Tips and tricks are all the rage as shoppers start counting down to Christmas.
But what if you knew that there are 6 useful gadgets you can use indoors without turning on the heat?
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To reduce the chance of power shortages this winter, everyone is scrambling to find cheap tricks to heat their homes.
Falling temperatures and rising costs also mean millions of households are trying to stay warm without bursting the bank.
However, be careful with what you use as a replacement heating appliance. Wood stoves, open flames, and electric heaters can be life-threatening.
This is because touching household items can easily ignite and spread quickly.
Luckily, MailOnline says there are simple, risk-free heating options that won’t cost you money.
However, keep in mind that the amount you spend on heating varies from person to person, especially depending on the size of your home.
Also, when I search for these gadgets, I want to browse different stores to find the cheapest version.
Below is a list of items to look for.
heated beanie hat
This is a wool hat that can be plugged in to keep your head extra warm and comfortable.
You can plug it into your laptop while you work, or you can plug it into a USB portable charger, but you may need to purchase a separate charger.
A search on Amazon reveals a £18.99 heated beanie, which includes a matching heated scarf and individually warms up to 50C.
But the heated beanie itself should cost a little less. If you don’t know where to look, you can use comparison sites such as PriceRunner.
mug warmer
Perfect for keeping your cuppa nice and toasty – just slide it under your mug like a coaster.
This eliminates the need to re-boil the kettle – which can be expensive.
It costs about nine pence to use the kettle for five minutes. Daily use for a year will cost you £32.76.
Mag warmers cost around £10 to £15 depending on location and are usually just plugged in.
You should be able to save money on your bill over using a kettle, but of course it depends on how and how often you use the kettle.
To save money, simply fill the mug you’re using with water and then pour it into the kettle. That way, you only need to boil as much as you actually use.
Uswitch added that the savings are only a few pence, but this all adds up over the course of a year.
electric lunch box
These are a great alternative if you need to reheat food in the oven.
Oven running costs vary depending on your model, but uSwitch says an electric oven at 0.97 kilowatts for 30 minutes costs about 36p.
So 30 minutes of electric oven will cost you about 18p.
Approximately 66 lbs if used for 30 minutes every day for a year.
Instead, electric bento boxes can keep things warm longer without adding to the bill.
They cost around £20-£30 and should be plugged in.
Alternatively, you can easily find inexpensive air fryers and slow cookers.
heated desk
These keep your feet warm with built-in heaters, but can be a little pricey depending on where you look.
Remember to use comparison sites if you are unsure.
One example is the Miniöko desk from Okoform.com, which costs £349 and operates at about 260 watts. This means that a nine hour shift costs only 70p.
To calculate the cost of energy, we use the following convenient equation:
Cost = power (kilowatts) x cost of 1 kWh (pence) x length of time (exactly 1 hour, or 8/9 hour shift)
Heated body warmer
If you wear this often, you may not feel the need for dangerous alternative heating.
Fear is surging as millions of Britons are expected to look for other means of staying warm.
Fire experts fear Britons will use “anything that burns” to keep warm and increase the danger by huddling around heaters.
Portable heaters are growing in popularity, but drying clothes or standing too close to these heaters poses significant risks.
Instead, heated body warmers average just 10 pounds and will keep you warm all day long.
However, always remember to consider shipping costs.
microwaveable slippers
It’s also very nice to keep your feet cozy and comfortable. Microwavable slippers can be purchased from Amazon for around £14.99.
MailOnline concluded that it takes 0.6pa to put them in the microwave. So if you reheat every 2 hours, that’s about 5 moves in one working day.
So it only takes 3p a day.
Of course it depends on how cold it is and how long you are at home.
How else can you save on your electricity bill?
Besides being careful about the appliances you use for cooking, there are other ways to save money on your utility bills.
For example, a so-called “vampire device” can be turned on to drain energy from standby.
Alternatively, you can use an air dryer instead of a tumble dryer.
Just one minute less shower time can save your family £60 on your annual water bill.
Earlier, I explained how much it costs to run a vacuum cleaner and a dishwasher.
Or, if you want to know how much it costs to run a hot tub, we’ve covered that too.
