HOME-owners have been offered six savvy tips to help save money on their utility bills as the weather gets colder and they feel the post-Christmas pinch.

Savvy savers from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have identified six areas where measures can be taken to ensure money stays in the pocket of the payer.

Learning new habits such as turning off lights when leaving a room and being inventive with tin foil means the savings can soon add up.

Being careful of where money goes and ensuring everything that is paid for is used and not wasted can also help.

A spokesperson for NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “Everyone should know by now that they should always be checking their bills to see if they’re on the best tariff or rate.

“We’re also encouraging households to think outside the box and make little short-term changes which will have a massive impact in the long term.

“These little changes are especially important in winter months when extra bills such as heating need to be paid for, everything can soon pile up.”

These are NetVoucherCodes.co.uk’s top tips when it comes to bills:

Swap

It’s a story as old as time, but don’t renew any of your bill contracts without first checking out what else is available on the market. This should be done every time a contract is coming to an end, but also try and get into the habit of doing it every six months to ensure your money is being put to the best use.

Energy

One of the biggest energy uses around the house is lights. Getting into a habit of turning lights off when you leave a room could help save nearly £15 a year. Switching bulbs to energy-saving alternatives and ensuring dimmer switches are turned low can all have a bigger impact than you may think on energy bills.

Gas

Being a bit savvier when cooking and heating the house can help slash gas bill prices. Turning your heating down as little as one degree can help save as much as £55 a year, whilst ensuring pans on hobs have lids on means energy isn’t escaping and food can cook quicker.

Water

Try and reuse water as much as possible. Instead of pouring dirty washing water down the sink, use it to water plants. Only running the dishwasher when it’s fully loaded and opting for shorter showers instead of baths can also help limit water usage.

Heating

To make the most of your heating you can place tin foil down the back of the wall by radiators. This will help reflect the heat out into the rooms within the house making the most of the heat. This means that you aren’t having to pay to heat the walls of your home.

Ensuring everyone showers and baths at the same time of the day means that the water will only need to be heated once, without the heater being turned on and off throughout the day.

Landline

Many family houses still have landline phones. It may be necessary to think about whether this is ever used. When you’re paying for individual mobile phones for each member of the household, a landline might be unnecessary.