With energy bills and the overall cost of living prices soaring, many people like myself are worried about the ongoing crisis.  

One morning I was greeted with a letter from my energy supplier, Shell Energy.

It had a red stamp on the envelope, which said: "Important, please read."

I knew that the news I had been dreading for the past three months had finally come. 

The energy supplier said my estimated usage for electricity and gas is £190, despite submitting meter readings every month.  

I was shocked to read this as I was paying £100 per month beforehand by direct debit - which I thought was reasonable for a one-bedroom flat.  

After coming to terms with the changes made to the energy prices, I needed to think of ways on making necessary adjustments not to overspend and have money to put towards my new bill. 

Looking at my bank account, I knew that cutting down on some unnecessary spending such as takeaways, and reducing the times I go out, can make a difference in saving money.  

I felt stressed at the time when making these changes to my lifestyle, but it needed to be done for me to pay the bills. 

The news was then announced by Prime Minister Liz Truss that energy bills will be capped at £2,500 a year for a typical household from October 1, 2022, for the next two winters.  

And a £400 energy rebate will also be paid as planned from October. 

I was relieved to hear that the government is helping households and easing the pressure on people like me. 

I also decided to do some research and find more ways to save money on energy this winter by using Energy Saving Trust. 

There are a few changes you can also make around the home that could help cut down your average electricity usage. 

Here’s what I found:  

Turn off standby appliances 

Use plug sockets that can be turned on and off via your phone, to make sure you switch unused appliances off.  

Monitor your usage 

Keeping a watchful eye on your consumption levels can help you decide if and when you have to change the way you use energy. 

Installing a Smart Meter lets you track your consumption with accurate and real time information. 

Avoid using the tumble dryer 

You could save by avoiding using the tumble dryer where possible.

Try drying your clothes on an airer, but make sure you leave a window open, as it can cause damp in poorly ventilated homes.  

Your Money Matters

Your Money Matters is a campaign launched by us and our sister titles across Newsquest to help you overcome the surge in the cost of living.

This year has seen a whole host of household price increases — from the energy price cap rise to surging inflation and food prices — costing your family hundreds or even thousands of pounds extra per year.

We’re making it our mission to look out for your cash, offering money-saving deals, competitions, giveaways and insightful stories from your community on the impact this cost-of-living crisis is having on our readers. The worldwide energy crisis exacerbated by the Ukraine invasion, the financial impact of the Covid pandemic, record inflation figures and a surge in the cost of goods, fuel and travel means we will all feel the pinch. Through our newspaper, we want to do what we can to help make your cash go further because we know your money matters.

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