Money saving expert Martin Lewis has issued advice to households across the UK including state pensioners on how to stay warm in the winter without using heating.
Martin has tried to come up with an alternative for people who simply cannot afford to run their heating at home any more because of the cost of living, which this year could sadly be useful for state pensioners losing their £300 Winter Fuel Payment.
Martin Lewis 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 in a guide he put together at the peak of the cost of living crisis.
Martin said: “I felt sad asking my team to put this together, but my emailbag is full of folk so desperate they can’t put the heat on, I wanted to try some help. Pls share.”
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’.
“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 the peak of the energy crisis. 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: “Thankyou for your vital and heartbreaking 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.”
