WITH winter around the corner, Brits will be wanting to know how to keep toasty at night during cold spells without breaking the bank.
You might think that an electric blanket is a cost-friendly option, but we crunch the numbers on how much you’ll actually be paying to use one.
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Adding more money – even if it’s a small amount – onto your energy bill will be a concern for the 11million Brits whose bills rose by a record £139 earlier this month.
And with the £20 uplift to Universal Credit cut at the beginning of the month, families will be left scrabbling for cash to plug the gap.
We explain how much extra you’ll be adding onto your electricity bill so you can see if you can afford the cost.
How much does it cost to run an electric blanket?
Most people use electric blankets by popping them under their sheets for a small amount of time to heat their bed before they get in it.
According to research from Uswitch, they use 100 watts of energy for a double bed – costing 0.8p in total to run for 30 minutes.
That means if you used it seven days a week for this length of time, it would cost you just 5.6p.
Using an electric blanket instead of turning the heating up could also help you shave cash off your bill, Uswitch energy expert Sarah Broomfield said.
“Using an electric blanket to warm the bed may mean you can turn the temperature of your thermostat down, as you will not need your bedroom to be so hot,” she said.
“Turning your thermostat down by just 1°C can save you as much as £80 a year.”
How else you can reduce your bill
If you’re eager to buy an electric blanket but want to make savings elsewhere to even out the cost, there are a number of ways you can reduce your heating bill.
There are ways to keep your house warm without turning on the heating.
Pesky draughts can blow cold air into your home – and it also means hot air escapes from it too.
Blocking these gaps by using draught excluders and balled socks and tights can help keep in the heat and stop temperatures in your house from dropping – you could save £25 a year from this.
Switching to a cheaper energy supplier could help to knock money off your bill.
Simply use a comparison website such as uSwitch or MoneySuperMarket to shop around for the latest energy deals.
Making the most of government help schemes can also help to pay your bills.
For example, pensioners can receive annual one-off winter fuel payments from the government of between £100 and £300.
To qualify for the payout, you’ll need to have been born before April 5 1954 – the date changes every year.
Plus, a new Household Support Fund worth £500million was launched yesterday, where hard-up Brits can apply for money to pay for bills, food and more.
Martin Lewis explains what you need to do about energy bills as gas prices soar
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