Money Saving Expert and TV personality Martin Lewis has come up with a clever list of ideas on cheap ways to stay warm at home without putting the heating on, and one of them costs just 4p a week to run. The cost of living crisis will continue to deepen for many households as energy bills are set to skyrocket due to an increase in the price cap.
This has left millions of families worried about how they will keep warm at home as they cannot afford to put the heating on. But in a change from his normal advice about cutting costs, Martin said people asking him for help were so desperate that he has been forced to suggest more alternative methods.
He's come up with a list of ways to stay warm without resorting to putting on central heating, reported the Manchester Evening News. The Good Morning Britain expert pointed out how people can wear heated USB gloves, hand warmers, an electric gilet or an electric blanket to get warm without having to heat the entire house. His guide also told of the benefits of layered clothing and thermal tops while eating food regularly keeps people warmer.
Martin said: "I felt sad asking my team to put this together, but my email bag is full of folk so desperate they can't put the heat on, I wanted to try some help. Pls share. Full cost of living survival guide coming soon."
Martin added on his site: "This is a guide I really wish we needn’t be publishing. The reason I asked Sarah and the team to put this together is due to my overflowing e-mail bag of desperation from people who can’t afford their energy bills. So don’t see this as an ‘MSE or Martin says you should do this’.
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"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."
Martin pointed out in his guide that it costs only £14 to buy a cheap electric blanket which, in turn, costs 3p an hour to run, even in today's climate of rising costs. That equals a cost per week of £1.37 if used for seven hours a day.
An electric gilet, basically a heated jacket, would cost £46 to buy and just 4p per week to run, while USB gloves would cost 4p per week to run and just £5 to buy. Another consumer expert, Jack Monroe, reached out to Martin Lewis for the guide, adding: "Thank you for your vital and heart-breaking service, friend.
"I know this is taking a hell of a toll on you, please please take care of yourself out here. We need you now more than ever, but we need you well and fit for what’s to come."
Martin responded: "What lovely words - thanks Jack. Yes I'm feeling the pressure, but that's trivial compared to the trauma many are facing being unable to afford to live."
Martin's loyal legion of followers praised the tips, but expressed their disbelief that they were necessary in one of the world's largest economies. Jon Wilson said: "Good tips but it's 2022 in one of the world's wealthiest economies & we're one step away from the Universal Credit journal suggesting claimants Google how Bear Grylls went about sleeping in a deer carcass to keep warm. Anyway, hope your Californian holiday pad is cosy Mr Sunak."