How to cut the costs while staying warm
With spring in full swing, including the dreaded April showers, it’s looking like typical inconsistent British weather. Within a few days, we experienced a record - breaking heatwave in March followed by snow! I can’t keep up. This includes fiddling with the thermostat constantly - up and down, up and down. But this year, things have been a little different. With the cost of living rocketing, and the huge hike in energy bills recently, we’re all watching our outgoings a little more. It’s difficult to avoid the huge surge in costs, but there are some things you could do to reduce your energy bill at the end of the month, even just a little. Every penny counts.
Keep reading on to see our five tips to stay warm in the house while cutting down the costs…
1. DIY Double Glazing
If you’re living in an old house with single glazing, winter is NOT your friend and you’re likely to be sick of feeling like you’ve left the window open all the time. Secondary glazing film, however, is your friend. Stick it onto your window (check with your landlord first), use a hairdryer to fix in place and get ready for an extra layer of draught protection. This one from Wickes comes in at under a tenner. What a steal!
2. Get over the draughts
Those pesky draughts that whoosh under the gap in your door can be seriously annoying – especially when WFH. Luckily you can get rid of them and upgrade your bedroom décor with a draught excluder. John Lewis has a fab selection of affordable yet trendy options to blend in with the rest of your home decor, we love this knit one or this dalmatian printed one!
3. Feel electric! (blanket)
Once considered your Grandma’s favourite bedroom accessory, electric blankets have become a staple for many in the younger generation. A low cost and effective option for those super chilly nights, you can put it on your bed underneath your sheet, and click the heating on before it’s time to sleep – and your bed turns into a toasty pit of warmth every night. What could be better? Wilko has a great one for £24, check it out here.
4. Toasty times
For something similar that uses a little less energy, you can always rely on the classic hot water bottle. With so many options available on the market, from cuddly toys to cashmere, there’s something for everyone. We love this silky one which comes with a strap, making it perfect for on-the-go around the house while WFH! How very convenient. And if pouring boiling water into a small opening feels a bit too much like a trip to A&E waiting to happen, you can get a very modern rechargeable hot water bottle for a little extra.
5. Into the darkness
They’re great for lie-ins, and turns out they’re even better for keeping the cold out. A blackout curtain is a cheap investment that will revolutionise both long nights of sleep and winter bedroom warmth. They’re great in summer too – when they help keep excess heat out by blocking the sun. Longer sleeps, warmer nights and colder heat-waves? Sound’s good to us. You can’t go wrong with Ikea, who have a great range starting at £25 a pair.
With the cost of living increasing, a month’s free rent sounds pretty good right about now. Grab an extra entry into our Live Rent Free competition and increase your chance of winning this month. The answer to the question below is your coupon for an extra entry into this month’s prize draw – click the button below and enter it in the box. Be quick though, the code expires at 11:45pm on Sunday 17th April. Good luck!
Q: What was once considered Grandma's favourite bedroom accessory? Electric '______?