With winter well and truly here, you may start to see your bills rising, as more of us stay indoors and use extra power to keep warm.

However, there are stills ways to try and offset costs and save a bit of money in time for warmer weather.

1. Eating in

Cold temperatures give us a great excuse to eat in and save on dining out costs. Consider making a weekly menu, based around seasonal produce, and stocking up on the specials.

2. Draught-proofing your home

Covering up streams of cool air coming into your home is a quick and easy way to make your place a bit warmer. A quick trip to the hardware store to buy some seals and door snakes may be a good start.

3. Using curtains and blinds effectively

Much like draught-proofing, curtains and blinds can block out cold air in the evenings and early mornings. However, if it’s a sunny day, opening them up can let a bit of extra warmth in.

4. Switch off unused devices

Try to bring down your power bill by turning off TVs, computers, printers and other electronic devices at the switch. It all adds up!

5. Make the most of free streaming apps

While many of us turn to Netflix, Stan, Binge, Disney Plus, Paramount Plus or Apple TV to get our streaming fix, free-to-air apps are building out their back catalogues of shows and movies. Consider taking a month or two off the paid models and looking at what’s on free to air.

6. Use the heater at the coolest times

This is a tricky one, especially if you’re in one of the southern states of the country where it’s cool all-day long. However, if you can layer up and cut down on the hours the heater is on, it’s likely to end up saving up money when the power bill arrives.

7. Wash clothes in cold water

When we use warm or hot water to wash clothes and linens, it can add to the electricity bill over the course of the year. A quick fix? Running the washing cycle on cold.

8. Make the most of sunny days for drying

Running a dryer can also add to your energy bill over time. Using an airer or washing line to hang out clothes can reduce the impact on your hip pocket.

9. Opt for shorter showers

Another tough one on freezing winter mornings, but shorter showers can amount to savings on your power costs. Consider setting a timer.

10. Look out for bill relief and rebates

We’ve all been promised a $300 rebate on our power bills in the latest Federal Budget. How it’s going to be passed on hasn’t yet been announced, but stay tuned for a bit of extra bill relief in the near future. It’s also worth checking in with your state or territory government website to see if any other rebates apply to you and your family.

Like every article on this website, this is not personal financial advice.