Keeping fuel bills down  

Insulation is one way to keep your house warmer and your fuel bills down but if you are a pensioner in your own home, perhaps also paying for domiciliary care, then you want to keep your bills down.  

Firstly, check your power prices; you may save money by changing supplier. You can also phone your current supplier and check whether you are on the best tariff for your needs. This is something that your home care helper may be able to help you with. 

Secondly, check your thermostat. If you turn down your central heating thermostat by 1 degree centigrade it could lower your bill by up to 10%. Make sure you are warm enough though - the recommended living room temperature for older people is 21 degrees centigrade (70 Fahrenheit).  

Thirdly, save money by using energy saving lightbulbs. They cost more than normal ones (around £3) but on average they last 12 times longer and could save you as much as £7 per year each. If you have 7 lightbulbs, that’s a potential saving of nearly £50 per year. If you have trouble changing them, ask your domiciliary care worker or someone else to help you. 

Fourthly, it is important to check your boiler. Some power companies will do this free for senior citizens. A more efficient boiler can save a great deal on your bills. 

Lastly, think about appliances. If you have a freezer, keep it full or fill it with newspaper to make it more efficient. If you are using the oven, try and cook things together. If you are using the kettle, only boil as much water as you need. When you aren’t using electrical items, turn them off, you could save up to £25 a year by not leaving them on standby.