{"id":21145,"title":"How to cut your bills in 2022: 5 interesting questions you asked and we answered using expert advice","description":"The number one email I receive from people is the concern that life is getting more and more expensive, and choices of being sustainable when it comes to clothes, food, and other necessities fall behind. With that in mind, the question is, what can you and your families do to brace against energy increases and household expenses? To answer that, here are 5 common questions that were answered by Which experts Karen Lawrence, sustainability researcher, and Aaron West, senior appliances researcher.","content":"

\u201cThe art is not in making money, but in keeping it\u201d -Proverb<\/strong><\/p>

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The number one email I receive from people is the concern that life is getting more and more expensive, and choices of being sustainable when it comes to clothes, food, and other necessities fall behind. According to Which, the cost of living has increased to the highest its been in 40 years, with inflation prices rising to 10.1% in July.<\/a><\/p>

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With that in mind, the question is, what can you and your families do to brace against energy increases and household expenses? To answer that, here are 5 common questions that were answered by Which<\/a> experts <\/strong>Karen Lawrence, sustainability researcher, and Aaron West, senior appliances researcher.<\/p>

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1) Are there smart ways to lower my bills?<\/strong><\/p>

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Photo by Vanessa Lee<\/u><\/a> on Unsplash<\/u><\/a><\/p>

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Yes, yes, yes. At the Tree Huggers Studio, we are huge fans of insulation for the primary reason of it helping people significantly lower their bills. First of all, you can easily insulate your loft, even if you are to do it yourself. According to the \u00a0Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the average price for a 100mm-thick roll is \u00a320, designed to cover 8.3m\u00b2, and depending on your home, adding loft insulation could help reduce your bills by up to \u00a3300. Also, there are a few grants<\/a> where suppliers can insulate part of your home for free, either by adding cavity wall or loft insulation. The same applies to adding solar panels to your roof, which is free should you be on a lower income -you may have seen a letter being sent by the Government, but in case you\u2019ve missed it, check it out here<\/a>.<\/p>

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Another way to use insulation is by adding it to hot water pipes or tanks -using what\u2019s called a cylinder jacket. Not only are they super cheap to buy and can be part of a to-do DIY job, but the Energy Saving Trust<\/a> says that insulating your hot water tank is likely to pay for itself in just one year. Similarly, a smart way to stop heat escaping is by using carpets, rugs, draught excluders, or even thick curtains. In fact, all heavy lined materials can not only block draughts from between the gaps but also create a cosier atmosphere for the winter months.<\/p>

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2) Direct debit increases -what do they mean?<\/strong><\/p>

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Photo by Mika Baumeister<\/u><\/a> on Unsplash<\/u><\/a><\/p>

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Most of us have seen automatic direct debit (DD) increases, however, it\u2019s surprising how many don\u2019t realise these are not your actual energy bills. Providers will estimate how much you need to cover your bills (e.g., based on your home size and the number of inhabitants), but this doesn\u2019t mean that your savvy ways can\u2019t mean lower bills and build up your \u201ccredit\u201d.<\/p>

Your actual bill is a combination of a daily standing charge plus the energy you've used charged at a unit rate per kWh. While DD is used to pay for these costs, you may already be in credit -meaning that you\u2019ve paid more than what you\u2019ve used and have this buffer against the winter months. Most providers have smart apps that can help you see that info, others send you a monthly email bill which lets you know. However, if you\u2019re not tech savvy, simply give them a ring and they\u2019ll be able to check out your profile.<\/p>

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Of course, there are other reasons why your DD may have increased, including:<\/p>