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IS it too soon to put the heating on? That’s the question on millions of people's lips as the winter months approach and temperatures start to drop.
But the combination of a higher energy price cap from October 1, and the loss of the Winter Fuel Payments for millions of pensioners means that more of us than ever will be struggling to heat our homes this winter.
The new price cap is set at £1,717 per year for a typical household who use electricity and gas and pay by Direct Debit.
This is an increase of £149 from the cap that was in place between July and October.
Worse, the government has confirmed that the Winter Fuel Payment (worth between £200 and £300 depending on how old you are) will no longer be universal.
Pensioners can still get it if they receive Pension Credit, but Age UK has warned that 2.5million people aged over 66 who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it and will be in serious trouble as a result.
Against that backdrop, many people are desperately looking for ways to delay putting their heating on, or to minimise how much they use it.
Aydin Sigva, an expert in energy saving and insulation at , says that there are lots of gadgets that can help people keep their energy bills under control.
However, he cautions that the first thing that households need to do is make sure they have the right insulation in place.
He warns this is important because homes are a bit like a sieve with lots of places valuable heat can escape.
The loft, walls, floors, door and window frames, even keyholes will see heat you’ve paid for flying out into the street.
He says: “Cavity and loft insulation save a few hundred pounds a year each - loft insulation is usually cheaper so should be the first job you do.
"If you’re a tenant, you’ll need the landlord to do it or get permission to do it yourself but its only worthwhile if you’re staying long-term as it’ll take a few years to get your money back in savings.”
This is backed up by the Energy Savings Trust, who calculate that cavity wall insulation can save around £155 a year from your bills, while solid wall insulation saves around £210 a year.
Loft insulation saves the average household up to £135 a year, and you can even insulate your floor saving up to £40 a year.
However, these things aren’t cheap to do, for instance, insulating the loft costs £950 on average, while cavity wall installation can set you back a whopping £1,700.
Of course, you’ll make your money back in the long run through cheaper bills, and good insulation also protects you from cold draughts which can have you reaching for the thermostat controls.
Sigva also has a list of simple quick fixes that Brits can do themselves to save a few pounds.
He says: “Put a brush and flap over the letterbox, draught excluders around leaky doors and windows and even block unused keyholes with some tissue and tape.”
However, he also recommends a nifty gadget which costs around £89 and can help you reduce your bills by between 5% and 15% according to the Energy Savings Trust.
He says: “Consider an energy use monitor - a clever gadget that attaches to the meter and displays on a screen exactly what you’re using at any moment.
“Discover what devices use more power and use them less. Turn off items on ‘standby’ and remind the kids to turn off lights and consoles when not in use!
"There’s no magic answer, but a few simple steps can save a lot of wasted money.”
You can pick up a monitor for as little as £12 from B&Q.
There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
These devices work by measuring the amount of energy your using on individual devices around the home.
They are placed between a socket and the plug of the device being measured.
A screen on the plug shows how much power the item is using, and they run on batteries so they don't add more usage to your bill.
Each plug is different but it measures the energy use of the individual appliance you've plugged in.
With some you can enter the price you pay for energy and then the gadget works out the cost for you.
The cost per unit you pay depends on the tariff you're on but you can usually find this information on your latest energy bill or online account.
For your chosen appliance, you can use the plug to check the cost of running it when it's in use, or just on standby.
They are different to smart meters which can also help you track the cost of energy around the whole home.
Either device can you help you better understand what energy you're using around the home, and then reduce it where you can saving money.
Sigva also recommends that households invest thermostatic radiator valves.
These are relatively cheap, but you will probably need a plumber to install them.
The valves can be set so that radiators only click on when the temperature drops to a chosen level, so you don’t waste money heating a house that’s already warm.
Rooms that you do not use very often such as a spare bedroom can be turned down very low, which will decrease your bills.
You can pick these handy gadgets up for just
Another tip is a tube of mastic, which can be used to close up gaps around windows where the masonry has separated from the wood or plastic frame.
Sigva says: “Houses move a little in hot and cold weather, so gaps can open up allowing cold air and warm out.”
A tube of mastic costs just
He even says that ordinary silver foil can be put behind radiators to reflect a little more heat back into the room.
This radiator foil is just £7.51 for a roll from Screwfix.
Heat activated fans can be placed on wood burners and even certain types of gas fire to throw heat into the main part of the room.
Also called stove fans, these can be picked up from the likes of B&Q for as little as £15.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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