold air stays out.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, draught-proofing your windows and doors could save you around £20 a year.
And if you’ve got a fireplace, making sure the hot air isn’t escaping up your chimney could save you a further £15 a year.
If you're receiving certain benefits, you may be able to get massively discounted insulation through the government's ECO scheme (see point 2 above for details).
Netmums member Sunny D says:
‘We have a heavy curtain we put up over a garden door in winter that drapes on the floor. It looks very stylish and it stops the draft.
‘I also add felt pumpkins into our fireplace and that seems to stop the draft.’
5 Keep the doors closed
Make sure your rooms stay warm and toasty by shutting the doors in your house.
Your radiators and heaters create a current of hot air in each room. By closing the doors, you’ll keep the current within the room.
Netmums member EQ10 says:
‘In order to not let the heat out of the rooms, I try and keep all bedroom doors closed.’
6 Make your own draft excluders
Get crafty with the kids — and keep heat in your home — by making simple draft excluders. Netmums member Sam P says:
‘We have the kids make tights stuffed with newspapers to use as door sausages to keep the drafts out.’
Mum Rachel H recommends, ‘...a sock stuffed with other old socks which is stuffed in the letterbox.’
7 Warm up from the inside
Try this simple tip for keeping your kids warm and toasty … without breaking the bank.
‘I always give my kids a warm milk before bed. It keeps them warm from the inside then we snuggle them in to bed like bugs in rugs and they never wake up cold! The problem then is trying to get them up in the morning' says Netmums member Kate G.
Looking for more money-saving tips? Check out our articles below, or swap tips with other parents in our forum:
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