With energy bills haven risen by as much as 10 percent for many households from October 1, the money guru offered a cheap way to stay warm during the colder months ahead
UK households can keep warm this winter without breaking the bank thanks to a hack shared by Martin Lewis.
Millions of people saw their energy bills rise as much as 10 percent at the start of this month following the Ofgem energy price cap increasing from £1,568 to £1,717 per year. The move could see some struggling to pay for heating bills as the colder days and months set in. However, the financial guru offered up a cheap solution on his MoneySavingExpert (MSE) site. In an updated post from last week he shared a number of ways to save on using energy yet still keep cosy. He began with a personal note: “This is a guide I really wish we needn’t be publishing,” before adding that the guide provides, “some options and information for those that may need to drastically cut down on energy usage due to financial desperation.”
The site then explained that instead of reaching for the thermostat, plugging in a single heated blanket would cost just 2p an hour. “It’s also worth factoring in the initial cost, if you don’t already own one of the items below,” MSE added. Elsewhere, other options mentioned for the same cost per hour included electric heat pads and electric footwarmers. It continued: “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.”
The site said in general it found devices that can be charged with a USB to be the most cost-effective. “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 said.
A handful of people were clearly impressed by Martin’s tips, as one wrote on the site: “I experienced the delight of an electric blanket for the first time. It saved me a lot on heating costs and there is nothing quite like getting into a toasty warm bed in a chilly room.” While another added: “A heating pad makes a great hot water bottle in bed. When I wake up with cold feet I just switch it on and then can got back to sleep with warm feet. Much better than getting up into an unheated house in the middle of the night to fill a hot water bottle.”
