Now is the time to cut your energy costs before the cold weather bites.

IT’S time to batten down the hatches. Winter is on its way, and if you want to keep the bills as low as the temperature, you need to act now. That’s not a flippant statement: many of the changes you need to keep costs low take time to set up. Those who knee-jerk react once their feet are buried in six inches in snow often waste hundreds of pounds.

So follow my checklist below to ensure you’re fully prepared for the costly months to come. Hopefully, the extra cash in your wallet will keep it insulated.

Cut £300 off gas and electricity bills before winter comes

While finding a cheaper tariff only takes a couple of minutes, after you sign up it can take over two months for the changeover to take place. So unless you do it now, by the time the high use winter period comes along, it’ll be too late.

The vast majority of the UK is overpaying for energy – a home paying £1,200 a year on a standard tariff would, on average, drop to £890 a year on the very cheapest tariff. The bigger your home, the bigger the saving.

So, unless you’re already on a super-cheap deal, it’s time to sort it. When you switch, it’s the same gas, same electricity, same safety; the only real difference is customer service and cost.

Just use a Consumer Focus approved comparison company, either by phone, such as energylinx 0800-849-7077 or energyhelpline 0800-074-0745. Even better, do it online, as extra cashback can be available. Go via my website, not direct, to some of the sites and they’ll give you up to £30 cashback or a crate of wine if they can switch you. See moneysavingexpert.com/energy

Boiler cover for £7 a month

Don’t think you need to get your boiler cover from your supplier. It’s often available much cheaper elsewhere. The easiest way is to use comparison websites like uSwitch or Energyhelpline to scour the web, but always check the cover’s suitable. Remember to include Direct Line in your research, as it can be competitive, but isn’t covered by the comparison sites. It’s best to this online, as you’ll get a discount.

And do it quickly. If you’re going to switch, best to have it up and running before winter.

Always check whether there’s an exclusion policy when switching, ie, if it stops you covering the first year.

Winter fuel payments for the over-60s

Any household with someone born before July 5, 1950, qualifies for a tax-free payment of £250 or £400 for those over 80.

If you’ve received this payment before you don’t have to do anything. If you haven’t, it’s worth calling and filling out a claim form to make sure you get it. The number is 0845-915-1515.

Free energy-saving grants worth £1,000s

There is an enormous amount of cash from charities, companies and government out there to help you make your home more efficient.

Some of it requires you to be on benefits, a lower income or a pensioner. But, even if not, there’s still serious quantities of money to help you pay for things. Some can be for amounts in excess of £3,000 so it’s well worth it.

You can find a full breakdown at money savingexpert.com/energygrants and use the Energy Saving Trust grant finder at energysavingtrust.co.uk. Again, speed is of the essence, as it takes time to get a grant and then get things done.

Get yourself an energy monitor

These gadgets connect to your electricity meter and wirelessly send information to a digital monitor you can put anywhere. This gives you a rough indication of the cost of the electricity you are using at that moment. I’m a huge fan of them, they really do help you save cash.

For example, with my monitor I know the rough standard run rate, so if I’m watching telly and I see it’s higher, I can usually tell that I’ve left the lights or oven on and nip to switch it off. They cost £20 to £40 and I think it’s worth it, but a few energy suppliers offer them free.

For example, npower is currently giving them to any of its customers who sign up to paperless billing.

However, don’t opt to switch to a particular tariff just because it has an energy meter, as these tend not to be the cheapest tariffs. You’ll save more by going for the cheapest deal than the monitor costs, so better to buy one yourself.

Cut your energy use

It is amazing how many people walk round the house in just briefs (and bra) with windows open, complaining it’s cold and turning the heating up. It is the obvious things that save you money – turn the thermostat down and pop a jumper on, use draft excluder, thicker curtains or higher-rated duvets.

The Energy Saving Trust (energysaving trust.co.uk) has a tool that will help you give your house a makeover and change any bad energy habits.

Just in time to grab a bargain

Free cavity wall insulation for British/Scottish Gas over-60s BRITISH and Scottish Gas are offering 20,000 customers grants for cavity wall insulation including installation – overall worth about £200 to £300.

To qualify you need to be a British Gas customer, own your own home and be over 60. Unusually, you don’t need be on benefits or have low income to qualify for this kind of deal.

The deadline is tomorrow and there are only a limited number, so be quick. Call 0800-068-00325.

Tesco Clubcard Rewards to be cut CURRENTLY, trade in your Tesco vouchers for Clubcard Rewards and you get four times the value of redeeming them in store, so each £10 voucher becomes £40 of Goldsmiths vouchers, Virgin Holidays, etc. From December 6 that will drop to three times in rewards (£30). Exchange before then to get maximum value for your points.

Five per cent off first class stamps UNTIL January 4 Superdrug is is giving five per cent off first class stamps in store – just in time for Christmas.