Martin Lewis Show – Money saving expert reveals 12 hacks you can use to knock money off your energy bills
MARTIN Lewis has revealed the 12 hacks you can use to knock money off your energy bills.
Speaking on ITV tonight, the UK’s resident MoneySavingExpert gave his top tips on on saving cash this winter.
Mr Lewis explained that “focusing on energy efficiency” was the best way to “get your house in order” and save money.
And he elaborated on 12 key ways in which you can save on soaring bills.
Shower head
The money saving expert says you should consider fitting a free water savings shower head.
This theoretically means less water, less heat and cash saved.
One degree challenge
Martin says to take his one degree challenge in this household and try reducing temperature from 21 to 20C.
This could save up to 10% on your heating bill, with 18C fine for healthy adults according to the WHO.
Trying to reduce even one degree will save on your heating bill so don’t turn your thermostat up when you are cold.
Tactical Curtains
Martin says to use tactical and fleece lined curtains.
He says that when the sun is shining it’s letting light and heat into the house and when it’s dark it’s not.
He advises to keep the heat in and close the curtains and do this regularly.
Boiler challenge
The Moneysavingboilerchallenge.com is of key interest to the expert.
Martin advises how to turn down the flow rate on combi boilers which most people own.
He said you should want it to be around 60C but most peoples are set higher – this is inefficient and wastes heat.
Remember, turning it down doesn’t affect the heat of house and water temperature.
Fridge check
Check your fridge for its temperature regularly.
A fridge should be – 5C while it should be -18 C for a freezer.
If it’s colder you are wasting too much money.
Bathroom water
Lower your hot water temperature from your bathroom and wait for it to cool naturally before diluting it.
Hot water jacket
A hot water cylinder jacket on your boiler helps save money and cuts costs easily.
Central heating
Lewis says don’t be afraid to check your central heating regularly.
Turning on central heating on even in rooms we don’t use is a bad habit, make sure it’s off.
You only want radiators on in the rooms you’re using and it’s an easy hack that we don’t all use
Reflective radiators
Reflective panels on radiators cut down on heat loss and save money.
Cut down TV usage
TV four hours a day on average – put it on low energy setting to save money
Draught detective
Find draughts and block them and place clingfilm on windows when its get really cold.
Tumble dryers
Tumble dryers are a £1 a load, stop using and save.
Good for environment, good for energy security, and help energy efficiency
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It comes as Lewis said that thousands could boost their savings by making a simple switch.
He revealed how “most” people are on average easy savings accounts but by “ditching and switching” to a more competitive one they could earn far more.
He showed viewers and audience members a graph of different savings accounts and what the interest rates might be on each one.
Lewis added that fixed-rate savings accounts, where customers can’t access the money until the end of a fixed period, were significantly higher than the top easy-access accounts.
This is because their interest rates are tied to gilts, which have risen since the government’s disastrous min-budget last month.
The personal finance guru has previously revealed how some households may be able to slash direct debits on energy bills this winter.
He advised struggling bill payers to take regular meter readings and use an online direct debit calculator to estimate what they should be paying based on usage.
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Martin said that the average direct debit should be double what they were last year – so if it much higher than that Lewis urged viewers to “politely” call their energy companies to query it.
He added that if the company cannot justify the rise, they are bound by its license to reduce it.