Money saving mum shares ‘genius’ 1p hack to stay warm in the mornings and not put the heating on
IT’S that time of year again; the cooler days are approaching, and most homeowners will be debating whether to turn the heating on or not.
But one clever woman has revealed just the hack to help you refrain from cranking up the heating just yet – and folks are calling it a total game-changer.
The Duchess of Thrift explained on her TikTok page about how difficult it can be to drag yourself out of those snug sheets during the colder spells.
She shared a video on and captioned it: “My top tips for getting started on cold mornings with no heating on.”
Her first piece of advice was to get an electric blanket and place it in your bed.
Then set your alarm half an hour earlier than you need to, so you can “stay in bed and turn your electric blanket up to the max setting.”
She added that after half an hour, “you’ll be so toasty that you’ll want to jump out of bed.”
Whilst laying in bed, she then suggests popping a Oodie or jumper under the covers to warm up, so you can slip into something cosy the moment you get up.
She even advises tossing your clothes in the bed to warm them up too.
That way, after you’ve had your morning cuppa and a quick trip to the loo, you can dress in toasty attire.
For an extra boost of warmth, she recommends using a little “blow heater for five minutes” just as you get dressed.
And for those working from home, the Duchess of Thrift has a top tip to keep warm.
She recommends plugging in a heated blanket on your chair, before sitting on top of it to stay snug.
The Duchess of Thrift also recommends adding a blanket on your lap for extra cosiness.
She mentioned that the blanket she uses “costs about one and a half pence an hour to run,” making it a budget-friendly way to stay warm.
Her video gained lots of attention with many people rushing to the comments section to share their thoughts.
Electric blanket
One person joked: “I would have dozed off instantly with that electric blanket.”
Another agreed, saying, “That electric blanket would send me straight back to sleep.”
When someone cheekily asked: “Why can’t you afford heating?” she explained: “It’s £1.50 an hour. Add in washing, cooking, drying clothes for the family, and I’d be spending a fortune on energy.”
She also addressed concerns about mould and dampness, explaining that she “opens the back door” and uses a dehumidifier to keep things in check.
“Brilliant tips for keeping warm!” someone praised, while another added: “Love the idea of warming clothes in the morning, thank you!”
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.