Beat the cost of living crisis with these middle class life hacks

A Quooker smart hot water tap delivers instant boiling water in your kitchen alongside regular hot and cold water, meaning the kettle – one of the most expensive kitchen appliances, costing 2.5p each time it is used – is obsolete. Yes, the outlay will be significant – Quooker taps start at £1,150 for the smallest three-litre tank – but they’re said to use up to 50 per cent less energy than kettles and cut water waste. Alternatively, you can boil the water for your cup of tea on the gas hob, not the kettle: just make sure you use exactly the amount of water you need and turn off the hob as soon as it boils. According to which? it’s a little cheaper.

12. Pot a houseplant

They are natural dehumidifiers because they absorb and release moisture, regulate humidity levels and create fresh air, giving you a healthier home and less need to open the windows and let cold air out or use an electric dehumidifier to prevent moisture. For bonus points, propagate your plants and watch as they propagate.

13. Keep those dishes

Never leave the dishwasher running until it’s full – it costs between 2.5p and 3.7p per 10 minutes to run, according to the Center for Sustainable Energy.

14. Try using one room at a time

Gather the whole family in the same room in the evening, so you only have to heat one room. This can happen one of two ways: you either build closer relationships with your nearest and dearest when you bond over succession, or it goes so horribly wrong that you end up moving out to a rented apartment and breaking the budget altogether.

This article has been updated with the latest advice.