10 tips to stay warm and reduce your energy bills this winter

Believe it or not, your ceiling fan can help you stay warm!

For many parts of Australia, it’s been a very cold Winter, and staying warm can be a struggle – not to mention expensive.

Receiving the energy bill for the winter quarter is often a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you’re on a budget. Whether you want to reduce your heating and energy costs, or simply find more economical ways to manage the chilly temps, these 10 tips will help!

Below we’ve shared a few tips to help get you through the cold winter months, and hopefully keep your energy bills down.

1. Use drafts stoppers to insulate your home

It seems obvious, but stopping drafts coming in under your doors and warm air escaping the same way can do a lot to keep your house warm. Pipe insulation is a great way to make draft stoppers, and they can be cut to the perfect size for your door. Make sure you put them on all outer doors, not just the main one!

2. Layer your clothing in winter

We all know about wearing singlets and layering tops and jumpers and jackets, but you can stay a lot warmer by wearing tights or leggings under your pants or jeans too. Layer little ones up in long sleeved onesies, like Boody Baby Long-Sleeved Romper.

Babies and toddlers are 70% snugglier in winter #fact *(Image: Getty)*

3. Open the curtains when the sun is out to help warm up the room

Again, this seems really obvious, but sometimes we can forget to open the curtains of really cold days. If there’s a bit of sun peeking through though, don’t waste it. Making the most of natural resources is the best way to keep your power bills down.

Just make sure you close them back up when the sun goes down.

4. Turn your ceiling fan on – yes, really

It seems counter-intuitive, but the fact is, heat rises. Having your ceiling fan running on low and turning clockwise will help push the warm air back down, helping keep you, your home and your family cosy.

5. Leave the oven door open after baking

After you’ve finished baking, leave your oven door open so the heat can warm up the room. This makes the use of energy you’ve already used, and a will make your house smell wonderful as a bonus.

Of course, make sure any pets or young children are not around if you do this as they could be injured.

Blonde hair woman sitting on a sofa with two kids cuddled up with a pale pink blanket around their shoulders — Cold weather is a great excuse for cuddling up. *(Image: Getty)*

6. Make woollen insoles for your shoes

Another way to stay warm and reduce the need to pay for heating is this: Cut insoles out of thick woollen felt and insert them into your shoes. They will keep your feet so much warmer than shoes and socks alone!

7. Close off unused rooms

This is easier said that done in open plan houses, but where possible you should close any rooms that aren’t being used. It’s easier and cheaper to keep one area heated than a whole house (here are some of our favourite heaters). If you have central heating, you can close off ducts in the rooms you’re not using.

It’s also an effective way to get the family in one area!

8. Use rugs on the floor

If you have floorboards or tiles in your house, you will know coldness. Use rugs wherever possible during the winter months for extra warmth – another tick for saving money on heating bills in winter.

Always use caution when using a hot water bottle for little ones. Never use boiling water, don’t overfill it and make sure it’s done up tight. *(Image: Getty Images)*

9. Use hot water bottles

They’re an oldie, but a goodie. Rather than wasting electricity, running up your energy bill and causing potential fire hazards with electric blankets, pop a couple of hot water bottles in your bed 10 minutes before you turn in for the night. Your bed will be toasty and warm, for not more electricity than boiling the kettle.

10. Keep your car windscreen ice free

One frustrating thing in winter is when you’re already running late to get somewhere, and you rush out to your car to find your windscreen is iced over. Make sure you never throw warm or hot water on it, or it may crack the glass.

One thing you can do is make your own windscreen washer fluid which will get rid of ice. Mix together one cup of water, 1.5 litres of rubbing alcohol (which you can buy from an auto store), and a teaspoon of dishwashing detergent. You’ll be ready to hit the road, and it should last you all winter.

This article originally appeared on Practical Parenting and has been republished with permission.