SHOPPERS can bag a bargain on energy saving gadgets if they know when the cheapest prices will hit the shops.
You could save hundreds of pounds if you time your purchases right.
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Households are struggling to keep up with soaring energy bills, but you buy gadgets to help you cut costs.
If you’re considering buying some of these products to help you cut your energy usage, it’s worth checking when you’ll get the best deal.
According to research for The Sun, by Idealo, you could save more than £300 just by waiting a few weeks to make a purchase.
Idealo looked at historical data showing best and worst average months to buy a range of energy saving products.
But just because these products were cheaper in other months before, it doesn’t mean the savings will be similar this year.
But it is a good indication of roughly when stores lower their prices throughout the year.
If there’s a particular item you’ve got your eye on, keep checking back to see if the price has changed or if it’s in the sale.
To get the best price it’s a good idea to shop around before you make a purchase.
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You might be able to find a similar item for less at a different shop.
Air fryers have gained popularity over the last few months as under the new price cap, using one for 15 minutes costs just 13p.
The analysis of price data shows that air fryers are the cheapest in February, when the average price is £165.
This is compared with £187 in November – a difference of £22.
But you could make an even bigger saving on dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers extract water out of the air to reduce humidity levels, helping to keep condensation and mould out of your home.
If you use a dehumidifier for one hour every day, it will cost you £28.52 a year, experts at Which? estimate.
If you’re booking to buy one, it will cost you around £131 to buy one in January, compared with a £504 in April – a difference of £373.
Even though it’s a big saving, you still need to weigh up the potential savings with how much use you will get from the product.
The exact price you pay will depend on the size and quality of your chosen item, where you buy it from and whether there are any sales on.
Demand from other shoppers could also impact the price.
When is the best time to pick up a bargain?
It’s always important to remember just because a shop has a sale on, that doesn’t mean you’re picking up the best price.
And remember, it’s only a bargain l if you wanted to get the item in the first place, so think carefully before splashing out.
Comparing prices and checking the price history to see if what you’re buying has been available cheaper is a great idea.
You can compare prices on websites like Google shopping and Trolley.co.uk – which compares the prices of 130,000 products across 14 major supermarkets.
The Latest Deals app also lets you search items and lets you compare prices at several supermarkets to see where it’s cheaper.
Looking for second-hand items on sites like eBay and Facebook marketplace can also help you to bag a bargain.
But it’s important to bear in mind that you might have to fore-fit quality to get the cheaper price.
What can I do to keep energy bills down?
The cost of energy is high on many people’s minds at the moment as bills are soaring.
But there are steps you can take to keep your energy usage in check – which will help keep costs down.
We have investigated the seven worst appliances to leave on standby, that could be adding hundreds to your bills.
We’ve also looked into how to save energy in every room of your home.
Or if you want some toasty clothes to put on, we’ve calculated the cost of running a heated clothes airer.
If you’d prefer a warming winter meal, here’s how much it costs to run a slow cooker.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
