State pensioners told how to stay warm during snow without heating | Personal Finance | Finance
State pensioners have been hit with another energy bills rise heading into winter (as we all have) and now the snow has arrived with Met Office warnings of more on the way.
While running the heating is definitely the right thing to do if you can afford it, despite the 2% increase in October, there are, tragically, many who will be facing tough choices this winter, even if they have their Winter Fuel Payment.
It means the snow, forecast for several areas in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland today, according to the Met Office, couldn’t come at a worse time for the struggling pensioners who can’t afford to heat their homes.
Money saving expert Martin Lewis has previously issued advice to households across the UK including state pensioners on how to stay warm in the winter without using heating.
Martin Lewis, giving cost of living advice during the peak of the 2022 crisis, 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.
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. Please 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: “Thank you for your vital and heartbreaking service, friend. I know this is taking a hell of a toll on you.”
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.”
