Saving money on your gas bill as an expat in the EU

Even though gas is one of the cheapest energy sources available, the bills we get sometimes have astronomous numbers. In this article, we’ll share how to save on gas bills—read on for some energy-saving tips for expats.

How to save on gas bills if you rent

Most expats prefer renting a flat or a room when moving abroad. It’s more affordable and provides flexibility, but you won’t be able to rebuild an apartment as you wish. Therefore, we need some gas-saving tips that can be implemented easily.

Ventilate the room once a day

Starting with the energy-saving tips for winter, do not leave the windows open for the whole day. Yes, it may be too hot or stuffy, but 15 minutes a day will be enough. Otherwise, all your saving efforts will be blown away by the wind—literally. However, it's different during warm times. As for energy-saving tips for summer, consider using natural ventilation when possible because air conditioning is not wallet-friendly.

Use stoves and ovens smartly

To reduce gas bills, enhance your usage of gas stoves.

• Cover pots with lids. An extra euro or two spent on a lid will significantly lower your gas bills in Europe. Lids make water boil faster, while the food is better prepared.
• Reduce the heat after the water starts boiling. This is one of those energy-saving tips that everyone seems to know but always forgets to use. Reducing the heat, though, consumes less gas and saves money.
• Turn it off. Do not leave gas burners on unnecessarily. This is more than a gas-savings tip; it's a question of your safety. One carelessness and you may get carbon monoxide poisoning or set the flat on fire.
• Keep it clean. Carbon deposits cause your stove to work less efficiently. Tidy up once in a while to reduce gas bills. It'll save you money and make the space more eye-pleasing—a win-win.

Explore: Creating an emergency fund.

Cook efficiently

Let’s stay in our kitchen for one more minute and see how to save on gas bills while preparing a meal.

• Preheat only when a recipe requires it. Most of the time, you won't need to heat the saucepan or frying pan in advance, so don't do it without a strong reason. Otherwise, the authorities will send crazy gas bills in Europe.
• Soak your rice and beans. Leave it in the water for a couple of hours to soften the structure. After soaking it’ll be ready faster—an easy energy-saving tip.
• Cut food. Small pieces of chicken fillet will be ready much faster than the whole breast. And time is money in this situation. So, cut your food to cut the gas bills in Europe.
• Buy a pressure cooker, especially if you plan to stay in a country for several years. It prepares meals two times faster than a classic pot and reduces energy consumption. Take advantage of the technologies and know how to save on gas bills.
• Steaming over boiling. Choose steaming methods to consume less energy and keep more nutrition in products. Gas-saving tips can also be good for your health!

There are more efficient cooking techniques, and since it’s something you have total control over, implement them to reduce gas bills.

Close curtains

It’s especially good as an energy-saving tip for winter. When heading to bed, close your windows to prevent the heat from going away.

How it works: The curtains lower the air exchange between the outside, the window, and the rest of the room. If the curtains are of good quality and long enough to touch the floor, they can reduce the loss by up to 40%.

It also pairs well with the energy-saving tips for summer, as closed curtains keep a room cool and guard it from the sunlight.

So, before wondering how to save on the gas heating bill, close the curtains first.

Cover your hot water tank

Buy an insulated jacket of the proper size and cover the hot water tank. The logic behind it is simple—it'll keep the water warmer, and the tank won't reheat more than it should. It may save you up to 60 EUR a year, so why not try out this gas-savings tip?

Talk to your flatmates and landlord

Discuss energy-saving tips together. Maybe, the flat owner will be ready to buy newer and more efficient tools or renovate the apartment (we’ll share some tips for property owners in the next section). If not, at least your flatmates will know how to cook properly and keep the heat inside.

Read more tips for budgeting for utilities abroad here.

While abroad, you can save on money transfers back home, too. To avoid losing funds on hidden fees and unfavourable rates, get the Profee app and enjoy smooth transfers.

How to save on gas bills if you’re an owner

The basics

First, start with a heat loss audit. Find the areas with the greatest potential for loss and insulate your home accordingly. For example, about 35% of heat is lost through the walls, 25% through the roof, and 10% through the windows. So, target these places when deciding how to save on your gas heating bill.

Buy a wall-mounted boiler

It has several advantages over floor-standing boilers:

• Adjustable power. Sometimes 100%, sometimes 10%. Be in control of your gas bills in Europe.
• The water heats up instantly.
• High efficiency.

Overall, the final price of using a wall-mounted boiler will be lower, so use it as a gas-saving tip. However, floor-standing boilers are more secure, powerful and long-lasting, keep it in mind, too.

Underfloor heating over radiators

Why? Because they are up to 40% more economical. There are various reasons for that:

• Radiator heating operates at a temperature of 70°C, and underfloor heating at 45°C.
• It reduces heat loss through the floor.
• The warmth goes from down to up, increasing the room's temperature.

So, installing the underfloor heating stands among the best energy-saving tips for winter.

Use thermostats

Another top tip to reduce gas consumption is to buy thermostats. These devices help maintain a consistent indoor temperature, preventing unnecessary energy use. Smart home systems can manage this automatically, adjusting temperatures based on their sensors. But even without a full smart setup, basic programmable thermostats let you lower the heat in rooms you're not using.

For instance, if you're off exploring the top 10 destinations in the world, you can set your home temperature to a lower level—around 5–10°C—before you leave. This way, you’ll avoid heating an empty home and worrying about how to save on gas heating bills.

Reduce boiler temperature

Combi-boilers operate most efficiently at temperatures between 55°C and 60°C, striking the ideal balance between comfort and energy savings. By setting your boiler to this range, you ensure that your home stays warm and your hot water needs are met—without overheating the system or burning through excess gas.

Now, you know more about how to save on gas bills. Follow these energy-saving tips for summer and winter, and don’t be shocked each time you see the bill.

How to save money on international transfers

Knowing how to save on gas bills is not enough for expats’ financial stability. Among budget tips for living abroad there is one we can help you with—finding the cost-efficient service for sending money back home. If you need to transfer fast, securely and without overpaying for fees or exchange rates, use Profee.

• Share, not lose. When you send funds to invest or support your family, every cent counts. That's why Profee keeps the fees low and constantly monitors exchange rates to ensure you have a beneficial offer — perfect for expats' savings.
• Keep it safe. Profee is a licensed service that follows strict PCI DSS standards, has security checks yearly, and prioritises your safety.
• Enjoy the comfort. Whether you're a seasoned IT expert or someone using an app for the first time, you'll find it intuitive and easy to navigate. Plus, you can send from home, office or a bus. In other words, from anywhere you want as long as you have a phone or a laptop and access to the internet.
• Recipients love it. Because they don't need to put aside all their tasks and run to a bank, the funds arrive automatically in their accounts, and they can start spending them right away.

Are you in?

Save on utility bills and send money home beneficially to level up your life as an expat.