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I live in a new build home and slashed my heating costs – I swear by my ‘game-changer’ hack that takes seconds to do
Scroll down to see Chloe's six tips
MANY households across the country are still struggling with energy costs - which means keeping warm could be a struggle.
So it's no surprise that families are on the hunt for affordable ways to stay cosy without further stretching their budgets.
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Thankfully, award-winning money expert Chloe Carmichael - better known as - has revealed some top tips that could save families some cash.
First up, Chloe revealed that something as simple as scheduling your thermostat can make a huge difference.
You can control it in seconds from your phone too, so it's easy to keep on top of.
Speaking in partnership with , Chloe said: "Using the timer on your thermostat is a great way to schedule your heating to come on and off when you need it to.
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"A lot of thermostats nowadays link to apps on your phone, making it easier than ever to set a schedule for your heating – it’s been a game changer for me to easily manage my heating."
She added: "This helps to reduce monthly bills as it means you’re only heating your home when you need it to.
"Make sure if you’ve been away, you set your heating to come on at least half a day in advance so you’re not coming back to an extremely cold house."
And it's not the only tip Chloe has when it comes to reducing your heating bills.
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Here, she reveals her five other hacks...
Lower your thermostat temperature
For times when you need to have your central heating on, lowering your thermostat by even one or two degrees can make a noticeable difference to your heating bill.
I refuse to turn the heating on in my London flat so found a genius hack to keep myself warm instead - it's from my dad
Chloe says: "If you stay layered up, the drop in temperature won’t make a significant difference to your warmth and comfort levels but will make a noticeable difference to your annual bill.
"The savings from adjusting the temperature will add up over time making this a simple but effective tactic.
"The government does recommend 18C as the minimum temperature for households, however older people or those suffering from illness may need it higher."
Turn radiators down or off
Instead of heating your entire house, consider only turning on your radiators in the rooms you use most, or turning them to low in the rooms you don’t.
Chloe says: "Radiators are easy to switch on and off thanks to their valves, so if you do want to use a particular room where you’ve turned them off, just make sure to turn them on a few hours in advance to build the heat to at least 18C as the recommended room temperature."
Close curtains and blinds
Keeping your curtains and blinds closed when your heating is on is a great way to keep the heat in and warm up your home.
With days shorter and nights longer over the winter months, it’s the perfect excuse to get cosy at home and keep the heat in.
"Closing doors will also help to trap heat too and is an easy tactic to implement", Chloe adds.
Draught-proof windows and doors
Chloe admits her front door is very draughty even though she's in a new build home.
";[This] makes the hallway the coldest part of our house", she revealed.
"I recently hung up a thermal lined curtain at my front door using the viral tension pole hack and could instantly feel the difference be reducing the draughts.
"Check around your windows and doors to see if there’s any gaps which you can seal to prevent the cold coming in.
"You could even consider adding a thermal lining behind your curtains which simply clips onto your curtain pole."
Check your tariff
Finally, knowing what tariff you’re on can help save you money in two ways - by making sure you’re using it efficiently, and by making sure you’re on the best available rate.
Chloe explains: "For example, if you’re on an Economy 7 tariff, you’ll have cheaper electricity rates during the night and more expensive rates in the day.
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"So if you make the most of the cheaper rates, it could save you money but if you’re using the bulk of your energy during peak hours it could actually end up costing you more.
"If you do decide to move supplier after researching tariffs, it’s worth checking with your friends and family to see if the supplier you plan to move to has a refer a friend scheme so you can both get a little monetary bonus."
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