How to save money on your bills in the new year

2016 is just around the corner, and many people use the new year to make major changes in their lives. So, this new year, why not make a change and save some money on your bills? Here’s three tips for doing just that.

1. Switch energy providers

Switching energy providers is a great way to make a short term saving on your energy bills. In the new year, many energy companies will be offering low introductory rates for new customers, as a way to encourage people to switch their energy services from their current provider. However, although these rates look great, you need to be aware that many of them are only introductory, and will increase in the long term. In addition, there are other ways to make more significant, long term savings your heating and electricity bills, two of which are outlined below.

2. Get an energy performance check

Energy performance checks are a great way to figure out where you could make savings on your bills. An energy performance check (or EPC) is usually associated with selling a property, as it is a requirement to have one carried out before you sell. However, they are also useful for working out where you can save bags of money. An EPC will tell you how energy efficient your home really is, and will make recommendations on how you can improve the energy efficiency of your property, which will save you money in the short and long term. Your home will be rated from A, which is the most efficient, to G, which is the least efficient, and each rating comes with practical changes you can make to make your home more energy efficient.

3. Install insulation

One of the common recommendations made by an EPC is insulation. This is because insulating your home is a great, cost effective way of making it much more energy efficient, and will therefore help keep your heating costs low. There are a number of different types of insulation out there, from cavity wall insulation and loft insulation to external wall insulation, and depending on the specifics of your property, one or all of these may be useful in keeping the heat in and your bills down.