With Christmas almost here, it can be tempting to flick the sparkly lights on and turn the heating up as the cold snap continues but with the cost of living increasing, you might be looking for ways to reduce your energy bills this winter.

If you want to know how you can spend less this winter, look no further.

The experts at Utility Bidder have shared five ways you can have a more energy-efficient Christmas.

5 ways to save money and energy this Christmas

Use pan lids when cooking

Oxford Mail: Utility Bidder says using pan lids when cooking could save you energyUtility Bidder says using pan lids when cooking could save you energy (Image: PA)

Many of us will be using the hob to boil vegetables for Christmas dinner and by making sure the pan lid is on, you could reduce energy usage by around 10%.

This tip will also help your vegetables cook quicker.

Switch to LED lights

Whether they’re used inside or outside the house, LED lights are reported to use 10% of the energy that non-LED lights use.

Using less energy this Christmas could contribute to a cheaper festive period.

How you can reduce your energy bills

Switch lights off

Many families add more lights to their homes when the festive season comes back around and to help reduce the energy bills, turning lights off when you go out or go to bed can help save energy.

If you know you’re leaving a room, turning the light off until you return could also have the same effect.

Lower the thermostat

Oxford Mail: Lowering your thermostat could also save you energyLowering your thermostat could also save you energy (Image: PA)

Christmas is a time where we gather and cook lots of food and lowering the thermostat is recommended.

This is because with more people and the oven and hob on in the house, there’ll be more surrounding temperature.

Keep TV usage to a minimum

Although it can be tempting to stay under a blanket and watch all your favourite Christmas films over the winter break, opting to play board games and going for walks could help you reduce the amount your TV is on, saving you energy.

Your money matters

Your Money Matters is a campaign launched by us and our sister titles across Newsquest to help you overcome the surge in the cost of living. This year has seen a whole host of household price increases — from the energy price cap rise to surging inflation and food prices — costing your family hundreds or even thousands of pounds extra per year.

We’re making it our mission to look out for your cash, offering money-saving deals, competitions, giveaways and insightful stories from your community on the impact this cost-of-living crisis is having on our readers.

The worldwide energy crisis exacerbated by the Ukraine invasion, the financial impact of the Covid pandemic, record inflation figures and a surge in the cost of goods, fuel and travel means we will all feel the pinch. Through our newspaper, we want to do what we can to help make your cash go further because we know your money matters.