Gas bill :(

[tambo1976]

Last year I had a prepaid gas and electric meter fitted because I was paying by direct debit and ended up in debt for about £300 so they wanted to raise my dd to £180 a month. There was no way I could afford that amount so I asked for prepayment meters and through the summer all was well, putting about £10 a week in the gas and £20-£25 ish a week in the electric.

Now winter has hit us though I am putting about £35 a week in the gas and still £20-£25 in the electric! I just cannot maintain that amount every week and I am trying to conserve heat the best I can, using draft excluders, closing doors, closing curtains, not using radiators in rooms that we don't use etc but still it is costing us a small fortune and I don't know what I am doing wrong?

I generally turn my thermostat down to 15 of a night before bed and 18 when we wake up. This just about keeps the house warm enough.

We live in a big old house with no double glazing and old wooden doors front and back. The windows and doors are the main problem and a huge source of heat loss but our housing association have told us 100% that they will not fit double glazing or upvc doors because our house is on a "to be demolished" list. Our house has been on this list for about 6 years and every year the council tell me they don't have the funds to demolish so they extend our contract for another year. I do actually love the house, we have a huge back garden, huge driveway and we are in a lovely location so I don't want to push for a move as except for winter it is great here.

So the main question is, how can we lower our heating bill? any tips please!

We are currently with Eon

 

[Sue Clare]

Have U tried looking at comparison sites to see if eon are the cheapest in your circumstances? X

 

[mirime]

I've read on US websites about covering windows with clear plastic sheets in winter to reduce heating costs, you could look into that?

 

[Sassyjane]

Before my parents got double glazing we used to cover the windows in the plastic sheeting that mirime suggested and it really does help to keep heat in and block drafts, also if you put a reflective foil sheet (we used the ones you get for car windscreens that were from the £shop, but you can get proper stuff which can be expensive) behind your radiator it helps reflect the heat back into the room, which makes it warmer too! Other thing is to make sure any drafts are covered, could you put a curtain over the outside doors that when you are in the house you pull across the door to stop heat getting out and drafts getting in???
Also if you have vents in the walls, it may be worth covering them with hit and miss covers, they are the ones you can open and close, it's surprising how much heat the vents let out and draft they let in!!!
I had a low income and a drafty flat and did these things and it helped save me some money, and keep me slightly warmer!!! Hope some of this might help sweet, good luck with it!!! Xx

 

[wifeywifey]

Are you still paying the debt? We did the same and was paying at £7 a week but we were struggling so called them and they lowered it to £4 instead, it's not much but helps a bit.