A SAVVY woman has told how she is £340 in credit after she used some simple energy saving tips.
Sara has revealed her secrets to help out other Brits dealing with the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis.
GettyA savvy woman has shared her top energy saving tips[/caption]
The tips include boiling a kettle in the morning and saving the hot water in a flask.
And she also has tips on saving money while washing your clothes and grocery shopping.
She wrote in the Facebook group Money Saving Hints, Tips and Ideas: “I boil the kettle in the morning if I’m at home for the day, and fill a large two-litre flask, so if I want tea etc then I take water from the flask.
“It’s cheaper than boiling just the amount you need six times a day, and any left over water gets used for my dishes at night.”
If Sara uses her tumble dryer, she first hangs her clothes over night – and then only uses it for 15 mins.
She added: “I do two proper washing loads a week on a hotter wash, one dark and one light, rather than daily short washes.
“I haven’t had the heating on unless I really need to.
“I use a dehumidifier all the time and I have an electric blanket on the sofa that is covered with a blanked that I sit on.
What to do if you can’t pay your bills
FALLING behind on your energy bills can be extremely stressful.
If you’re struggling to pay what you owe, contact your supplier as soon as possible.
Your provider has to help you come up with a solution, and you should be able to negotiate a deal that works for you both.
One option is to agree a payment plan where you pay off your debts in affordable instalments.
You may be able to pay off your debts directly from your benefits through the Fuel Direct Scheme.
A fixed amount will automatically be taken to cover what you owe plus your usage.
To be eligible, you must be getting one of the following benefits:
Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
Income support
income-related employment and support allowance
Pension credit
Universal Credit (but only if you’re not working)
If you cannot come to an agreement with your supplier, they may try to force you to get a prepayment meter installed.
In very rare cases, where you refuse to negotiate, your supplier might threaten you with disconnection.
“Then I have an electric throw to cover me. I also have an electric blanket on my bed, and I bought an Eskimo Snoogle. It was so worth it!”
Because she pays a monthly direct debit, but is not using as much money as she pays the energy firm, it means her account is now in credit.
She also explained an easy way to ensure you don’t go over budget while grocery shopping.
Sara never goes to the supermarket – and instead uses Click and Collect so she is tempted to purchase things she doesn’t need.
She explained: “I organise my [shopping] so I collect after I’ve been to the gym, trained and had my free shower so it’s more fuel efficient!”