WITH the latest energy price hike, people all over the UK are looking for different ways to keep their houses warm without turning on the heating.
And they’ve come up with some nifty hacks and ideas for staying cosy inside – all of which have been approved by money saving expert Martin Lewis.
The tips and tricks were shared on the Money Saving Expert website, as homeowners were urged to “heat the human” rather than trying to keep the whole of their properties warm all the time.
The team also tested a variety of personal warming devices to see which were the most effective.
And while an electric gilet might seem like an expensive initial outlay, at around £50, they found that it was one of the best – and cheapest.
The gilets are charged by plugging the battery packs into the USB slot on your computer, meaning one costs less than 1p an hour to run.
It will only cost around 4p a week, too, if it was charged for five hours per day.
And impressed shoppers also took to the website to share their positive reviews about the gilet, with one writing: “I have a heated gilet – you use it with a charging pack which charges like a mobile phone.
“I now wear it in the house during the day and just turn it on as I feel chilly.
“Keeps my core really warm.
“Much cheaper to charge the pack than run the heating I feel!”
Other cheap warming ideas include USB heated gloves and handwarmers, and heated insoles for your shoes.
They will all also cost around 4p a week to use.
Reflecting on the guide, Martin said: “This is a guide I really wish we needn’t be publishing.
“The reason I asked the team to put this together is due to my overflowing email bag of desperation from people who can’t afford their energy bills.
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.
“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.”
