State pensioners can get £380 if they spend £1.40 after Winter Fuel Payment axe

Households can save hundreds of pounds per year by implementing a few simple -saving measures. One such tip costs just £1.40 but can help boost the efficiency of your radiator.

These tips are especially welcome as households face another energy price cap hike this week, with bills set to rise by around 10 percent for the next three months.

The increase will bring the average annual for a typical dual-fuel household to £1,717.

With the Government tightening eligibility for the Department for Work and Pensions () Winter Fuel Allowance, these savings could also help state pensioners who are newly excluded from the benefit recover some of the lost income.

By following 10 simple energy-saving steps, households could save up to £380 a year, .

1. Install radiator foil: Fitting reflective foil behind radiators on external walls can help retain heat. Major supermarkets are selling foil for £1.40, making this a cost-effective solution
2. Lower your thermostat: Turning the dial down by just one degree could shave £80 to £85 off your annual energy bill.
3. Adjust heating timers: Set your central heating to switch off at night and during the day if no one is home, reducing unnecessary fuel consumption.
4. Manage radiator settings: In rooms like bedrooms that aren’t used during the day, turn the radiator to the lowest setting rather than off completely to save energy.
5. Lower washing machine temperatures: Washing clothes at 20C with liquid detergent instead of powder can clean just as effectively while saving money. Reducing the number of spins in each cycle also helps.
6. Air-dry clothes: Use a drying rack instead of a tumble dryer to cut costs. If you must use the dryer, clean the filter to improve efficiency.
7. Insulate your loft: Up to a third of heat can escape through the roof, so if your home isn’t insulated, adding loft insulation could save up to £215 annually on heating bills, according to Which?.
8. Draught-proof your home: Use draught excluders for doors and windows, as well as expanding foam fillers for gaps around chimneys, floorboards, and skirting boards. This could save around £25 a year.
9. Switch to LED bulbs: Replacing old halogen bulbs with energy-saving LED bulbs can save about £7 annually in running costs per bulb, eventually cutting £180 over their lifespan.
10. Turn off standby appliances: Switch off devices like TVs, game consoles, and laptops at the socket to save up to £55 per year. Avoid leaving them on standby where possible.

Domestic energy bills are set to drop by one percent in January, providing slight relief for households. Contrary to previous forecasts, energy consultancy Cornwall Insight estimates the typical annual bill will decrease to £1,697 from January 1.

It said a combination of the EU meeting its gas storage targets ahead of winter, strong global LNG supply outlooks, and improved confidence regarding and imports ahead of winter had resulted in wholesale market prices falling.

Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, said: “While households will have to endure a rise in the cap from October, our current forecasts suggest that this is a temporary blip.”

However, he noted: “January to March, typically some of the coldest months of the year, often bring with them the biggest energy bills and, while our latest forecast is welcome news, it remains subject to the volatile wholesale gas and electricity markets.

“There remains a further six weeks or so for the wholesale market to influence our forecasts, and while the negligible quarter-on-quarter drop is welcome, it must be remembered that bills will still remain hundreds of pounds above historic levels.”