Top tips for saving at home

From dishwashers to PlayStations, there’s always a lot of things running in our home, using up electricity and contributing to soaring energy bills. But it might surprise you to know that some small changes can help you to save a few pennies. We’ve pulled together our top tips for saving at home this autumn:

Kitchen appliances

We’ve done the research, and it seems like the humble microwave uses up to 80% less energy than your oven*. But we know that you won’t want to make your Sunday roast in one, so why not invest in a:

• electric pressure cooker
• slow cooker
• air fryer.

These all have price tags attached, but you’ll be able to save on running costs long-term compared to your oven. Especially if you go for new appliances with higher energy ratings*. Electric pressure cookers can be a great alternative to cooking on the hob, as they significantly reduce cooking time.
And don’t forget to unplug your counter-top appliances when they’re not being used. That includes your microwave – it uses electricity to keep the display lit up.

Meal planning

If you’re cooking dishes with a lot of moving parts, your oven might still be the most efficient way to go^. So, if you’re finding yourself roasting your potatoes in there, why not plan your meals for the week and bulk cook your meals for the week?

Planning ahead can mean less wasted food, and a cheaper weekly shop. Buy some foil takeaway containers and portion out in advance. These can sit in your freezer until you’re ready to eat them. Have an air fryer? Take off the paper lid, and you can heat your meal in the foil tub.

Or you can make use of the heat and pop in some cake or biscuits to bake on the bottom shelf. Homemade treats could save you a few pennies rather than buying from the corner shop.
Buying shelf-stable ingredients is another great tip: it’s often cheaper to buy dried ingredients such as beans and lentils, which are nutritious and can help make meals more filling. They’ll cook much more quickly in that pressure cooker, too. Alternatively, tins are still relatively inexpensive and last a long time.

And finally, when boiling water (on the hob or in the kettle) just boil what you need. Boiling a full kettle every time you make one cup of tea uses a lot of energy. But if you prefer to do this, make sure to transfer the unused hot water to a flask to stay warm. That means you won’t need to boil it again next time!

Cleaning up

The eternal debate: dishwasher or hand wash? Well, good news! You can spend a bit longer with your feet up in the evening, letting your dishwasher do the hard work for you.
Yes, really. Your dishwasher (if used correctly) should cost you less to run than washing your dishes by hand**. Here’s a few tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of yours:

1. only turn on your dishwasher when it’s full
2. take care to stack larger items at the top, so they’re not blocking the jets
3. keep your filter clean, you’ll find a guide to this in your manual
4. use the eco cycle where you can
5. keep your dishwasher salt topped up, especially if you live in a hard-water area.

Around the house

There’s lots of quick wins around the rest of your home, too. Keeping your home draught-free is a great way to make the most of the heating, and make sure it doesn’t escape. For draughty windows and doors, buy or make draught excluders (you can even just use old blankets for this). If you have the budget, pay for a professional to come and draught-proof your home, it could save you up to £125 a year on energy bills!^^

Switching to low-energy light bulbs is another quick change. Even though they cost more to buy, you’ll be surprised how much of a difference they’ll make to your electricity bill. And most importantly, don’t forget to switch the lights off when you’re not using them.

Stop working from home

Finally, get back to commuting. If you live close to your office, or space that you can work remotely, it may save you money on keeping your home warm during the day. Working from home has become much more popular since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but as heating and electricity bills are creeping up, charging your devices while you work might become less affordable. Going into the office (if you live nearby) will give you a warm place to work and charge up for less.

We hope that gives you some things to get started with, to help make this winter a bit more comfortable in your home. Keep an eye out for next week’s blog post. 

*bbcgoodfood.com/howto/your-guide-to-energy-efficient-cooking
^bbc.co.uk/food/articles/energy_saving_tips
**comparethemarket.com/energy/content/how-much-does-a-dishwasher-use
^^ energysavingtrust.org.uk/hub/quick-tips-to-save-energy