At Citizens Advice, we are seeing more and more people who are worried about how they will afford to pay their energy bills this winter, when they will have to put their heating and lights on for longer.

Large increases in the cost of living mean some families are struggling to pay their bills and are worried about taking on debt that they can ill-afford.

However, if the alternative is their children being cold and more vulnerable to illness, then that is unbearable too.

There are some simple tips that everyone can follow to help save money on their energy bills.

They won’t cover all the extra costs that have been added to bills in the last few years, but they will make a difference.

First, check your thermostat. A room temperature between 18° C and 21° C is ideal for most people. Turning a thermostat down by one degree within this range could save a family around £115 a year.

Second, keep the heat in. Check your home for gaps in the doors, windows and floors. Blocking any holes where you could get a draught could save around £30 a year. However, do allow some ventilation to avoid problems with damp and mould.

Third, turn off everything that you are not using. Turning off your appliances like TVs and washing machines, instead of leaving them on standby could save around £60 a year. Turning off lights when you are not using them could save a further £25.

Fourth, watch your water usage. Cutting the time you spend in the shower by just one minute could make a difference.

If everyone in a family of four with a water meter did this, they could save around £75 a year.

Even after taking all these steps, we know some families are still finding it hard to pay their bills.

If this applies to you, you may be able to get some support from the government or from your energy supplier. The first step is to contact your supplier to find out what they can offer.

You may be eligible, for example, for benefits including the Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payments or the Household Support Fund.

You can find out more about these schemes and what to do if you are struggling with your bills on the Citizens Advice website.

But if you feel you need tailored support with your problems relating to energy affordability, Citizens Advice can offer you independent and confidential support.

In St Albans, we can be reached on 01727 811118 from 10am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 1pm on Friday.

Or you can call the Herts Adviceline on 0800 144 8848 between 10am and 9pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am and 8pm on Thursday and Friday and 10am and 4pm on Saturday.