Wearing extra layers of lovely warm clothing is the best way to keep the chill out. Bikinis are not ideal winter wear, and neither are shorts or sleeveless t-shirts.

However, many people still dress in summer garments during the colder months and then turn up the heating to compensate. And, even if you’re not partial to wearing a bikini in your living room, it's still likely that you don’t put on enough clothing to keep warm without the aid of central heating.

If your house starts to feel chilly, put on a jumper rather than turning up the heating. Or, if you think you may be overheating your house, turn down the thermostat and try warm clothing instead.

Alternatively, if you feel your house is the right temperature, you could consider decreasing the amount of time the heating is actually switched on for. Do you really need to keep the house warm until midnight when you’re in bed by ten? Or could you sleep under an extra blanket and turn off the heating a couple of hours earlier?

Also consider setting your thermostat to come on a bit later in the morning. By shaving just two hours off the time you spend heating your house each day, you could make a significant energy and financial saving.

Other top money saving tips

Switch to low-energy lightbulbs
Install cavity wall insulation
Ban your standby button
Insulate your loft to save heat
Switch appliances with power packs or adapters off at the plug
Block draughts coming from underneath floorboards