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Martin: Winter is coming
How to cut costs, stay warm, and get your house in order

60+ home energy savers, direct debit test, bill help, cut use for cash, slash boiler costs, heat the human & more

It's usually about this time most start to turn the central heating on. Though this year it may be later, both as thankfully temperatures aren't yet too cold, and as many will delay due to sky-high prices.

So that gives me time to compile a range of protective MoneySaving winter warmers to help get your house in order, including our new 60 home energy savers checklist, as well as our Heat the human guide. Enough hot air (if only), let's do it...

1. The story so far: energy prices are double last winter's. On 1 Oct, the new energy price guarantee launched. Originally planned to last two years, it'll now end in March.

- It increased prices by an average 27% compared to the pre-Oct rate.
- Substantially less than the 80% rise due under the price cap system.
- Substantially more (96%) than last winter's energy rates.

The guarantee works just like the past caps, only the price differs. There is NO TOTAL MAX that you pay for gas and electricity, instead it's unit rates and standing charges that are capped.

To help with the huge cost increase, in May an energy support payments package was put in place for Eng, Scot & Wales (for NI, see below)...

2. What happens in April when price guarantee ends? Nowt's been announced, but the default setting if nothing is changed is we return to the price cap system. The latest prediction from analysts Cornwall Insight (though it's very, very early days and likely to change) says we'd see rates rise 48%, taking the bill for someone on typical use (a meaningless figure just for illustration) from today's £2,500/yr to £3,700/yr.

3. Take our 2-min check to see if your direct debit's right. Enter your kWh usage from your bill into our 'Is your direct debit right?' calculator to find out what it should be roughly. If yours is too high and you're not in energy debt, or it is far too low, then politely call up and ask them to explain why. You have a right to a fair direct debit under Ofgem's rules. See how to challenge unfair direct debits.

4. Octopus, Ovo, BG, E.on & EDF customers can earn up to £100 by timing energy use this winter. Those on Eco 7, Eco 10 and other time-of-use tariffs have long had cheaper rates for overnight electricity use. Everyone else pays the same regardless of whenever you use energy.

Now the National Grid is setting up schemes so those on smart meters can be paid to use less energy at peak times (4-7pm). Octopus is up and running, BG, E.on & EDF have announced they will do this too. Ovo has its own scheme separate to the National Grid one. Full info in our Power down round-up.

5. Even if you're not on a time-of-use tariff, why not do easy energy decreases between 4pm and 7pm? The Govt should be saying this, but so far it's not doing its own info campaign. This winter there's an outside risk of an energy security issue and blackouts - especially during peak 4pm to 7pm.

So where it's no hassle to do, why not aim to minimise leccy use? Eg, turn on big appliances in the morning or later evening (though be careful, leaving appliances such as tumble dryers on while you sleep is a fire risk). Hopefully if many do this, we'll all gain.

6. Can't afford to heat your home? Find a warm space. Warm spaces are places, offered by libraries, local councils and others, where people are welcome to go to spend time and stay warm.

It's a bittersweet state of affairs - sad it's needed, great to know help's out there. It may just mean a few extra hours with the heating off that makes things affordable. See if you, or perhaps a nearby elderly neighbour, can find a warm space near you.

PS: Want to help set up a warm space? I recently commissioned a charity to produce this downloadable free Warm spaces (warm banks) best practice guide for those who want to help.

7. You can't switch tariff to save, but may be able to up your service. There are no fixed (or other) deals out there that are significantly cheaper than the energy price guarantee, which the huge majority of Eng, Scot & Wales are on.

Yet if your firm is making you white hot... with anger over its service, then you could still switch elsewhere to improve the service. Of the biggies, EDF & Ovo let you switch easily online, but many others will need calling up as they aren't actively encouraging switchers.

8. On an old school prepayment meter and not received or redeemed your £66/mth voucher? You have 3 months from issue to redeem it. Even if the voucher wrongly says it, you DON'T need photo ID to use it (a household bill valid in the last 12 months should do). 100,000s of October's vouchers have yet to be redeemed - you've 3 months to do it. For help, including what to do if you've not been sent it or it's refused, see Prepay voucher redemption help.

9. Is it better to leave your heating on low all day or only turn it on when needed? Plus 19 other mythbusters. We answer this and other energy saving conundrums in our 20 energy mythbusters guide.

10. Ends 30 Nov. 300,000 haven't claimed their £150 council tax cost of living rebate. If you're in council tax bands A to D, and don't pay by direct debit, you need to claim the payment - 100,000s still haven't, and you've only got until 30 November to contact your local council to make a claim. See How to claim your council tax rebate.

11. The Northern Ireland energy price guarantee has started, but I doubt the £400 will be paid this year. It started on 1 Nov and runs until the end of March. NI households get a unit rate discount of usually 19.9p/kWh for electricity and 4.8p/kWh for gas. This includes a little extra than initially announced to backdate the support from October. If you prepay, you may need to top up before the discount is applied.

The Govt has said NI customers will get the same £400 winter electricity help payments as those elsewhere are already getting, but we don't know how or when yet. See our Northern Ireland energy guide for help & updates.

12. Got prepay meters? You may be able to use the Govt £66/mth help on gas too. The payment is officially made off electricity bills, which can be a struggle if it's gas where you're short. All firms barring Brit Gas let you do it if you've an old school prepayment meter. With smart prepay, some firms allow you to use it for gas too, and we're calling for others to do the same. See Can I use my £66 towards my gas? help.

13. Free home fire safety check. There are around 30,000 house fires and almost 300 fire-related deaths in Britain each year - often related to heating and electricals. This free fire safety check could reduce the risk of a fire. Many fire brigades also offer free in-person fire checks to the most vulnerable. Contact your local fire and rescue service for criteria and to book.

14. Help if you're struggling to pay bills. First talk to your energy firm - be polite and straight - and make sure you tell it if you're vulnerable. We list a host of grants and help in our What to do if you're struggling to pay energy bills guide. If you need more bespoke help, some key charities can help...

- National Energy Action (Eng & Wal) gives benefits advice, and helps with bills, debt and hardship fund applications. These links are for similar help in N Ireland and Scotland.

- Citizens Advice (Eng, Scot and Wales) and StepChange (UK-wide) can give wider debt and energy help. Plus Age UK offers help for older people, and Scope for disabled people in England and Wales.