With heating costs soaring and finances feeling under more and more pressure, ensuring you’re running your home as efficiently as possible can go a really long way.
Our partners at PayPlan, one of the UK’s largest free debt advice providers, have now outlined some of their expert budgeting tips in one of their monthly blogs, which they’ve shared with us. You can read it here:
With the summer behind us, it’s now time to start thinking about how to efficiently heat your home, especially given everything happening with rising interest rates at the moment.
Here are a few ways to make the most out of your money and heat your home for less:
- Keep radiators and heaters clear so heat can circulate – don’t put furniture in front of them or dry washing on them
- Draw your curtains in the evenings to minimise heat loss through windows
- Draught-proof your windows and doors. Heat can escape through the smallest of places, which means as soon as your heating is turned off, you’ll lose the warm feeling sooner rather than later
- Invest in an electric blanket – you can move the blanket from your bed to your sofa, so you’re warm wherever you decide to settle.
It’s also important to ensure you’re getting all the help you’re entitled to, such as:
Cold Weather Payment
If you receive certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI), you may be able to receive this payment. You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as – or is forecast to be – 0°C or below over seven consecutive days. You’ll receive £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.
Winter Fuel Payment
If you were born on or before 25 September 1956, you could get between £100 – £300 to help you pay your heating bills.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
You could get a one-off discount of £150 on your electricity or gas bill between October and March. To qualify, you’ll need to be in receipt of the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or be on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria.
If you’re worried about debts, it can be difficult to know where to turn. At PayPlan, we’re specialists in finding solutions for people with multiple debts, and over the past 30 years, we’ve helped over one million people take control of their finances. Get in touch by calling 0800 072 1206 or visiting www.payplan.com/the-fire-fighters-charity
Need a rest and recharge?
Here at The Fire Fighters Charity, we are developing our services to ensure we can offer anyone who may need some time out from the challenges of day-to-day life – no matter their age or stage in life – a break away and a chance to rest and recharge.
