With U.S. inflation rate at record high, everyone is talking about different ways to save money. And since winter is approaching, most of us are, unsurprisingly, concerned with our energy bills. Here, we have some practical tips for saving both your electric and gas bills this winter.

1. Keep doors closed

Keeping doors closed within the house to trap heat. This will apply especially for those who don’t have central heating. So, for example, if you are spending most of your time in the living room during the evening, then, you can keep the kitchen door or the bathroom door closed in order to keep heat. Fear that you might walk into an icy cold bedroom at night as a result? What about laying some thick rugs on the floor? Or add two (or even three) layers of duvet and bed throws as you sleep? This leads us to the next point…

2. Add more layers

You can make a noticeable difference in your bills by turning your thermostat down by just one degree. Yes! So time to grab some socks and a sweater, and add two layers underneath that! I suggest a thermal long-sleeve top plus a sweater on top, then some thermal tights as well as trousers, a pair of thick cotton socks and a pair of slippers if you wish.

3. Cook clever

The oven, as we know, heats up every shelf regardless of whether there's food on it or not. So make the most of it by bulk-cooking! Also, once you've finished cooking, keep the oven door open and allow the excess heat to warm up your kitchen or room.

4. Don't block the heater

Blocking the heater with large furniture such as a cabinet drawer or a sofa is not energy efficient. This means heat is absorbed by the item in front of it and it will take much longer (and more energy and money) to warm up the room.

5. Unplug them

Not using the laptop or the lamp? Then don't just switch them off, take the extra step to unplug them too. Appliances continue to use unnecessary electricity
even when they're turned off. So, if you want to save on your electricity bills, ensure appliances such as the TV is switched off and not just on standby, and unplug any other appliances that are not being used every day.

6. Draw the curtains

Invest in some thermal curtains. They will trap heat in your house when it's chilly outside. Conversely, on a sunny day, open the curtains and let the warmth in.

7. Insulation

Heat rises. By insulating your attic, you can trap more heat inside the home, potentially saving over $100 a year. Cavity wall insulation would also cut back
your heating bills significantly. Need a professional to complete the job? Find your local FixlersPro by clicking here .

8. Block up your chimney

If you are lucky enough to have a beautiful house with a chimney, simple devices like the Chimney Sheep or Chimney Balloon can help minimise drafts that come through the chimney. The Chimney balloon is also commonly used to stop draft, chimney odors, insect, bird or bat from entering the home through the flue.

9. Fill up the fridge

We are super excited to bring you this tip! Who doesn’t love a full fridge? Did you know that an empty fridge wastes far more energy than a full one, because
it has to work harder to keep everything cool? If food is compacted together, it stays cooler and for longer. Try doing a weekly shop rather than several smaller ones. And as always, a gentle reminder that food waste is never a good thing, so only buy what you can consume within a week, or buy things that have a longer expiry date.