Winter is the time for belt tightening

When it comes to rising gas and electricity prices, you can start to despair at the idea of ever being able to keep your costs in check. Keeping the little ones clothed and fed can be enough of a financial worry without having to choose between heating and eating. Luckily, there are a few ways to take matters into your own hands and tighten your belt this winter, which this post looks at in more detail below.

Avoid unforeseen bills
You might just about be able to balance the energy bills every month, but all it takes is one burst pipe to ruin months of careful financial planning. Investing upfront in a central heating service which will service and maintain your boiler will protect you from high call out charges and repair bills. Prevention is much better than cure when it comes to maintaining your central heating.

In addition to this, you might want to look into having water and energy meters installed in your home. These will make it much easier to get accurate readings and save you paying excess on an estimated bill. Even if you don’t want to get a meter installed, carrying out your own readings and entering the value regularly each month will help ensure you aren’t being overcharged. It is also worth looking into changing your gas and electricity tariff as this can make a huge difference to your outgoings.

Make savings around the house
There are many steps you can take to reduce your weekly outgoings. For example, to save on shopping by buying in bulk, go to the supermarket with a friend, thus getting a better deal and avoiding wasting any perishables in the process. When it comes to washing, always use a cold water cycle to lower water heating costs. It’s also a good idea to invest in energy saving light bulbs, as over the course of a year they will slice a sizeable chunk from your bill. If you are really dedicated, you can even use barrels to help you collect and reuse rain water.

To save money on the growing little ones, remember that their clothes don’t always have to be brand new. If they don’t fancy their siblings hand-me-downs you can always try charity shops. Most of the time, the clothes are only lightly used making them a huge bargain! They can then be donated once again when your little one needs another inch on the hem of their trousers.