Do you get a shock when you read your heating bill every winter? Now that people don’t have the money to splash out and with the imminent arrival of snow, what can you do to keep yourself warm without breaking the bank? Here are 10 simple steps that will make you feel warm.

1-    Keep all your doors closed. We often walk through doors and forget to close them, letting all the warm air escape and the cold air enter.

2-    Make use of any old blankets by cutting them into strips and placing them under doors to stop drafts

3-    Did you know that your chimney is the biggest draft in your home? When the fire is not lit, you are letting all the cold air in and allowing the warm air to leave. However, if you don’t want to light your fire and want to stay warm, you can purchase a chimney balloon which will block the draft.

4-    We all love to have a long hot shower when winter arrives. But they aren’t good for our water or heating bills. Using a water-efficient shower head will not only save you money on your water bill, but your heating bill too.

5-    Putting some tin foil behind your radiator will prevent heat loss in your home. The tin foil will reflect the heat from the radiator back into your room, instead of being lost through the wall.

6-    Use the timer on your thermostat. For example, set the timer to switch off when you’re at work and to be turned down when you’re asleep. This is one the biggest ways to save on your heating bill.

7-    Do you like to turn the heating up so you can walk around your home in a t-shirt? This is one way to increase your heating bill. Wearing winter clothes will keep you warmer and see your heating bill fall.

8-    Blankets are something we all have plenty of but sadly underuse. Next time you feel cold, wrap up in a blanket instead of turning the heating up – see how much money you will save.

9-    Do you remember when your science teacher told you heat rises? Well they weren’t lying. If you have a ceiling fan in your home, place it on low during the winter. The heat from your radiators will rise and the fan will circulate the warm air around the room.

10-  If you use oil heating, it is worth shopping around to find the best supplier for you. Some suppliers are now selling Carbon Clean Kerosene – a low carbon heating oil that uses less energy and ultimately saves you money.