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How to Make Running Your Home More Affordable During the Cost of Living Crisis

Moneymagpie Team 3rd Aug 2023 No Comments

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We’re all feeling the pinch at the moment, so finding ways to save a little extra cash is more important than ever. You might be pleasantly surprised to discover that you don’t need to make enormous changes to reap some serious benefits.

To give you some inspiration, we’re going to take you through some of the easiest and most effective ways to make running your home more affordable. Let’s get into it!

Generate Your Own Energy
Ensure Your Home is Properly Insulated
Don’t Take as Much Time in the Shower
Use Energy Efficient Lighting
Reduce How Much You Use Your Central Heating
Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference

Generate Your Own Energy

Electricity is expensive, but with certain measures in place, you could spend a lot less on your energy bills. From flexible solar panels to solar generators, there are ways to create your own power without relying on the grid. This means you won’t pay as much on your monthly bills and may even be eligible for certain tax benefits. You may even be able to sell any surplus energy you create back to the grid.

Ensure Your Home is Properly Insulated

One of the most expensive things about running your home is keeping it warm during the colder months. An enormous amount of heat can be lost without proper insulation, meaning you’re paying just for warmth to seep out again.

With the right insulation, your home will retain most of the heat you’re paying for. It also means your home will stay warmer for longer, so you don’t need to have the heating on for extended periods or as frequently.

Don’t Take as Much Time in the Shower

As tempting as a long, hot shower can be, it can also be pretty costly. Showers eat up more energy than people realise.

You could save a surprising amount of money by shortening your showers, even only by ten minutes. You’d also be doing your part for the planet by saving more water, so it’s a win-win!

Use Energy Efficient Lighting

Energy-efficient bulbs have come a long, long way since their debut. In the earlier days, they didn’t provide nearly as much light as ordinary bulbs and often took a while to get going.

These days, you don’t have to wait for an energy-efficient light to do its job. They’re just as powerful and effective as traditional bulbs; they just cost you much less in the long term. LED lights are particularly popular for this purpose.

Reduce How Much You Use Your Central Heating

Finally, as we mentioned above, your central heating will almost certainly eat up a lot of energy. By reducing the amount of time you keep it running, you can reduce your overall monthly bills. Being more mindful of how you’re using your heating (and how much you actually need it) is positive for both your finances and the environment.

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference

Many of our recommendations are great for your bank account and help you to live a little greener, so there’s truly no downside. Give them a go and see for yourself. You might be surprised by how much you could save.

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.