How to reduce your energy bill - efficiently & without a million phone calls.

Having left a rather cosy flat this morning, only to find that outside was the coldest it has been all year so far, my office is no warmer than outside & my woolly jumper is at home. Well as you can imagine the electric heater is now on full to warm us up while we type at the speed of lightning to keep our hands warm. But as we all know, electrical heaters is the deep abyss of money wasting gadgets so we've been spending the morning coming up with some simple steps that will help you save money on the electricity bill this winter. If you are one of those lucky sods that has an open fire at home, then i'd advise you just don't move being in front of the fire until Spring arrives, or at least that is what I would do.

Here are some GREAT tips on how to reduce your energy bills

·         Invest in quality knitwear and layer up

When the breeze offers a fresh Arctic chill and it feels like snow is just around the corner, it can be tempting to turn the heating up on full and forget about the harsh climate outside. But living in a sauna is not good for your skin or your wallet. Instead of wasting your hard earned money on something you cannot see, keep the thermostat on normal level and invest your dosh in quality knitwear and layer up. You'll be surprised how effective an extra layer of clothing can be in keeping you warm.

·         Draft-proof windows and doors

A lot of heat will escape from your house through cracks around window and door frames - and if you live in an old house then you're in for a treat. Invest in some proper draught-proofing products for the doors and windows, seal your skirting boards with silicone sealant to be on the safe side. It will cost a bit to do this, but you could save up to £90 a year, so in the long-term you'll be winning.

·         Install a digital thermostat

Heating your home is expensive, especially after the recently announced hike in energy prices, so there is no reason to pay for your heating when you're not at home. Have a digital thermostat from a DIY store and program it to increase the temperature half an hour before you arrive home from work.

·         It's not all about heating: save money in other parts of your electric bill

Darker days and nights make most up us want turn on more lights when at home. Before you do this, replace each bulb with LED bulbs as this will help you save on your electricity bill. And turn lights off when you leave a room.

·         Shop around for the best deal

There's no shame in wanting to move on from your current energy provider. Find the best deal for you, and switching either your gas or electricity so that you get both from the same supplier you can get a dual fuel discount. And if you choose to manage your account online and pay by Direct Debit could provide even further discounts