BRITS have been warned to brace for icy conditions, meaning many cash-strapped households are facing the same dilemma – to keep warm or save money.
As millions of bill payers are hit by a hefty 10% increase in their energy bills starting from this month, many households are on the lookout for affordable ways to stay toasty.
Luckily, money-smart shoppers have spotted the ultimate bargain that makes a room toasty for just pennies – and it’s the perfect buy for this winter and autumn season.
For many, Dunelm may be better known for home decor and DIY essentials – however, the popular retailer also offers purse-friendly gadgets and devices ideal for the chilly weather.
Dunelm has plenty of heaters on offer, but one has rave reviews from shoppers as being “the best winter buy.”
The 2000W Convector Heater will set you back just £28 and costs a mere 45p per hour to run.
What’s more, the winter essential is also easy to set up – simply plug it in and switch on.
The budget-friendly heater comes with three adjustable settings depending on how much heat you want.
Meanwhile, the carry handle makes it easy to swap and change what room you set your personal heater up in.
Online, the Dunelm device has racked up over 100 reviews from delighted customers, with dozens of them being the top rating of five stars.
One happy shopper said: “What a great little heater. Silent and powerful enough to warm any room up within a few minutes.”
Another added: “Very good heater. It does a good job at heating the room, hasn’t made the electric bills high at all. Highly recommend, totally worth the money!”
A third chimed in: “Fabulous! It heat’s up room in no time and is better than putting the heating on.”
Someone else shared: “The heat that comes from [the heater] is amazing.
”Within an hour my living room was so warm and cosy and that’s was on a bitterly cold morning.
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
“I was a bit worried at first with it being a low price. But, I can assure anyone looking to buy this it will be your best winter buy.”
However, despite the rave reviews, there was some criticism, as a few customers had issues with their unit.
Some claimed their products arrived damaged while others said their heaters “stopped working” after just a few uses.
One moaned: ”Wasn’t heating at all . Just took up my space!”
”Projects little to no heat even on the highest setting. Came dented where the leg stand was meant to go and has a nasty smell to it,” another penned.
