From boiling a kettle to running the washing machine, everyday activities can rack up a sizeable portion of your household’s energy usage. For older relatives on a tight budget, finding ways to safely cut costs on cooking, heating, and laundry can deliver real financial relief. Yet balancing cost savings with health, safety, and comfort is vital—particularly for those who might be less mobile or more susceptible to cold. Below, we’ll outline practical methods to trim costs without sacrificing well-being.
1. Cooking on a Budget
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Use the Right Appliance: Did you know an electric oven can cost significantly more to run per hour than a slow cooker or microwave? Encouraging your parent to use a slow cooker for stews or casseroles can be cheaper and more convenient, especially if they’re used to preparing one-pot meals.
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Match the Pan to the Hob: Using a small pan on a large burner wastes heat; conversely, a large pan on a tiny burner can slow cooking times, wasting electricity or gas. Pots with lids also retain heat better, speeding up cooking.
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Batch Cooking and Freezing: Preparing multiple portions in one go—batch cooking and freezing individual portions of stews etc is time and fuel efficient. This approach harnesses the energy used in one cooking session to yield multiple meals, cutting down on repeated oven usage throughout the week.
2. Smart Use of Kettles
Many older people habitually fill the kettle to the top, even if making just a single cup of tea. That extra water requires extra energy to boil.
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Fill with Only What’s Needed: Mark the kettle with minimum and maximum fill lines or teach your parent to use a measuring cup.
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Descale Regularly: In hard-water areas, lime scale build-up can slow boil times, wasting energy. Occasional descaling helps maintain efficiency.
3. Heating the Home Efficiently
Winter months see a surge in heating costs. However, a few small changes can keep the home warm for less:
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Use Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs): These let you control individual radiators, focusing heat where it’s needed. If your older relative spends most of their time in the living room, the valve can be higher there and lower in rooms rarely used.
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Set the Thermostat Wisely: Reducing the thermostat by even 1°C can lead to noticeable savings, but you must balance this against comfort—especially for those susceptible to cold. A recommended range is around 18–21°C, but personal preference and health conditions vary.
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Avoid Heating Empty Rooms: Close doors to spare rooms and reduce radiators in those areas to a lower setting. This minimises wasted heat without making the entire house cold.
4. Laundry Considerations
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Wash at Lower Temperatures: Modern detergents are often formulated to clean effectively at 30°C or even lower. This can significantly reduce energy usage if your older relative does frequent loads.
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Full Loads Only: Encourage waiting until there’s a full load of clothes or bedding. Running half-empty machines wastes water, electricity, and money.
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Air Dry vs. Tumble Dry: Tumble dryers can be expensive to run. If possible, drying clothes on a clothes airer near a ventilated area or outdoors is cheaper. For those who struggle with heavy wet laundry, a heated airer might be a middle ground.
5. Safety First: Watch Out for Damp and Mould
While saving money is essential, so is ensuring the home remains healthy. Reducing heating too aggressively can lead to condensation and, over time, damp or mould growth. If your older loved one starts skipping the tumble dryer or turning the thermostat down, keep an eye out for signs of increased condensation on windows or musty odours. Balanced ventilation—occasionally opening a window—helps remove moist air, particularly if you’re air drying clothes indoors.
6. Timers and Smart Controls
If the older person is comfortable with technology or you’re regularly available to help:
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Programmed Heating: A timer or smart thermostat can heat the home only at key times (e.g., early morning and evening), avoiding continuous heating throughout the day if your parent is out.
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Smart Plugs: Some devices let you turn appliances off remotely or schedule them to run at off-peak hours, if the tariff allows.
7. Discussing Changes with Your Loved One
Any shift in routine—from using a slow cooker to altering laundry habits—can feel daunting or confusing to someone used to a lifetime of doing things a certain way. Approach these suggestions gently, emphasising the benefits: a warmer, healthier home that saves money. Provide written notes or simple demonstrations if needed. If they are resistant, consider prioritising the biggest gains first, like adjusting the thermostat or using a full load for laundry.
8. Key Takeaway
Cooking, heating, and laundry collectively form a major chunk of any household’s energy consumption. Fortunately, simple strategies—like correct hob usage, measuring water in the kettle, setting thermostats sensibly, and favouring cooler laundry loads—can reduce costs without sacrificing well-being. For Carents, it’s important to check that older relatives remain comfortable and safe. Small savings add up over time, and the result can be a budget that stretches further, ensuring more resources for other essentials or a welcome treat. After all, saving on energy should enhance your loved one’s quality of life, not compromise it.