Easy tips to lower your gas bills

The price of utilities has risen sharply over the last year so it is now more important than ever to save money where you can.

In another article we'll look at how to price-compare for gas providers, but this article looks at small life changes that can help to lower your gas bill.

There is a notable difference between gas use and gas waste. These tips will concentrate on the latter so that you can cut the costs without massively overhauling your lifestyle.
If you need to recap anything you've read, or would like a quick summary of tips, you can scroll down to the Recap section at the bottom of this article.


Feeling warm inside
Turning your thermostat down by just one degree can have the impact of knocking almost 10% from your gas bill: approximately £46. How low can you go?

Instead of trying to tackle the slightest chill by whacking the heating on full, consider wearing more layers or wrapping yourself in a throw or blanket.

If you are leaving the house for an hour or more, turn the thermostat down or off.


Keeping heat in
If you are using a gas fire, keep all doors shut, and fit the bottoms with draft excluders. This way you can better isolate the heat to where it's needed instead of it being wasted.
Thick curtains can also be useful to minimize heat loss when they are drawn. Consider drawing the curtains in the early evening.

Fitting silver-foil or other heat reflective material behind radiators can also increase their efficiency: this is because is prevents the heat from being uselessly absorbed into the wall and, instead, reflects it back into the room. According to Scottish gas, doing this can save you over £14 a year.

Having your home properly insulated can also go a long way in improving your home's heat efficiency and keeping the heat in. The best bit is that it might not cost you a thing: there are a number of insulation grants available (covering things such as loft and cavity wall insulation) for people in all kinds of circumstances, so it is worth contacting your local council to see if you are eligible for any of them.


Be efficient, buy what's efficient
Appliances are becoming increasingly efficient with the amount of fuel they use, so by keeping up to date with the latest in energy efficient technology, you can save a lot of money in the long-run. This is only worth considering, however, if you have sufficient capital to make such purchases.

Efficiency isn't just about technology. If you put a little thought into how you use appliances, you can cut pounds from your gas bill by being efficient yourself. For example, instead of using the oven for individual meals (assuming you have a gas oven), why not cook in bulk and freeze portions to eat later? It is more cost effective to cook a lot in the oven and microwave portions later than it is to cook everything in the oven individually. The same applies to using the hobs: instead of making enough spaghetti bolognese or soup to last just one night, why not cook in bulk? Not only will you cut money from your gas bill, but you'll have a convenient supply of home-made microwavable meals that can be ready in minutes.


Miscellaneous
Here are a few tips that didn't seem to fit anywhere else:

• If you currently receive a paper bill, ask your provider if you are being charged extra for that, or whether you could save money by receiving your bill online instead (if you have suitable access to the internet).  Some companies charge upwards of  £3 each time they send out a paper-bill!
• Changing your payment method can also reduce your gas-bill. Providers tend to be most amenable to customers who are willing to set up regular payments by direct debits. Ask your supplier how much they are prepared to discount you for this.
  
  
  

Recap

If you're serious about saving money on your gas bill:

1. Turn your thermostat down: even one degree can make a big difference.
2. Wear a sweater or snuggle up in a throw if things get a little chilly.
3. If you are leaving the house for more than an hour, turn the thermostat down.
4. Keep all doors shut and use draft excluders to isolate heat.
5. Hang thick curtains and draw them on the evening to reduce heat loss.
6. Fit silver foil or other reflective materials behind radiators.
7. Ensure your house is properly insulated. Check if you are eligible for grants to do so.
8. Invest in fuel efficient appliances. 
9. Minimize your oven use by cooking in bulk.
10. Switch to a paperless billing system.
11. Change your method of payment to a regular direct debit.