Every winter brings a drop in temperatures and rising concerns about heating costs. With the energy price cap set to increase in January, we have gathered together some practical advice to help you keep warm and cut costs over the colder months.

This month, millions of households will see a slight rise in their energy bills, as the energy regulator Ofgem increases the price cap by 0.2%.

The price cap is the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge customers for each unit of energy in England, Scotland and Wales.

Between 1 January and 31 March 2026, the energy price cap is set at £1,758 per year for a typical household which uses electricity and pays by direct debit.

Energy costs can hit people differently, for example, people living in older homes, renters and low-income households.

George Pearson, head of technical services at Retrofit West – which is funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and covers Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire – said that even small actions can help to reduce heat loss.

“Sealing gaps and draught proofing is the number one step because it’s so low cost,” he said.

Mr Pearson recommended sealing gaps around skirting boards, letter boxes and even light fittings.

He added that people can maximise boiler efficiency by reducing the flow temperature.

Most people have their temperature set to 60C (140F), but lowering it to 55C (131F) or 45C (113F) could save money, said Mr Pearson.

“Heating and hot water is the majority of the bill in the average household,” said Nick Trapp from the Centre of Sustainable Energy.

“So that’s what you spend more on than your lights or your computer or your oven.”

To save money on your heating bill, turn off radiators in rooms you do not use and use your central thermostat to control the overall temperature, he said.

Additionally, turning your heating down by one degree could help save up to £73 a year.

But it is advised not to go below 18C (64F) if you are elderly, ill, or have small children.

Having an annual boiler service can also keep heating systems running efficiently and prevent more costly issues with your boiler in the future.

And a thick insulating jacket for your boiler could save about £183 a year.

“Some other low-cost wins include reflective panels,” said Mr Pearson.

“You can put them behind radiators and they can bounce the heat back into the space, so you’re not losing some of that heat generated into the actual wall itself.”

Mr Pearson also suggests bleeding radiators to remove trapped air and maintain even distribution of heat.

Although there are lots of plug-in heaters on the market, Mr Trapp warned that these can often be more expensive than using central heating.

“People get tempted by them because they look like they’re smaller, so you expect them to use less energy, but they’re actually a lot less efficient,” he said.

Changing your energy tariff can save you money by switching to a cheaper fixed deal, a discounted variable tariff or a time-of-use tariff like economy, which offers cheaper electricity at night.

During the winter months where more people dry their clothes indoors, a dehumidifier can help save on the cost of using a tumble dryer, while helping to prevent damp and mould.

Mr Trapp recommends using a dehumidifier in the room where you dry laundry and close the door to prevent water vapour getting to the rest of the house.

If you can, and try and heat your home consistently to avoid issues with damp and mould.

While there are lots of low-cost solutions, some people may want to consider some longer-term solutions to make sure their home is energy efficient.

One of these options is installing insulation, which can help protect your home from both hot and cold weather.

Mr Pearson also recommends insulating pipes, where possible, to reduce the heat loss of hot water travelling through pipe work.

When it comes to loft insulation, Mr Pearson recommends 15.7in (39.8cm) of insulation – which may sound like a lot – but it has a significant impact on the reduction of heat loss.

If you are really struggling with your bills, you may be entitled to additional support.

The government offers a Warm Homes Discount, which is a one-off rebate on your energy bill. You will get the discount automatically if you are eligible.

A Winter Fuel Payment of between £100 and £300 is also available for eligible people born on or before 22 September 1959.

You may also get a Cold Weather Payment if you are on certain benefits.

Certain people may be eligible for the government’s Warm Homes Grant, which provides funding to make energy saving improvements to your home.

“A lot of people seem to think you shouldn’t have a pet if you can’t feed it, but it’s a bigger picture than that.”

Anita Arthur co-founded Animal Foodbank UK with Robert Miller, after both had volunteered for animal charities and recognised how many people were struggling to feed their beloved pets.

With many food banks not offering pet food, Ms Arthur and Mr Miller, from Redditch, realised there was a need for one offering pet food.

What started off with two £20 donations from its co-founders has now exploded into a community of more than 120 volunteers, covering the expanse of the UK from Scotland down to Cornwall, donating food to almost 6,000 pet owners.

Over the last three years the group, which now has charity status, has donated 150,000 meals for pets in need across England, Scotland and Wales.

Ms Arthur believes they may be the only service in the UK that sends out pet food donations by delivery, as opposed to collection services.

“We don’t have to be referred to. Anybody can call, drop into our drop-in centres and we’ll help them,” Ms Arthur said.

People receive two weeks’ worth of food for their pets each month, and the group also works with other organisations such as homeless accommodation services to help people in need.

The charity does not request proof of low income or benefits in order to send out donations, and there are only two reasons they will not provide donations to an applicant.

“If anybody’s breeding dogs, we won’t help them, because we’ve got to promote responsible ownership,” Ms Arthur said.

“And if people have food off us, then go and get more pets and come back for more food, we will refuse.”

Another pet food bank, established more recently in the West Midlands, is the West Bromwich Emergency Pet Pantry, run by 47-year-old Louise Colledge.

With donation points in West Bromwich and Smethwick, the pet pantry tries to cover the whole of Sandwell.

“I used to work for a local charity, which provided a food bank for humans, but a lot of people came in and asked for pet food,” Ms Colledge said.

“I thought it was something missing from the area.”

People can phone, text or email the group for a referral, and can receive a week’s worth of pet food three times over a six-month period, with longer-lasting support provided in more severe circumstances.

Both groups recognise the difficult circumstances that can lead to people struggling to provide for their pets.

“We have had a lady who escaped domestic violence and had to leave with her two dogs and the children,” Ms Colledge said.

“We’ve supported her a bit extra, while getting back on her feet and sorting benefits out.”

Over at Animal Foodbank UK, Ms Arthur said they had seen a widow come to them after struggling to pay for her husband’s headstone, while another woman was set back by the cost of euthanising her dog.

“Using her money to end the suffering of her dog meant she was left without money to feed the rest of her pets,” Ms Arthur said.

What is important to both groups is supporting struggling pet owners without judgement and the wider implications that can have for the people they help.

“If we can feed a pensioner’s dog for two weeks, that could allow them to have the heating on. If someone’s car’s broken on the way to work, we can step in,” Ms Arthur said.

“Lots of these people would rather feed their pets than feed themselves.”

Ms Colledge believes in giving people the support they need to keep pets at home with their owners.

She has also seen homeless people turn down accommodation so they can stay with their pets.

“Some people love their pets so much they’ll hand them into a rescue if they can’t afford food, so [our work] also supports the rescues,” she said.

“We do have people that are having to choose whether they feed themselves or their pets.”