Martin Lewis has issued an urgent warning that one simple mistake could be adding hundreds to your energy bill.
The MoneySavingExpert revealed the one “costly” error when turning your thermostat up that could send bills soaring.
Speaking on ITV’s Martin Lewis Money Show earler this week, audience members quizzed the finance guru on their energy bill problems.
One revealed they had turned the temperature up by one degree, but Martin quickly said this was “unnecessary”.
“A thermostat says: ‘we will keep it at a set temperature’,” he said. “Why are you turning it up in winter? That’s what the thermostat does.
“If you want it to be 20 degrees it will stay at 20 degrees and that’s the right temperature for you.
“You don’t turn your thermostats up in winter, you just let it get to the heat. That’s all you need to do.”
Meanwhile Martin Lewis also issued an urgent warning for those aged 65 and over not to bin a crucial letter from HMRC that could be coming in the post.
Speaking on the show on Wednesday, November 1, he told any female pensioners: “Do not bin it.”
HMRC has started writing to 100,000s of people – mostly women – who may be missing out on their full state pension entitlement due to an error in their national insurance records.
Specifically, this affects those who took time off work to care for family between 1978 and 2010, as they may be missing what’s known as ‘home responsibilities protection’ (HRP).
Letters are being sent out in phases, with those over state pension age (66) being contacted first.
The money-saving expert said: “Do not bin them. They are not scams – this is crucial. The letter will be titled ‘You may be eligible for Home Responsibilities Protection’.
“It’s mainly for women and it can be worth thousands of pounds. In some cases tens of thousands of pounds. I’ve had a success story today from this for £30,000. That’s why I’m saying don’t bin it.”
Those under 66 will be able to do this later or they can start looking into it now – but they will get your letters later. They are starting with those people who are already at state pension age.
