There are a lot of factors:
1. Malware/Virus - malware uses RAM in order to process its self in a background mode which you don't know it was doing something bad in your PC. Try to scan your PC regularly with anti malware or anti virus solutions.
2. RAM - you might have low RAM installed in your PC though Windows 8.1 minimum requirement for RAM is 1GB to run on 32 bit version but keep in mind that minimum means that is only required to run the OS itself not other third party software or can not handle other third party software.
3. Anti-virus - most anti virus that has self-detection capability uses more rams like Avast Internet Security, AVG and others.
4. Google Chrome Browser - since the birth of google chrome browser it has been tag as one of the worlds most RAM EATER browser. Try other browsers like Firefox. Keep in mind that up-to-date browsers is less likely encounters malware during browsing but it does not guarantee you a 100% protection. So update regularly your browsers
5. Hardware - You might have obsolete processor and yet you expect more productivity on it.