Living on your own can be expensive if you don’t budget your money. Here are some suggestions for making your money go further. The Citizens Advice Bureau may also be able to give you more advice on budgeting.

Top 10 Energy Saving Tips

1. Switch off lights in empty rooms.
2. Close curtains at dusk.
3. Set thermostats correctly (hot water around 60-65°C, room thermostats between 18-21°C).
4. Turn electrical appliances off rather than leaving them on standby.
5. Only fill the kettle with as much water as you need each time you boil it.
6. Cook with lids on pans and match ring size to saucepan size.
7. Avoid placing furniture in fron of radiators.
8. Wait until you have a full load before using the washing machine and use a lower washing temperature.
9. Use a shower instead of a bath where possible.
10. Tumble dryers cost a lot to run. Dry clothes outside, or on a clothes rail for free. Remember to open a window when drying clothes inside to stop condensation building up.

General Tips

• It is worth checking if there are any furniture projects in your area, or why not pop along to car boot sales.
• Look out for a second hand bike to save on bus fares.
• If you have to travel a lot buy a season ticket.
• Have a look in Charity shops, and watch out for sales in large shops.
• Join the library, you can borrow CD’s, DVD’s, videos and books. Make sure you return them when they are due, so you don’t get charged extra.
• Put draught excluders around doors and windows.
• Think carefully before buying items on hire-purchase from shops, or from mail order catalogues. These have high interest rates. Paying these back can be very costly and lead to further debt.
• If you can walk there, why take the bus?
• Don’t install a telephone line unless you REALLY need one and can afford one. You can buy cheap phones from many shops.
• Try and get a pay as you go mobile as contracts can bring large bills at the end of the month. Lots of pay as you go give you free texts or calls.
• Don’t call 0898 numbers, as they are EXPENSIVE.
• Don’t keep your heating on all day, use a timer if you have one to lower your heating bills, and try not to set it at the highest setting. You could put on an extra layer to save more energy.
• Fan heaters and electric bar fires are very expensive to use.
• Don’t heat the rooms you are not using and don’t leave the heating on when you’re going out unless its really cold.
• Keep all your pennies and change in a jar, and take it to the bank when you need an extra few pounds.

Fridges & Freezers Tips

• Make sure there is plenty of space for air to flow around the back and top of your firdge freezer.
• Keep the cooling fins at the back of the appliance clean and free from dust.
• Put the appliance in a cool place away from direct sunlight and the cooker or boiler.
• Check the inside temperature with a fidge thermometer (around £2 from any homeware shop) to make sure the fidge is the right temperature.
• Use the fridge/freezer thermostat to keep the temperature right: the higher the setting the cooler the temperature.
• Dont put warm or hot items into a fridge/freezer. Let them cool down first.
• Keep the frideg/freezer door shut to stop cold air escaping and warm air getting in. Replace damaged door seals, as they let the heat in.
• Defrost regularly – the more ice the more electricity is needed to keep the appliance cool.

Lighting Tips

• Switch off lights when they are not needed.
• Use the lowest wattage light bulb that gives the light you need.
• Make use of daylight. Keep windows clean and furniture away from windows.
• Install energy saving light bulbs in lights used for three or more hours a day, including those kept on for security purposes and outside lights on at night.