Festive fears as households more worried about paying for heating than presents

Nov. 25, 2014 - PRLog -- Nine in ten (89%) homeowners say they are concerned about the cost of heating their home this winter. Over three-quarters (76%) say rising fuel bills are of a greater concern than the cost of Christmas, meeting the monthly mortgage payments, the prospect of rising interest rates, or the cost of maintaining a family car.

Fears over rising fuel bills compared to the cost of Christmas are even more alarming considering a recent survey from the Money Advice Service revealed that the coming festive season is expected to be more expensive than ever before, with people planning to spend on average £530 each.

The survey of 1,000 homeowners, commissioned by heating technology manufacturer Daikin UK, also revealed that three in every five (61%) are planning to wear a coat, fleece of thick jumper indoors, while 30% say they will be going to bed early on cold nights to save money.

A quarter of all homeowners (26%) plan to get physical for warmth by cuddling up to a loved on.

The Daikin commissioned survey shows concerns over rising fuel costs are genuine, with 47% saying they are either extremely or very concerned (17% vs 30% respectively). The survey also indicates that, contrary to common assumptions, it’s not just the elderly concerned with rising fuel costs: one in five (20%) of 25-34 year olds and 17% of 25-34s say they are extremely concerned.

In total, 88% of homeowners say they will be supplementing their heating systems this winter in one way or another to keep them and their families warm. Almost two-thirds of women (61%) plan to drag the duvet to the sofa (versus 36% of men) but only 12% of all homeowners say they will turn to top-up portable heaters when winter sets in, and just 14% will light an open fire or wood burner.

Nancy Jonsson, Daikin’s domestic heating expert, comments: “It’s alarming to see the scale of concern amongst Britain’s 18 million homeowners over the cost of heating their homes this winter. It’s great people are taking practical action to reduce their use of their central heating and keep costs down, but this shouldn’t be necessary when alternatives means of heating without a reliance on expensive fossil fuels, such as heat pumps, are available and affordable. Frightening fuel bills are not going to go away so homeowners are urged to consider a longer term solution.”

ENDS