10 February 2023
Home Help Quick Money Saving Tips
Our Home Help Service provides cost-effective assistance for anyone who is unable to do their own basic housework and/or shopping. The service enables people to maintain their independence and stay in their own homes.
We’re very conscious of the current Cost of Living Crisis here at Community First and with that, we’ve recently informed our Home Helps of some of the ways they can help their clients with these saving tips, especially during these colder months. We do hope you can make use of them as well!

Turning your combi boiler flow temperature down to 60°C could save you up to £100 a year
Flow temperature is the temperature of the water that your boiler sends to radiators. Reducing flow temperature isn’t the same as lowering your thermostat and won’t noticeably reduce the temperature of your home but may increase the time it takes to reach the target temperature on your thermostat.
If you are over 65, or have pre-existing health conditions, you may want to set a slightly higher flow temperature of 65°C to ensure your home warms more quickly.
Turning appliances off at the socket could save you up to £70 a year
Almost all electrical appliances in your home, such as computers, televisions, smart devices and video game consoles, draw power continuously unless unplugged. Turn off the power switch at the socket or unplug appliances from the socket when they are not in use.
Turning down radiators in rooms you aren’t using or use less could save you up to £70 a yearWashing clothes at a lower temperature could save you up to £40 a year
When you’re not using rooms, turn radiator valves down to between 2.5 and 3 (roughly 18°C). While you are using a room, increase the temperature to a comfortable level by turning the valve up. Turning off radiators completely in rooms you are not using is less energy efficient as this means your boiler has to work harder to increase the temperature again than if kept at a low setting.
People over 65, children under 5 and those with pre-existing health conditions are more vulnerable to cold temperatures. Make sure you are warm enough and have a minimum indoor temperature of 18°C to ensure you protect your health while maintaining comfort.
Washing clothes at a lower temperature could save you up to £40 a year
Modern washing machines can clean clothes effectively at lower temperatures. Changing from 40°C to 30°C means you could get 3 cycles instead of 2 using the same amount of energy, depending on your washing machine.
Finding and fixing draughts could save you up to £60 a yearSwitching to energy saving lightbulbs could save you up to £55 a year
Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective actions you can take to stop or prevent heat escaping and reduce your energy bills. Block unwanted gaps around windows, doors, chimneys and floors that let the cold air in and warm air out.
Window film is a form of temporary secondary glazing which helps stop heat escaping through glass. You can buy it at hardware shops and online and install it yourself or with the help of a professional.
Switching to energy saving lightbulbs could save you up to £55 a yearClosing all your curtains and blinds at night
Standard or incandescent light bulbs are very inefficient. By switching to energy efficient bulbs, such as LEDs, you can save money on your energy bills while keeping your rooms well lit. LED lightbulbs also last longer than traditional bulbs, saving on maintenance costs.
The amount of light, or colour of the light (white to yellow) is not linked to a bulb’s energy usage, so you can get the same light at a much lower energy cost.
The above tips are all easy, no cost actions or low cost home improvements.
If when you are next at your clients and you are putting a wash on for them, just pop it at 30 instead of 40 – Ask the clients if they need all their sockets on or if there is any that they do not ever use in particular rooms that can be switched off and only put on as and when needed.
Closing all your curtains and blinds at night
By closing your curtains and blinds, you can help stop warm air escaping through windows and reduce heating costs, especially if you have radiators situated below your windows.
It is little things like this that would more than likely go unnoticed by our clients and we hope we can help them save money!
Find out more about our Home Help service
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