The cost of living crisis has seen bills rise for millions of people across the UK.
And because of this, it is no surprise that people will be looking at how they can save money without having to cut back on everything that they enjoy such as an occasional treat during your weekly food shop or a takeaway from your local Chinese or Indian.
However, there are a lot of myths spreading around about what we should, and shouldn't, be doing when it comes to saving on our energy bills.
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So to settle the debate, experts at Money Saving Expert (MSE) have separated fact from fiction to help people keep more cash in their bank accounts this year. This is what they want you to know.
Five energy saving tips to save money on bills
1. Should I put clingfilm on the windows?
This actually works according to the Energy Saving Trust and because it's a common household item with many people using it for wrapping up sandwiches or leftovers, you don't need to buy anything special in order for the hack to work.
They explain that the idea is that putting a sheet on your window traps a small layer of air which can help stop heat escaping. According to MSE, "the trust says you can use any material for the second layer of glazing, as long as it's transparent and airtight.
"However, while clingfilm works in theory, in practice you'll probably want to use specialist secondary glazing as it'll last longer. If you have double glazing, adding a third layer could make you a little warmer, but the benefit will be much less than when dealing with a single-glazed window.
"If your windows are draughty, it's worth fixing that as well as adding secondary glazing, as otherwise you'll only get half the benefit."
2. Do devices on standby or chargers left in the socket while not in use still use electricity?
You should be turning off chargers and appliances at the wall when not in use with British Gas confirming on its website, according to MSE, that these can use energy when left in a socket.
Whether it's your laptop, TV or latest games console, they can all drain power and in the long run, cost you money when you're not even using it.
These items which draw power and are often left on are called 'vampire power'. However you can easily avoid this issue, and save money, by switching devices off at the wall.
MSE say: "The Energy Saving Trust says you can save about £65 a year by turning off your appliances at the plug. It's EU law that TVs and other devices made since 2013 can't use more than 0.5 watts in standby mode. To show the scale of it, a TV watched four hours a day and left on standby the rest of the time would cost £1.24 a year.
"While the report focused mainly on TVs, it is said that most modern devices consume much less power while on standby than they used to. So while you may not save as much as the Energy Saving Trust says, it can still be worth doing – all devices will still use a small amount of power, and this can add up."
3. Should I run appliances at night?
The financial experts explain that if you're on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff, you'll pay less during the night. However then means that as a result, you will be paying a higher rate than average during the day.
If you are not and are on another tariff, it doesn't make any difference.
MSE warn: "Before you use an appliance at night, check it's safe. If you're unsure what tariff you're on, check your latest energy bill or ask your energy company."
4. Would painting my radiators black or putting reflective panels behind them help?
The straight forward answer is no, according to the Energy Saving Trust. It's best to keep them the standard white with the difference said to be not very noticeable.
Whilst it is true that radiator panels can save energy, it's not very much. MSE say that it's more important to insulate your walls to prevent the heat leaking out of your home altogether.
However when it comes to placing reflective panels behind radiators, the Energy Saving Trust says that these could actually save you money by cutting energy use explaining: "The idea's they reflect heat from the radiator back into the room, so it doesn't escape through external walls. The trust says homes with uninsulated walls will get most benefit."
5. Is a combi boiler cheaper to run?
The Energy Saving Trust says whether or not a combi or a standard boiler is cheaper to run will depend on how much hot water you use.
This is because if you have a standard version, water is heated by your boiler and stored in a hot water tank for when you need it. With a combi boiler, you don't have a hot water tank and instead water is heated up instantly when you turn on the hot tap so it's as and when you need it.
MSE advise that if your household doesn't use a lot of hot water, a combi boilers can be more efficient as they don't leave water sitting in a tank where it can lose heat. However, combi boilers can be less efficient at heating water so if you're a large household using lots of water, it might be cheaper to have a standard boiler with a well-insulated tank.
They add: "The main thing which will affect how expensive your boiler is to run is its efficiency. Having an A-rated condensing boiler (standard or combi) will be cheaper to run than an older non-condensing boiler."
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