Parents take action on high energy bills
Trying to keep household bills down is a difficult task for parents, particularly over winter.
Early years education provider Busy Bees found 44% of parents have made personal sacrifices to save energy, in order to avoid making changes that could impact their children.
Some were considering eating the same meals they make for their offspring, to avoid cooking twice, while others prioritised heating their child’s bedroom over the rest of the home.
Environmental manager at Busy Bees (busybeeschildcare. co.uk) Sarah Robertson, said: “Many parents will be searching for ways to reduce consumption wherever they can. They will be trying to keep families warm, with as little impact on children as possible.”
When it came to bedtime routines, 21% of parents had made changes specifically to their child’s routine, to reduce energy consumption, the survey of more than 1,000 parents found.
The Energy Saving Trust website (energysavingtrust.org. uk) has a calculator to help people review their energy set-up at home, and suggests solutions to make it more efficient.
The website also features suggestions for anyone thinking about turning their boiler flow temperature down to save costs.
If you’re worried about paying your energy bill, contact your supplier as soon as possible. They must work with customers to agree affordable payment plans, under regulator Ofgem’s rules.
Charities such as Citizens Advice and StepChange may also be able to help.
If you’re pregnant or have a baby, you can find out about the benefits available at the government-backed MoneyHelper.org.uk.
Information about the range of government cost-of-living support available can be found at Help For Households (helpfor households.campaign.gov.uk)