The best gadgets to help you save money on your bills

Britain is facing rises in the cost of living, from food to energy. As of April, our household bills will be skyrocketing, leaving a little less money in our pockets. This is a real worry. At What's the Best, we’re always trying the best gadgets to save on our bills. So, we've written a guide, brimming with advice and our top energy-efficient picks.

As reported by Ofgem, the energy regulator for Britain, the average UK household spends near £1,777 a year on heating and power. That’s a colossal amount of money.

Ofgem has announced that the energy price cap will rise by 80% on 1 October, taking typical bills from £1,971 per year to an eye-watering £3,549 per year. The government says a bill for a typical duel-fuel household will be around £2,500 a year. However, average household bills had been expected to rise to £3,549 a year.

If anything, we’re experts in our own ways when it comes to over-using appliances and household items. Sometimes, most of us forget how much things really cost, and we can be wasteful. Even when a problem (e.g., heat loss) starts affecting our bills, it’s very easy to switch off and just pay the bill.

We’re all guilty of going for the easy option and putting our heads in the sand. Even when all information is out there. With the news about Britain’s energy crisis reaching the press, it’s never been a better time to get acquainted with your finances, get educated on energy waste and take steps to reduce it all.

Here, at What’s the Best, we have some affordable solutions, which can guarantee a decent amount of savings and a greener future. It’s time for action, don’t you think? In this article, we will cover how you can save on your heating, electric and water bills. Not only that, but we're popping in some budget planners to get you on top of your finances.

Budgeting 101

Why budget?

Well, budgets are essential to keep yourself acquainted with your income and spending. By recognising where our money is going, we can implement changes in our habits.

For example, by establishing spending limits for specific expenditures (e.g., eating out), you can take back control of your money and handle it more responsibly.

Furthermore, looking at your energy bills will give you a chance to compare company prices and find a better deal that works for your household.

Whether in Microsoft Excel, in a budgeting app like Emma, or in a planner, writing down your expenditures will help. A visual representation of your finances ensures a better understanding of them. This will mean you save money to achieve your long-term financial goals.

If you’re a creative person who enjoys crafting and journaling, a physical planner would most likely suit you better.

Saving on your electricity bill

Electricity is the best place to start because there are more gadgets to cut down your usage and therefore save you money. For example, making use of efficient tech and appliances from energy-saver lightbulbs to A+++ dishwashers.

Plus, if your gadget is on the blink, you can probably replace it with a more efficient model.

Chucking out a good appliance won’t save you much money, but when it is time to hit the shops, picking one with a high energy-efficiency rating can be worth the investment.

Why? The energy label tells you how much energy that gadget uses, comparing it to similar appliances, ranging from the most efficient (A+++) to the least efficient (F).

Top tip: Switch ‘off’ unused devices off at the plug.

Efficient kitchen gadgets

Getting rid of a good appliance won’t save you much money, but when it is time to swap, choosing one with a high energy-efficiency rating can be worth the investment. Trust us. When you’re thinking of buying a new appliance for your home, remember to look out for its energy label.

Luckily, Salter can help us with that. They have a range of kitchen gadgets that will revolutionise cooking.

Smart plugs

Smart plugs are so cool! They give you the ability to control your appliances from your phone and you can choose when the outlets turn on and off, whether manually or with a timer.

Pretty awesome, we think.

When opting for a smart plug, make sure to know if your gadgets already have a built-in sleep option, and focus on an appliance that is used a lot and is likely to require more energy like an electric heater, TV or dehumidifier.

If you make the right choice, the savings can be worthwhile.

Energy-saving light bulbs

Investing in energy-saving light bulbs can help take down your bills with ease.

An LED bulb costs around £1.71 a year to run. Therefore, it could reduce your bills by just under £200, which is an awesome saving. Typically lasting longer than halogen bulbs, LEDs are the most energy-efficient light bulbs and can cost less than £3 for one, and some can essentially pay for themselves through energy savings in a few months.

We’re very impressed.

Saving on your gas bill

There are also things you can do to save on gas bills, which can climb high in colder months when we tend to crank up the heating.

You can avoid high bills by upgrading your gadgets, installing a smart thermostat, buying some draught excluders, wrapping up warm with blankets and maybe even investing in an electric heater.

Draught excluders

According to the Energy Saving Trust, getting some draught excluders to tackle household heat loss can help you save around £25 a year. That's awesome.

Heat can get out through gaps in doors, windows and even through the floorboards. Did you know that... research has shown that up to 27 per cent of heat loss in your hallway is down to letterboxes alone? The trick is to install a draught excluder on the internal opening.

While we’re also recommending double-glazing as a more permanent solution, here are some quicker, easier and cheaper draught excluder hacks.

Windows – Use draught-proofing strips.

Doors – Use draught-proofing strips and draught excludes.

Chimney and fireplace – If you have an open chimney, blocking it up with something like a pillow could save you £18 a year.

Floorboards and skirting – Use a flexible silicone-based filler to fill the gaps.

Loft hatches – Use draught-proofing foam strips.

Electric Heaters

In case you need to heat one room in your home, consider an electric heater to keep the gas bill down. Especially if you work from your home office, an electric heater could save on bills. If you’re not heating the rest of your home, of course.

Use electric heaters in moderation, though, because electricity costs more than gas.

Our choice for the most energy-efficient would be a halogen heater. They have a low power rating, which makes them a cheaper option compared to gas and electric models.

Also, infrared heaters are worthwhile because they can tackle larger spaces if you have an open-plan living space and don’t mind forking out as they come with higher unit costs.

The best electric heaters for keeping your bills down

Challenge's 2kW heater is a good choice for a budget heater, which is energy efficient. Suitable for room size up to 10m², this appliance has three settings, a safety cut-out switch, a cool air feature and a 1.8m cord. Impressive.

Another smart buy, this energy-saving tower heater has an ECO mode, which will be energy saving. The user can set a timer and the oscillation design brings wider warmth, covering a 15m² room. Freestanding, this 2kW heater has two heat settings, can be thermostatically controlled and has a remote control. This is a good choice for keeping warm.

Sophisticated-looking, the Studio G is designed to fit seamlessly and stylishly into any living space. With a 76 Oscillation feature, this heater delivers reliable, even heat. Plus, the digital thermostat can be set to a temperature you like. Decked out with a safety cut-out switch and a timer, this heater is another option for keeping snug.

Smart thermostat

More than ever, we’re going to be keeping an eye on our heating, and how much money we’re spending every month. Investing in a smart thermostat will help you get in control of your bills this winter. If your supply company doesn’t offer a smart meter or a thermostat with their plan, we suggest grabbing one of these thermometers to keep on top of it all.

Blankets

Blankets are our absolute favourite things to keep warm in the winter. Whether ordinary or heated, they can be efficient ways to stay snug. Wrap up warm, readers.

Heated blankets are typically energy efficient, good for your health and affordable.

We're sold.

Saving on your water bill

There are many ways to get control of your water bill: from buying an efficient showerhead, using up a washing-up bowl rather than the running tap and cutting down your shower time.

These suggestions are bound to make a difference to your bills – let’s save that money.

Check out this shower-head, which is available on Amazon:

These products are just a few, affordable suggestions for reducing your bills.

Though most of these solutions are by no means permanent, they may help your bills go down a little, which is what we all want.

Piper Huxley is a Commercial Content Writer at Bauer Media, where she writes for titles such as Heat, Closer, What’s the Best and Yours.

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