As the nights grow chillier, those energy price rises will begin to hit home. So how can you minimise your bills this winter? Aside from obvious insulation measures, there is now a burgeoning range of products on the market to help you keep your energy costs down. But are these worth the initial expense? Some might be.
Take the OWL Wireless Energy Monitor, which checks how much you’re spending per hour on electricity. It attaches to your electricity supply and constantly updates its screen, depending on what is switched on in the house. It costs £35, but most users save around 25% off their electricity bill once they start using one, says Melanie Wright in The Sunday Telegraph. With the average electricity bill being £500, that’s a £125 saving – well worth the initial expense. A word of warning, though: an OWL can make a big difference in a large house, but for smaller homes it may not always be worth the expense. Those already careful about switching things off that aren’t in use may find the £35 expense a waste.
Next is the IntelliPlug, which retails at £12-£15. For that, you get an adapter that you can plug your TV, stereo and anything else that has a standby setting into. If any of the items plugged into it are not being used, the IntelliPlug will switch them off for you, thus saving the cost of keeping them on standby, says Wright. But the savings on your energy bill are unlikely to outweigh the cost of the Intelliplug. Switch your TV on and off at the wall to see if taking it off standby even registers on your OWL. You’ll probably find it won’t.
Finally, there is the Freeloader, a portable charging device that stores solar power, which you can then use to charge up your mobile phone, iPod, PDA, etc. Again, the cost of the gadget (£30) is likely to be more than you will ever save on your electricity bill, particularly given the way the traditional British weather limits access to sunlight. A review on Reghardware.co.uk suggests you save money on your electricity bill by charging your gadgets at work instead.
Minimise your MOT costs
An MOT may not be expensive, but the repair bill that follows it can be. To ensure you are only paying for repairs that genuinely need performing, use a local council MOT centre. They don’t do repairs so have no vested interest in failing you, says Martin Lewis on Moneysavingexpert.com. See their site for a list of centres.
Save on skincare
If you aren’t prepared to downgrade your beauty regime to cut costs, try Feelunique.com. The website sells lots of luxury branded make-up, skincare, hair care and perfume products at discounted prices. The firm is based in Jersey, so everything is tax free. The discounts vary according to brand, with some being better than others, says Jasmine Birtles in the Daily Express. But some of the discounts are impressive. For example, Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat costs £16.40 on the site, compared to a recommended retail price of £22. And the delivery is free.