WINTER is edging closer and you might be thinking about how to use the central heating less over the colder months.
Yearly energy bills are set to fall to £1,923 for the average household from October 1, down from £2,074.
Of course, this is just the cost of what the average household will pay and you may pay less or more depending on your usage.
Either way, the average household is paying nearly £700 more compared to the same time in 2021, so you'll want to save where possible.
Luckily, there are a number of gadgets that will keep you warm without bursting the bank, and you don't need the central heating on.
Electric under blanket
Electric blankets are a great way to keep you warm during the colder months.
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You just have to fit them on top of your mattress, plug in and wait for the heat to start emanating out.
You can get them on the cheap and they don't cost much to run either.
There's one currently on sale on Dunelm's website for £22, and the retailer says it only costs 1p to run.
That works out as just 8p for eight hours, enough for a normal nights' sleep.
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Heated airer
Heated airers have surged in popularity since the rise in energy bills and are a great way of drying clothes instead of turning the central heating on.
Aldi's sell-out airer is back on sale for just £40 and the retailer says it costs just 6p to run.
Dunelm also has one in stock for the same price, although it does cost 7p an hour to run.
Even so, that's still just 56p to run it for eight hours.
You can also get covers which will dry your clothes off even quicker too.
Foot warmer
You may not have heard of foot warmers, but they're an inexpensive way of keeping your tootsies toasty.
Some come with added features as well.
B&Q is currently selling a two-in-one electric foot warmer and massage, for example.
It costs just £23, comes with a one-year guarantee and overheat protection too.
Heated scarf
One to keep you warm inside and out, heated scarfs can be a cheap way to avoid whacking the thermostat on.
You can get them for just a few pounds as well.
Amazon is currently selling them in blue and grey for just £4.60.
They come with plenty of five star reviews too, with one customer saying they're "brilliant".
Plug-in mini heater
You don't have to fork out buying a full-sized electric heater and can opt for a mini one instead.
They obviously won't give off as much heat, but they can be useful for keeping you warm if you're sat in front of the TV.
They won't cost as much as a larger heater either.
Currys is currently selling a Russell Hobbs model for £24 and it comes with plenty of five star reviews.
Heated body warmer
A nifty way of heating the human and not the home, heated body warmers are useful worn both outside and inside.
A number of retailers sell them too, including Amazon and The Range.
You don't have to burst the bank on them either – The Range's is on sale for just £28.
It comes with a power bank that last up to eight hours too.
Amazon also has one on sale for just £17.
How else to save on your energy bills
It's not energy-saving gadgets which will help you save on your bills this winter.
There's also a host of targeted support available, including cost of living payments and energy bill vouchers.
The Government is issuing millions of households with a £300 cost of living payment within just weeks.
It is the second instalment of three, totalling £900.
You will receive the payment automatically if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension credit
Meanwhile, millions of pensioners are in line for a Winter Fuel Payment top up this winter.
Anyone eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment will automatically receive the top up.
You qualify for this year's Winter Fuel Payment if you were born before September 25, 1957.
Meanwhile, you might be able to get help paying for energy bills via the Household Support Fund (HSF), which is worth £842million.
Help is being distributed by local councils in England, so what you are entitled to varies depending on where you live.
But, in most cases you will be in line for help if you are on benefits or a low income.
You might be in line for a direct bank transfer or even energy vouchers.
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You should contact your local council to see what help you can get.
You can find your nearest council by using the Government's council locator tool on its website.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.
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