Experts are urging UK residents to adopt cost-saving measures that ensure safety and warmth during the harsh winter months, with some strategies reportedly costing less than a penny per hour. The advice comes in response to significant energy price hikes at the start of the year, which have made heating homes less affordable for Brits – energy prices witnessed a 1.2 percent increase from January 1.
The consumer champion website Money Saving Expert (MSE), created by Martin Lewis, advises focusing on “heating the human not the home”, given the new pricing context. Martin Lewis has spoken out regarding the need for such guidance: “This is a guide I really wish we needn’t be publishing.
“The reason I asked Sarah and the team to put this together is due to my overflowing email bag of desperation from people who can’t afford their energy bills. So don’t see this as an ‘MSE or Martin says you should do this’.
“It’s more that we’re trying to help provide some options and information for those that may need to drastically cut down on energy usage due to financial desperation and some help for others who may want to do it out of a commitment to green issues.”
With this in mind, Money Saving Expert released a practical guide for those looking to warm their toes without seeing their energy bills go through the roof this winter, detailing an array of cost-effective gadgets such as electric blankets, heat pads, and footwarmers.
As reported by PlymouthLive, the site explained: “There are lots of options out there – we can’t vouch for which will keep you warmest, but we have tried to work out which is cheapest to run. Generally we found it was those which could be charged via USB, but these items tend to be smaller, and may only warm part of your body (such as hands or feet).”
It added: “It’s also worth factoring in the initial cost, if you don’t already own one of the items below. We’ve given a rough price of the cheapest options we found (at Amazon, Dunelm, Superdrug and so on).
“Of course, the cheapest option may not be the best quality. Do your own research, read reviews before buying and check safety advice before using any of the options below.”
Top of their thrifty heating list were four USB-powered items; USB gloves will set you back £10 and run at less than 1p per hour, calculating to a cost of approximately 4p per week with five hours of daily use.
Heated insoles, sitting at the same initial £10 cost, echo these running expenses. On the slightly pricier side at £15, USB hand warmers still operate under the same frugal 1p hourly rate.
For a warmer torso, an electric gilet including a battery comes in at around £50 but remains a penny-pincher’s dream to run, costing less than 1p an hour and 4p per week to operate. Additionally, MSE reviewed several standard heating products after highlighting these tech-savvy tips.
A microwaveable wheat bag costs around £4 to buy. Based on needing to microwave it for 60 seconds it costs less than 1p per hour or 14p per week.
However, this will only stay warm for about 20 to 40 minutes. The average hot water bottle (1.5 litre) costs around £5.50 and around 4p for one hour or 70p for the week – based on being used twice a day.
The experts also advocated for reusable hand warmers that cost £5 for a pair and less than 1p an hour, or £1 a week (if heated on a gas hob) or £3 (electric). Finally they looked at products that need to be plugged into the mains.
An electric heat pad costs around £20 to buy but 2p to run for an hour and 87p a week. Electric footwarmers and electric blankets also cost the same to run but £25 and £35 to buy respectively.
And when it comes to electric blankets, they added that fire brigades generally advise that you do not buy second-hand. Other methods to stay warm as listed by MSE include:
- Eat regularly and have at least one hot meal a day
- Keep your feet warm with rugs and slippers
- Choose the right socks, and consider changing them during the day
- Layer clothes to keep in the heat
- Warm up by moving around.
If you are struggling to pay your energy bills and need some guidance, visit moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/how-to-get-help-if-you-re-struggling-with-your-energy-bills.