Tips to reduce heating costs while staying safe
As gas prices soar, we want to keep our energy bills as low as possible but it’s important to stay safe as well. One of the best ways to delay switching on the heating and save pounds is to focus on warming the people in your home, rather than the building itself. Here are some tips … Dress for warmth Wear lots of layers, which trap warmth. Invest in thermal underwear, or alternatively, you could wear tights under your trousers.
Heat yourself
You can keep yourself cosy with a hot water bottle or a microwavable wheat bag that you can buy online from WheatyBags, starting from about £7,
or Wheat Bag Company, which makes scented wheat bags in an array of pretty prints, from £14.
You could also buy pocketsized hand warmers.
Halfords does a twin pack for £1.
The retailer also offers a five- pack of foot warmers, which can be slipped in your shoes or boots, from £4.
You can buy heated throws, which you can snuggle under on the sofa. Lakeland sells a range from £80.
Look out too for its heated foot warmers.
You can even buy heated gilets with battery packs that sit in one pocket.
Outdoor clothing brand Regatta offers both women’s
and men’s versions online for around £90.
If you tend to get cold fingers, like me, a high tech version of you could try electric or batterypowered heated gloves such as Rehomy heated gloves, powered via a USB, for £14.
Heat your bed (and sofa) Electric blankets are back. They take a few minutes to heat and work out so much cheaper than running your gas boiler into the evening. Argos offers single blankets from around £85. They can even be used in the living room whilst watching telly.
Try your best to eat at least one hot meal a day and regularly drink hot drinks too. If you’re having to choose between heating and eating, Citizens Advice offers help and advice including information on your local food
Eat hot meals
bank.
Being too cold will negatively impact your health and wellbeing – and that of your loved ones.
Older people and those with health conditions, like asthma, need to be especially careful not to lower their body temperatures too much.
Help to Heat lists grants available for energy bill support.
Really cold homes can cause damp and condensation issues or even frozen pipes that could lead to repair bills.
Finally, it’s really important if using candles or burning wood, to reduce any fire risk, especially at bedtime.