THE CHEAPER WAYS TO KEEP YOUR COOL

ACCORDING to research by Barclaycard, we spent an astonishing 39.6 per cent more on our utilities in June than we did a year ago.

Now that the weather is so good and we’re tucking into refreshing salads instead of roasts, we can all spend less on heating and cooking. But the last thing we need is to shell out more just to stay cool!

So keep costs down by firstly using a fan rather than an air-con unit. Try to pick one with a DC motor as they cost less to run. For example, the Bionaire ISF004 Desk Fan has a DC motor that uses 63 per cent less energy than a traditional fan.

Also, all bladeless fans consume far less energy than their bladed counterparts. So check the description of any fan before you buy. Another clever hack is to get a ‘cooling mat’ like the YQXCC 2

Pack Cooling Towel —under a tenner for two at Amazon. Put your feet on it, wrap it round your neck, sit on it or lie on it at night and it will keep your body at a comfortable temperature.

Use a traditional hand-held fan. Wood and paper ones can genuinely keep your face and neck cool with a flick of the wrist. Etsy has some beautiful examples from just £2.50 each. Or go for a battery-powered, hand-held fan

that you can take anywhere — from £6.99 on eBay. For a quick cool-down, put cold water on your ‘pressure points’ — wrists, inside your elbows, ankles and the backs of your knees.

Also, and this may sound counter intuitive, have a warm bath before bed. If the water is hotter than the air temperature in your bedroom, when you get out you will feel cool and it will be easier to sleep.