With the cost of living rising significantly in recent months, there’s never been a better time to look at ways to save money. Interest rates are on the up, as are petrol prices and groceries. And with winter well and truly upon us, it’s also typically the season where electricity bills spike as people hibernate with the heater cranked.

To help keep your hard-earned dollars in your pocket, here are some ways you can bring your energy usage down.

Rug up

Do your grandparents tell you that socks will save you from catching a cold? What they’re trying to tell you is it’s important to rug up. Seems simple enough but before you turn the heater up, check if you’re dressed warm enough. Switching on the heater is one way to warm up, but layering clothing can be an easy (and cost effective) solution. Our tip? Put on a jumper or jacket, socks and cosy up under a blanket.

If you’re using the heater and don’t have a system that allows you to heat individual rooms, make sure you close any windows and doors, so the heat stays put and doesn’t have to work as hard to warm up rooms that aren’t being used. Natural light will also help heat a room (for free), so leave the blinds open. Just make sure your heater is serviced regularly so it’s working efficiently to keep running costs down.

Turn off the lights

Leaving a room? Switch off the light otherwise it can continue to chew through electricity. Likewise, when you’re done using an appliance – like the kettle – switch it off at the power point. Why? Appliances use electricity even when in standby mode, so get in the habit of turning them off to shave dollars off your bill.

While you’re at it, install LED lights which use 75% less energy than halogen lightbulbs, making them super-efficient.

Wash your clothes in cold water

A washing machine can be a big energy guzzler, so help ease the sting by setting the temperature to cold the next time you put a load on. By doing this, it means you won’t have to use as much electricity to heat the water.

Cold water can actually be better for your clothes, reducing the chance of garments shrinking and maintaining colour brightness.

It’s also better to wash a full load rather than lots of smaller ones so you’re not constantly using the washing machine. When it comes to drying your clothes, if you can, the most energy efficient way is simply to hang them outside on a clothesline rather than using a dryer.

Shop around

Don’t just take your friend’s neighbour’s mum’s word for it. Just because they’ve been a customer of an energy provider for 10 years, doesn’t mean it’s the best option for you. Save your pennies by shopping around to find the best deals from electricity retailers.  Do your search before signing on the dotted line – head to Energy Made Easy, which is an Australian Government website that compares different plans and retailers.

Invest in solar

Installing solar panels is one of the best ways to help reduce or eliminate electricity bills by gaining independence from the big energy providers. They can also help protect you against rising electricity costs and give you greater freedom on when, and how, you use your electricity. The addition of a battery means excess solar can be stored away for when the sun isn’t shining, or in the event of a blackout.