Packing up the car and hitting the road or jumping on a plane – nothing beats that feeling of getting away for a holiday. If you’re busy planning your next ‘escape’, follow these simple tips to do at home - before you depart. 

Give standby the flick to help save on your electricity bill

Yep, we’ve all heard this one before - turning off any unimportant appliances at the power point may help in keeping your bills down. Of course, this doesn’t mean switching off the fridge if you have food in it or your security cameras!

Longer term, you might be shocked to learn that leaving multiple appliances on standby could be responsible for up to 10% of your household’s electricity bills, or around $100-$150 annually. 

Take a look at our blog on standby power for more information.

Weather proof your home

Consider closing blinds, vents and using draught stoppers to keep the heat and cold out (depending on the time of year). This will help make it easier to cool or warm up your house when you arrive home and make for more efficient use of your appliances.

Check your home security system

If you have home security cameras, make sure they’re working properly and are fully charged (if wireless) before you go on holiday. Definitely not one of those appliances you want to turn off before you go!

Leave a clean and tidy home to come back to

Consider a quick tidy up – sweep the floors, wipe down sinks, benches, clean out the fridge, throw out any fruit or perishables and make the beds. You’ll be glad you did so upon your return. And don’t forget to put any rubbish outside.

Prepare easy meals to freeze and reheat for when you get back

If you have time, throw a few quick meal options into the freezer so you can easily thaw and heat when you get home. The last thing you’ll want to do is cook when you get home. Good meals to freeze and reheat include soups, stews, pasta dishes and curries.

Set up direct debits to pay your bills

If you haven’t already done so, setting up direct debit for your bills really does come in handy; who wants to be paying a bill in the middle of a holiday? 

Most service providers will offer a direct debit service. If you’re an ENGIE customer, you can set up a direct debit in three easy steps here.

Don’t shout it from the rooftops

Going on holiday is exciting. But think twice before posting your plans on social media. If you have trust worthy neighbours, ask them to keep an eye on your property and collect any mail or packages that might be delivered while you are away.

And of course, have a great holiday!