TAPE TIP
I’m nicknamed The Money Mum thanks to my bill-saving hacks – £10 B&Q buy will keep your rooms warmer without heating on
And scroll down to see Gemma's four other tips
WITH Christmas on the way, saving every penny you can on your energy bills can be vital.
And for many families, the cost of putting the heating on can feel can feel stressful enough without thinking about gifts too.
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But making vital, and cheap, improvements to your home now can take the strain off and make your property more energy efficient.
And they prove that you don’t need to turn to big or drastic solutions to be able to reduce your bills.
Money-saving expert Gemma Bird - nicknamed The Money Mum - has partnered with B&Q to share affordable tips for improving energy efficiency in your home.
She says: "It’s no doubt that many of us around the country are having a tough time with our energy bills.
"But there’s plenty of ways that people can save money on their bills by getting a little bit savvy around the house with some energy efficiency improvements and hacks.
"It doesn’t have to be just big projects, like insulation and double glazing - there’s lots that can be done easily, and without breaking the bank.”
And Gemma's top tip? Picking up some self-adhesive draught excluders to keep the warmth trapped inside your home.
She says: "Heat escapes from our homes primarily through gaps in doors, windows, and other openings, making heating systems work harder to keep rooms warm, all while allowing cold air to leach in.
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"Self-adhesive draught excluders are a quick and really affordable solution to trap in warmth without needing to make any permanent changes.
"Simply stick them along door bottoms, around window frames, or anywhere you feel a draught.
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"They help keep the cold out and maintain a cosy, stable indoor temperature — no professional help or special tools required."
Gemma’s favourite product, Diall White Self-Adhesive Draught Excluder, is priced at just £9.97, making it a super affordable fix to keep the heating costs down.
The savvy mum isn't the only fan of the draught tape either, as it's racked up a host of five-star reviews on the B&Q website.
One satisfied shopper gushed: "Helpful and cheap product!!!!!!! High recommended!!"
A second wrote: "I bought this to seal the draughty from my doors and windows. Seems to have done a good job."
A third chimed in: "I bought this item to seal the front door. It stopped the draft and high winds . Used on that bathroom window stopped another draft. Just what was required. Peal and stick."
Meanwhile, a fourth wrote: "We bought this and it was easy to stick and more importantly, there's no air coming into our house now."
Gemma has also revealed her four other buys that can help slash energy bills.
Smart plugs
Gemma says: "Whether you’re at home or away, smart plugs offer a convenient way to control your household electrical appliances.
"This ensures you’re not having energy draining products, like lights, or TV’s and sound systems on standby.
"It’s a small, affordable tech upgrade that can make a difference to energy bills.";
What's more, smart plugs can be picked up for just £15 in B&Q.
It lets you control plugged-in devices directly from your phone, whether it’s household appliances, Christmas tree lights, or even a TV.
It’s also voice activated via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Curtain solution
"Creating a thermal barrier at draughty doorways is a simple but effective way to keep heat in the rooms where you spend the most time", insists Gemma.
Indeed, using a tension rod - priced at £17 - to hang a thick curtain in any doorway can make a really big difference to a room’s warmth by acting as a buffer to stop cold drafts from entering.
Gemma adds: "This temporary solution can be moved from room-to-room or taken down without any damage and reused in your next home, making it ideal for renters."
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Heated clothes airer
Winter makes it tough to dry clothes indoors without skyrocketing energy bills.
Leaving the heating on all day can be unaffordable and wasteful, and tumble dryers are costly too.
So opting for a heated airer is a more efficient way to dry clothes during winter.
For example, the £45 version from B&Q costs 6p per hour to run.
Gemma says: "Opt for one that has plenty of space to spread your clothes out, as overlapping will increase the drying time and the likelihood of a damp smell setting in.
"In small spaces, pairing it with a portable dehumidifier can speed up the process."
Portable dehumidifier
A portable dehumidifier can also be an efficient solution for drying clothes indoors, Gemma claimed.
She says: "Simply place it in the room where your clothes are drying, and it will pull moisture from the air, helping clothes dry faster without relying on constant heating.
"It also prevents condensation from forming on windows, keeping your home dry and comfortable, and helping stop winter scaries like mould and mildew growing."
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Paul White, Commercial Director at B&Q, said: “Renters and homeowners alike can feel that they are unable to take control of their household bills.
"However, at B&Q we have plenty of energy efficiency solutions, from thermostatic controls to draught excluders, which can help make it easier for customers to control and reduce their energy use, and to keep their bills from becoming overwhelming.”
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