What is the Cost of Living Crisis?
Since late 2021, the UK has been suffering through what is known as the “Cost of Living Crisis”. Caused by inflation in relation to other worldwide events, the cost of living crisis has seen families struggle with heating, electricity and food bills due to a lack of income. Keep reading for some tips on how to cut energy costs at home.
Who does it affect?
The cost of living crisis is affecting the whole of the UK, with costs of essentials such as food and energy prices being driven high. However, lower-income households are most affected by the crisis, with record numbers of families now turning to food banks and other charitable organisations.
What help can I get with the Cost of Living Crisis?
The government has a “Help for Households” scheme which can give you information on receiving tax credits and tips on how to save money for your household. You can also visit the government website for guidance on receiving funds to help with bills.
Tips for Saving on Heating and Energy Costs at Home
According to Utilita, how you cook your food at home greatly affects how much money you spend across the year. The BBC gives the following example on how to cut energy costs for cooking two chicken breasts:
- Electric Oven – 84p
- Gas Hob – 33p
- Slow Cooker – 24p
- Air Fryer – 15p
- Microwave – 4p
Perhaps surprisingly, the microwave was the cheapest way to cook food. We all know the microwave isn’t the best way to cook fresh food, but cooking food on the hob or in the oven in bulk and freezing for later means you can reheat it in the microwave and save money, without the rubbery texture.
When washing and drying clothes, you could save up to £20 a year by washing at 30 degrees instead of 40. Using a clothes rack/maiden instead of a tumble dryer could save you up to £77 a year.
If you’d rather not use your central heating, you could use blankets or heated blankets, and make sure your room is free of drafts by using a draft excluder, or even an old towel/blanket.
How does my stairlift fit into all this?
Last year we did our own study into how much electricity a stairlift uses. We found that stairlifts typically use between 0.2kwh and 0.5kwh per hour which amounts to a stairlift costing only between £5-20 a year to run. That’s significantly lower than other household appliances such as a tv which could cost between £25-80 a year to run (depending on model and size) or two cups of tea a year which could cost up to £43!
It’s extremely important to leave your stairlift plugged in and switched on at all times. Our stairlifts run on lead-acid batteries, which are rechargeable batteries. However if they reach a deep discharge (less than 20%) this can permanently damage the battery, meaning they won’t be able to charge properly or hold a charge. This means they will need to be replaced which would cost more than just leaving it running!
If you have any questions about your stairlift you can use the live chat feature on the website, send us an email to sales@superglide-stairlifts.co.uk or give us a call on 01925 414771.
