Month: September 2020

Identifying ways to lower your utility bills can have quite a dramatic effect on the cost of running a household. Whilst gas and electricity companies were quick to raise prices when wholesale prices were increasing, providers were not nearly as quick to reduce them when their costs started to head back in the opposite direction.

It can prove difficult to save money on electric because utility companies have a pack mentality; when one increases its prices, others follow suit and vice versa. It takes a provider to act separately to change the momentum, but this rarely happens because it undermines their potential to make profit.

Lower Your Utility Bill Through an Online Comparison Site

It is possible to save money on electric and gas by trawling through the different prices offered by energy providers and selecting the one offering the most competitive deal. An online comparison site or utility broker will perform an analysis of your energy usage and compare usage to all the other leading providers. Should a cheaper supplier be identified, your account can be transferred across.

Get a Dual Fuel Package

Buying your gas and electricity from the same provider will mean that the best deals are available. As with most companies, the more products and services you buy from them, the better the deal you are likely to be offered. The price comparison site, referred to above, can help greatly with the analytical process. Try to make the switch online to lower your utility bill. 

Pay by Direct Debit

Making payment by direct debit is a lot easier, not to mention cheaper, for utility companies to administer. There is also evidence that suggests those that pay by direct debit are more reliable payers. For legitimate business reasons, this cost saving is regularly passed on to customers.

Install Loft and Wall Insulation

See if there are government grants available to help with the cost of installing loft and wall insulation. This helps to prevent heat loss so many households can save money on electric and gas. Double-glazing is also of assistance.

Lag Your Pipes

Pipe lagging is a specific type of insulation applied around water pipes. It retains heat inside the pipes – so it is beneficial for saving energy and preventing pipes from freezing in winter and bursting which can lead to expensive repairs. Lagging also prevents condensation from forming on cold pipes.

Control Hot Water Usage

Lower your utility bill by controlling how much hot water you use. This can be achieved by taking a shower instead of a bath, only using the dish washer when you have a full load or boiling as much water in the kettle as needed.

Do not Heat Rooms You Don’t Use

Most individuals spend their time in just one or two rooms yet heat their entire house. This is very wasteful. Just heat the room that you spend most of your time in.

It is possible to reduce your utility bill by employing a few of the methods alluded to above. Try to set aside a set amount each month so that you have adequate financial provision for when your quarterly bill arrives.

It can be tricky when you are trying to choose the best type of bed base to invest in. There is a wide range of choice nowadays, and this can sometimes make choosing quite baffling. Choices range from a cheap divan base, to luxurious sleigh bed bases, so it is worth weighing up the differences between the styles of beds It doesn’t hurt to compare and contrast, and doing this helps to eventually decide on the best base for your unique needs.

Mattress Freshness

While divan bed bases offer many advantages, there is one major disadvantage that should always be taken into consideration. That is concerning mattress freshness. Unlike a slatted base that provides an adequate amount of ventilation and air circulation underneath the mattress, a divan doesn’t. This is important to think about as it will help keep your mattress fresh and cool if you live in a particularly warm climate or summer months are known to be hot. If heat is not a big issue or you live in a colder climate, you could reason that a divan base will be perfectly fine.

Additional Bedroom Space

Although it may not look like it, divan bases tend to be smaller than most standard bed frames. That could be that one of the reasons you decide on this type of base if room is limited. The smaller dimensions and the fact that many divan bases come with built-in storage drawers enable you to have a bed in a small room and free up a fair bit floor space that might otherwise be taken up by cupboards or chests of drawers.

You Can Customise Your Divan

With traditional bedsteads, their design and style tend to dictate the style and decor of your bedroom; or you must choose a specific look to fit in with the rest of your bedroom furniture and its colour scheme. With most divan bases you don’t usually have this problem and can customise the type of headboard and other things, far easier than with a bedstead.

Different Bases Are Better for Different Mattresses

Another important consideration you should take on board when buying a bed base is that the bed base you choose can affect the mattress you choose and its lifespan. For instance, some mattresses are suitable only for slatted bedsteads or for divans. Even with mattresses that can be used with either, their lifespan might be greatly reduced if used with a base that is not particularly suitable.

Durability

The durability of a bed base is an obvious concern that should be factored into the buying decision. There lies some wisdom in opting for a divan base, as slatted bases are more likely to suffer damage from slat breakage caused by bouncing on the bed or by excessive weight. While on the other hand, a divan base is designed in a way that makes it better able to absorb weight and redistribute it, making it more durable overall.