How To Stay Warm for Less This Winter

1. Heat wisely

Heating efficiently is key to keeping your bills down. Because while that small electric heater from Kmart may be cheap to buy, if you’re using it to heat a large living room, it won’t do a lot except send your power bill rocketing.

That’s not to say a cheap Kmart heater doesn’t have a part to play. Using one can be a great way to heat a small office or bedroom. No, it’s not the most efficient heating option, but for those on a budget, it’s a feasible option. Just be sure to use it sparingly, and be mindful of the size of the space you’re heating.

If you do have a heat pump in your home, as many rentals now do, don’t fear it. It’s by far the most efficient heating option you can choose. But again, use it wisely.

A heat pump isn’t like a typical heater where you sit in the firing line soaking up direct heat. Rather, a heat pump aims to maintain a room’s temperature, so if you turn the heat all the way up to full, it’ll go into overdrive trying to bring your room up to that temperature, which can be an impossible task in a large room on a cold day.

Rather, set it for a comfortable temperature, somewhere between 18-22°, and let it raise the temperature gradually.

2. Use an electric blanket

Electric blankets are often seen as an unnecessary luxury by those on a budget. But electric blankets are incredibly low cost to run. Running them every night throughout winter will probably not cost more than $20.

But again, you need to use them wisely. An electric blanket isn’t designed to be left on all night. Switch it on shortly before you get into bed, keep the covers tucked over it to trap the heat, and turn it off before you go to sleep.

→Related article: Cheapest Electric Blankets For Winter

3. Check your filters

Many appliances, such as heat pumps, washing machines and dryers, have filters that catch dust, lint and more. While these are great, build-up in the filters can impact the efficiency of these appliances. This could mean your heat pump has to work harder to achieve the same results, or your dryer takes longer to dry your clothes. It might even mean having to rewash clothes.

It pays to regularly check and clean filters in your appliances.

→Related article: How to Clean Heat Pump Filters

4. Address draughts

Heating your house is all well and good, but if that heat is quickly lost, then you won’t stay warm for long. You don’t want to rely on running heating appliances constantly to stay warm. Once a space is up to a comfortable temperature, using a heater should be about maintaining the existing level of warmth.

Go around your house and address any draughts. That could mean resealing window frames, or using draught stoppers (or even a towel) to cover up gaps beneath door frames.

5. (Bubble) wrap up warm

Speaking of the above, your windows are guilty of being a massive heat sink.

Double glazing is a costly endeavour. But there are ways to help keep the heat in on a budget. Bubble wrap is one of them. As silly as it sounds, bubble wrap can be placed over windows to help create an insulating layer, keeping cold out and heat in. For a less ridiculous-looking approach, you can also buy insulating window film relatively cheaply.

Of course, curtains are also a necessity. It’s a good idea to use nice thick curtains if you have them, and closing them before the sun sets will help keep that natural warmth in before it’s all lost to the night

6. Layer up

This doesn’t mean you have to sit in your living room with a puffer jacket on, but if it’s the middle of winter, you don’t need to be in a T-shirt and shorts. Importantly, socks and/or slippers, or even a beanie, can help keep your extremities cosy.

If your house has wooden floors or tiles, consider using rugs, or mats in bathrooms, to keep your feet off the cold floor.

7. Shift your usage

This only applies to consumers on time-of-use power plans that provide discounted off-peak electricity. Or plans that offer free power hours.

If you do have free power hours and/or cheap off-peak rates, make the most of them: run your dryer, your heater, your electric blanket, take a long shower or use your oven.

If you’re not on a time-of-use power plan, or you’re not benefiting from free power, it might be time to consider whether its time to change your plan to one that’s better suited to your budget and power needs.

→Related article: Peak and Off-Peak Electricity Prices Explained

8. Compare power providers

Regardless of your current plan, it pays to regularly review the market to see how your current deal stacks up. If you want to stay warm for less, then paying less for the actual power is a good place to start.

A great place to start is right here on Canstar Blue. Every year, we rate providers on a variety of factors like Value for Money, Customer Service, Online Tools & Advice and more. Simply hit the button below to start:

Compare Power Companies

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Andrew Broadley. Andrew is an experienced writer with a wide range of industry experience. Starting out, he cut his teeth working as a writer for print and online magazines, and he has worked in both journalism and editorial roles. His content has covered lifestyle and culture, marketing and, more recently, finance for Canstar.