Reduce your gas and electric bills

Gas and electricity are set to increase putting more pressure on household incomes, but there are a few steps that can help reduce the price you pay on bills.

Avoid leaving TVs, MP3 players, computers or DVD players on stand-by and if you’re not watching TV turn it off. It seems like a small thing but it all adds up.

Turn off lights and using energy saving light bulbs is another quick and easy way that over time will reduce your bills. Sometimes it’s just a matter of getting into good habits.

£40 off your bill now

Heating is essential in winter but just turning the thermostat down by one degree and maybe putting on an extra jumper could shave a whole £40 off your bill.

The Government also offers grants for insulating your home, either through loft insulation or cavity wall insulation. This may significantly reduce a heating bill especially if the building is quite old as it will hold heat in for longer.

Anyone is eligible for the grant whatever your level of income, however certain criteria will determine the discount which you receive and could be between 50-100 percent of the cost of the service. To find out about getting a grant, call the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012.

Find out how much energy you use

It is also worth monitoring your energy usage through a smart meter. This monitors exactly when you use hot water the most and electricity, for example, so if you have the hot water on a timer and it is not being used at certain times you could recognise this and turn it off.

Before prices increase across the board consumers could also try switching energy provider by using a comparison site. These sites can help pinpoint a provider whose deal suits your energy consumption which could be a better rate and result in cheaper bills.