With the whole working from home situation slugging everyone with higher than usual energy bills, this winter more than ever people will be wanting to keep their energy costs as low as possible.

Here are some easy ways to save money and live comfortably as temperatures plunge. Just a few small outlays under $50 could help you save hundreds in energy costs in the long run.

Ditch the clothes dryer for a clothes rack

In Winter when it’s cold outside, the last thing you often feel like doing is hanging clothes out on a damp line to dry. While it’s all too easy to throw a wet load into a clothes dryer, a clothes rack does the job just as well and eliminates the cost to run a dryer. The EzyAirer Clothes Rack, $49.99, holds up to 15kg of wet washing and can be extended to 21m of total drying space and is exclusive to Big W. It’s proving a popular old-time staple – sales of the device recently went up 57 per cent!

Heat your bed with a hot water bottle

There’s nothing more uncomfortable than getting into a freezing bed in a cold room. Avoid the tendency to run an expensive floor heater or dial up an electric blanket all night by investing in a good old hot water bottle to quickly heat your body up. Morgan and Finch do an adorable hot water bottle available from Bed Bath N’ Table, $24.95, featuring adorable embroidered dog motifs and a roll-neck detail and has a natural rubber water bottle insert.

Insulate your home with a draft stopper

You can easily improve the insulation in your home by creating a better seal on your windows and doors. Much of the cold air from outside enters a home this way and the tendency is usually to crank up the heater as a result. The Twin Draft Stop, $10.95 available at Big W, is double sided providing double air leak protection and in the case of a door, will move as it opens and closes. It’ll greatly help block out cold, heat, noise and odours.

Save on kitchen costs with a slow cooker

People are sometimes wary of slow cookers due to their long running time, but actually they don’t use more electricity over an 8-hour period than a light bulb. They also consume as little as 0.7kWh over an 8-hour cooking cycle, which is less than most other cooking appliances such as a stove top or oven. The Sunbeam Slow Cooker 5.5L is priced at $39 and also switches to a Keep Warm setting after cooking is completed to prevent overcooking.

Give the vacuum a rest by using a good dirt absorbing mat

In winter floors and carpets tend to get particularly dirty due to outdoor mud and rain being tracked inside. If you’re sick of constantly running a vacuum cleaner, a good dirt absorbing door mat is essential. The Homezy Clean Step Mat, $20.95, is woven with millions of super absorbent fibres that draw mud, dirt and water away from shoes instantly and is especially useful if you have pets and kids constantly running amuck. Exclusive to Big W.

Keep warm in the lounge with a heated throw

With the lounge room typically the largest space in the home, this area can be the most expensive to heat. Instead of running a heather constantly on high, a great alternative is to buy a heated throw rug for the couch such as the Electric Heated Throw Rug, $44.95 from Groupon. It’s a great way to lower your heating bills by directly warming your boy whilst you Netflix and chill.

Wear thermal clothing indoors

So, wearing warmer clothes inside is one obvious way to use less indoor heating, however it’s more effective if you buy actual thermal clothing from a hiking store. The Talus Womens Long Sleeved Baselayer, $17.99, from Mountain Warehouse has special Isotherm fabric which have densely packed fibres to retain heat and warmth without adding bulk, keeping you heated for longer.

What tips can you share to keep your winter energy costs down? Tell us in the comments below.