'I took Martin Lewis pennies to run advice and haven't needed my central heating since'

Last Autumn, Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert website advised people to 'heat the human not the home'. In a nutshell, readers were advised to look to other methods of staying warm rather than turning their central heating on. One such method suggested was heated or electric blankets, so I went on the hunt for one I could use time and time again.

Martin Lewis has insisted time and time again that he doesn't endorse specific items, so it's important to note that this is a product I sourced myself, having taken on the advice of MSE and reading through reviews on similar products.

Having done my research, I opted for Lakeland's Dreamland Sherpa Tartan Check Heated Throw Beige, which is currently on sale. Normally £109.99, it's down to £84.99 for a limited-time.

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I'm aware this may be out of budget for some shoppers, but given it costs pennies to run, and it's totally eliminated the need to use central heating in my flat, for me it was a cost efficient option. It's considerably more practical than a bog-standard electric blanket, too.

Because it's a throw/blanket design, it means I can properly curl up with it on the sofa, or wrap it around me while working from home. I'm also totally enamored with the design of it - it looks so elegant in my living room, and far more expensive than some other heated blankets out there.

The Dreamland Sherpa Tartan Check Heated Throw promises to heat up in as little as five minutes, but having tried it myself, I'd argue that you feel its benefits far quicker. That may be because the inside is lined with a sumptuously fluffy sherpa fabric, but either way, I feel warmer almost instantly after wrapping myself up in it.

It has 6 different temperature settings, so you can choose how warm you have it. I usually opt for the highest temperature setting when I first switch it on, and take it down to a lower setting when I'm warm, or if I'm falling asleep so I don't wake up in a pool of sweat.

Speaking of sleep, it's completely safe to take to bed or if you want a nap on the sofa, as the blanket also has the option to auto shut-off after 1, 3 or 9 hours. So you can keep it on for as long, or as little as you'd like without needing to fiddle around.

According to Lakeland, it uses patented Intelliheat technology, which maintains the ideal temperature for your body to make sure you stay warm when you need to. The five-layer ultra-thin heat sensors detect the temperature 25 times per second to adapt to you and your surroundings and create your own dreamy microclimate.

The final thing to note about the Dreamland Sherpa Tartan Check Heated Throw Beige is that it's safe to use in the washing machine -a sigh of relief for cat and dog owners (my Frenchie likes to steal it, so it needs a regular wash).

The blanket (minus the detachable lead) can go in the washing machine for easy cleaning, and then straight into the tumble dryer to get it snuggle-ready as quickly as possible. It also comes with a reusable storage bag, so you can store it away neatly and keep it dust-free, ready for next time.

If this style or colour isn't quite what you're looking for, then fear not, because Lakleand has a huge selection of heated throws and blankets - most of which are currently on offer here.

Should you be looking for something a little cheaper, the Cosi Home Luxury Heated Throw is currently £49.99, down from £59.99 on Amazon. Or the Dreamcatcher Grey Heated Throw Electric Blanket is £36.54, down from £44.99, also on Amazon.