The start of a new year can often be a mix of emotions. While we're still feeling the highs of the new year, setting resolutions and goals for ourselves, we're also dealing with the aftermath of the festive period just gone.
January is often the month where money is being squeezed the tightest. Food and energy bills can turn this month into an uncomfortable one - and that's not even acknowledging those unexpected expenditures which always come at us when we least expect it.
We've already written a blog post about Thoughtful Ways To Deal With The January Blues in which we acknowledge some of January's difficulties. In that post we talk about hobbies you can try picking up as well as the products we sell that can help.
In this blog post we're going to be suggesting tips and products that can help you save energy and money this month. When money matters it's important we do everything we can to make it go far. And with this list we've compiled, we think we've got some great suggestions.
Tip #1 - Invest in Draught-proofing
Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest, easiest, and most effective ways to save energy (and, by extension, money) in the colder months.
Draughts can be temperamental, bring in too much cold air, and waste that precious heat we've got stored inside.
As seen on energysavingtrust.org.uk : "Draught-proofing around windows and doors could save you around £40 a year in Great Britain (GB) and £45 in Northern Ireland (NI)."
And in today's economy, even the smallest of savings can make all the difference in making life more comfortable.
While we do not sell any in-store, you can pick one up at a competitive price from most wholesale retailers!
Tip #2 - Start using an air fryer
Now many people have already tried an air fryer for themselves - whether that be a purchase they made themselves or a gift they received on their birthday or Christmas - and we know a fair few people who have converted to them almost entirely! But not everyone has had an opportunity to try these amazing bits of kit. And that's where we'd like to step in.
If you weren't already in the know, an air fryer is essentially a mini oven that cooks by circulating hot air around food. The food is heated by convection which creates a crunchy, crispy exterior requiring minimal fat, this makes it both convenient and a lower fat method for cooking certain foods - (BBC Good Food).
We've found that food cooks more evenly in an air fryer, as well as much faster thanks to the heat circulation. It's also tastier!
As found in Save Money Cut Carbon: "they use less energy per hour to run than conventional ovens. Whilst a typical 2200-watt electric oven costs about 85p per hour, a typical 1500-watt air fryer will cost about 51p."
So you'll be getting your food faster while also saving money? Count us in!
Here at DANIEL stores we're proud to be housing the ASK concession on our Lower Ground Floor. Here you can find a selection of the latest and greatest Ninja products, including the coveted Ninja Air Fryers!
Want some recipe inspiration for them? You can also find some air fryer recipe books in our Gift Department!
Tip #3 - Be more efficient with your kettle
Did you know you don't need to fill your kettle up so much every time you use it? Now this might sound silly and obvious, but take a moment and think about the last time you used your kettle... Did you fill it up according to how many cups you were filling, or did you just stare off into the sunset before realising the tap was still running?
Chances are high you fell into the latter. And we're not going to judge you for it; we've all done it! But we don't need to.
The more water you have in your kettle, the more energy required to boil it. Not only are you waiting longer for that same cup of tea, you're also wasting valuable pennies. And when you count how many times you boil your kettle in a day/week/month … that's a fair bit of change you could be saving.
You could also try your hand at a more energy efficient kettle. In the same vein as air fryers, they are designed to achieve that perfect boil without costing too much.
For example, you can find the Ninja Perfect Temperature Kettle in our ASK concession on the Lower Ground Floor of our store.
This kettle is great for (as you may have already guessed) getting the perfect temperature for your hot drinks. So if you don't need your water as hot as possible, this is a great way of saving some energy!
Coffee lovers rejoice!
Tip #4 - Blankets, blankets, and more blankets!
If you don't already own a warm, cosy blanket, now is the time to change that.
Electric blankets are a great way to combat the cold. They're great products that will be with you throughout all the cold months. But if you are being especially careful with energy use, nothing beats the tried and true traditional blanket!
Here in-store we have a variety of cuddly blankets and gorgeous throws that are ready to make their place in your home - better yet, many of them are even included in our Winter Sale!
We hope this little guide has been helpful!
Remember, even the smallest changes can make the biggest differences when saving energy and money this January.