Saving Energy At Home Top 5

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EDF raise gas bills by 22%

EDF Gas Bills Up 22% - Time to start saving energy at home!

With today’s announcement that EDF will be raising gas bills by up to 22% and electricity bills by up to 17% on the 25th July, there has never been a better time to think about saving energy at home - saving you money and the environment from global warming.

Here’s a simple list showing 5 easy ways for you to save energy at home.

Saving Energy at Home Top 5

1. Home insulation

It’s the middle of summer, and the last thing you’ll want to be thinking about is insulating your home. However, saving energy at home requires forward planning, especially if you have a hectic day-to-day schedule.

There are obvious things that you can do, such as making sure you’re using insulated curtains, have working draft excluders and ensuring windows are properly sealed. More serious insulation jobs include installing attic and wall insulation and getting your central heating system and boiler serviced regularly so that it performs efficiently.

There are grants available for certain types of insulation work. You can find out more about these from Warm Front, a government led initiative providing financial assistance for certain groups of people enabling them to pay for some home insulation work.

2. Switch off appliances

One of the simplest ways of saving energy at home is to ensure that all your appliances are fully switched off when you’re not using them. This involves switching off and unplugging anything that’s not in use. Everybody knows that TVs and DVD recorders that are left on standby use unnecessary electricity, but ask yourself whether you actually follow this advice - if not, then get into the habit of switching things off, especially at night.

3. Switch off lights

It’s summer, it stays light until late into the evening and even on the gloomiest of days there’s usually enough light in your home to move around safely. Where you do need to use the lights, get into the habit of turning them off when they’re not in use - especially when you’re not in the room, no matter how short a period of time this might be. Electric lighting is designed for our convenience, but this works both ways - it’s just as convenient to turn them off as it is to leave them on.

4. Cook wisely

Use pots and pans that are the right size for the type and quantity of food that you’re cooking. If you use gas, never let the flames lick up the sides of your pans. This will not only help you save energy at home, but can prevent you from potentially ruining your pans. Finally, and this also applies to the use of your kettle, only heat enough liquid or water in your cooking or when making a hot drink as you actually need - it’s pointless boiling more water than necessary and then letting it cool down.

5. Temperature controls

Save energy at home by only heating your house to 18 - 21°C when necessary - set your thermostat accordingly. Similarly, when washing your clothes, use temperatures below 40°C or use the washing machine’s economy programme settings.

Energy at home - Energy Saving Trust

Energy Saving Trust

You can get further advice about saving energy at home from the Energy Saving Trust. The Energy Saving Trust provides impartial advice on making energy savings around the home, advice on energy saving products and even advice for those who are thinking about generating their own energy at home.

Reducing carbon footprint saves energy at home

Keeping an eye on your carbon footprint will also help with saving energy at home and consequently your wallet will feel heavier and your environmental impact will be less. To find out how your carbon footprint affects the environment and how you can improve your contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, visit The UK Carbon Footprint Project run by Google.

Are energy bills leaving you with a debt problem?

If you’re struggling to pay you debts because of the increasing costs of energy at home, give Payplan a call on 0800 917 7823 for confidential advice about your debt. Help can also be found online by submitting your debt problem online.

Are You Struggling to Pay Your Mortgage?

Filed Under  Debt Case Studies, Payplan Press Release, Personal Finance, UK Debt News  |  Leave a Comment

Please help us raise debt awareness

Can you answer YES to any of the following?

Mortgage arrears, mortgage shock and the credit crunch - help Payplan raise debt awareness.

1. Are you behind with your mortgage payments?

2. Are you struggling to pay your mortgage because of your debts?

3. Are you facing eviction for non-payment of your mortgage or rent?

Payplan case-studies

If so, then Payplan would like to hear from you. Not only can we help you by offering free expert debt advice, but you can help us do our part in raising awareness of current debt issues. Payplan regularly receives requests for client case-studies from journalists and TV documentary researchers for news articles, press releases and TV documentaries about debt.

Payplan Press Office Details

If you’re a Payplan client, or someone who’s simply willing to share their experiences of dealing with debt for the benefit of others, then please email

jayne.newton@payplan.com

or call Jayne on

01476 541980

for an informal chat about your situation. All contact with Payplan is treated in the strictest confidence.

Further information about mortgage debt

Many people are finding new mortgage deals difficult to come by because of the ‘Credit Crunch’ or ‘Credit Squeeze’ and particularly hard hit are those suffering from ‘Mortgage Shock’. This is when a homeowner’s fixed rate mortgage deal ends and their mortgage reverts to the standard rate - usually adding a substantial amount to their monthly mortgage repayments as a result.

Mortgage arrears are a serious concern during periods of financial instability

During these financially uncertain times, it’s important to generate greater awareness of the issues and concerns surrounding people struggling with debt amongst the general public, and of the enormous financial pressures to which they are exposed.

Payplan Press Office
Email jayne.newton@payplan.com
Telephone 01476 541980

How To Get Help With Bankruptcy Fees

Filed Under  Debt Question of the Week?, Personal Finance, UK Debt News  |  5 Comments

I want to go bankrupt but I can’t afford the fees and so I’ll end up paying my debts for the rest of my life. How can I get help with bankruptcy fees?

Help with bankruptcy feesIt may seem a strange irony that going bankrupt costs money, and many people are put off considering bankruptcy as a debt solution because of this. However, there are companies and organisations that can help you with bankruptcy fees and who will consider a person’s application on its merits. Below are three possible avenues to consider when trying to get help with bankruptcy fees.

1. Contact utility company Trust Funds

Water, gas and electricity suppliers often run Trust Funds that are specifically set up to assist customers with their fuel costs, and some will accept applications for help with bankruptcy fees. You can obtain an application form by calling the customer services number on your bill. Once you’ve filled this in and sent it back, it’s up to the company concerned to decide if they can help. If they can, the money is offered as a gift and is not repayable by you. Here are some of the larger utility company Trust Fund websites:

The British Gas Energy Trust
The EDF Energy Trust
The Anglian Water Trust Fund
The EOS Foundation

If your utility company is not represented here, then simply ask a customer service representative from your supplier who will be able to advise you further.

2. Talk to your union’s Welfare Officer

If you are a member or former member of a union and feel you can talk to the Union’s Welfare Officer, you can ask if they are able to assist by giving help with bankruptcy fees. For union contact information in the UK, visit:

Trade Union Congress (TUC)
Worksmart (Run by TUC)

3. Speak to your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB)

It would also be worth contacting your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau. They may know if there are any local funds that you can apply to, to help with bankruptcy fees.

Free debt advice about bankruptcy

If you’re worried about your level of debt, then you can talk to a Payplan debt adviser who can discuss all your options and recommend the best free debt solution. Call free on 0800 917 7823 or submit a quick debt enquiry online

1 In 7 Use Savings For Help With Increased Living Costs

Filed Under  Consumer News, Financial News, Money Saving Tips, Personal Finance, UK Debt News  |  Leave a Comment

A recent BBC report states that one in seven people have cashed in savings to pay for their utility or council tax bills due to the effect that recent rises in the cost of food and petrol are having on their income. Some families have even begun to reduce the pocket money given to their children in order to help with increased living costs.

Recession and personal finances

Less \'Money In Pockets\'

Although it’s true that not everybody has savings to help with increased living costs, for those that do, using savings to pay for household bills suggests that many people are struggling to survive on their regular incomes - and of course, savings don’t last forever.

The obvious supposition one can make about peoples’ personal finances from these kinds of statistics is that there is less ‘money in pockets’ to spend on non-essential or luxury items and talk of an impending recession, which is regularly making TV and newspaper headlines, will do little to allay the fears of those who are already struggling with household bills, rising debts and food prices. Further economic slow-down and a possible recession will mean fewer jobs, lower incomes and reduced spending power - an economic vicious circle.

50 ways to get help with increased living costs

However, there are some things one can do to help with increased living costs and prepare for a possible UK recession. A recent article from the Times Online has listed 50 ways to beat a recession, if this should happen. Suggestions include tips for getting cheaper rent, tips for cheaper energy bills and tips for finding cheaper shops for clothes, food and essential household goods.

Payplan gives free budgeting advice

If you need further help with increased living costs, it may be because you need budgeting advice, or that you are struggling with a worsening debt problem. Payplan can help you for free with one phone-call on freephone 0800 917 7823 or submit a quick debt enquiry online.

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