Don’t let your power bills get out of hand during winter!
With winter settling in across the country, many of us will be turning on the heater, taking longer showers and leaving our lights on a little longer, sending our power bills soaring.
You don’t have to choose between freezing or paying higher bills though. Here are a few simple steps you can take to cut down your winter power bills.
Get to know what products use the most energy around your home.
The microwave is one of the most common culprits for draining excess energy when not in use. Simply switching it off when you’re not using it can help you save some dollars.
Once you’ve identified the culprits around the home, switch them off or swap them out for more energy efficient options.
Before you reach for the heater, try warming up with extra blankets or keeping your home closed up when the temperature drops.
If your floors are tiled or you have wooden floor boards, consider investing in rugs.
When you do switch on the heater, make sure it’s energy efficient and you’ve closed all of the windows, blinds and doors.
If you’re only planning on using the one room, close that off. Limiting the heat to just one room means you’ll use less energy overall.
Have a chat with me about any real estate enquiries, my advice is given freely and without obligation - 0274 951536
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
.
Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
-
85.1% Yes
-
13.4% No
-
1.5% Other - I'll share below
Become an SPCA Foster Hero!
Kitten season has arrived, and over the next six months, over 8,000 cats and kittens will come into SPCA’s care. Please help us give these babies the best start in life and sign up to be a foster parent today! It's not just cats and kittens - we are also urgently seeking foster homes for dogs and small animals.
Fostering saves lives and helps these tiny babies grow into healthy, well-adjusted adults, ready for adoption. We cover all training and costs. All you need is time and love to spare!
Sign up today and save a life!