Martin Lewis shares 'incredible' 2p hack to keep your home warm this winter

The MoneySavingExpert founder has shared a '2p an hour' hack to keep warm without putting the heating on - and it's fair to say that some have been left impressed

UK households can stay warm this winter without overspending, thanks to a tip from Martin Lewis. Following the Ofgem energy price cap increase from £1,568 to £1,717 per year, millions of people saw their energy bills rise by up to 10% at the start of the month.

This could lead to difficulties in paying heating bills as the colder months approach. However, the financial expert offered a cost-effective solution on his MoneySavingExpert (MSE) website.

In an updated post, he shared several ways to reduce energy consumption while staying warm. Lewis began with a personal note, stating, "This is a guide I really wish we needn't be publishing," before adding that the guide provides "some options and information for those that may need to drastically cut down on energy usage due to financial desperation."

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The website explained that using a single heated blanket would cost just 2p an hour, rather than relying on the thermostat.

"It's also worth factoring in the initial cost, if you don't already own one of the items below," MSE added. Other options mentioned for the same hourly cost included electric heat pads and electric footwarmers.

The website advised, "Of course, the cheapest option may not be the best quality. Do your own research, read reviews before buying and check safety advice before using any of the options."

The site stated that generally, devices that can be charged with a USB were found to be the most cost-effective. "There are lots of options out there – we can't vouch for which will keep you warmest, but we have tried to work out which is cheapest to run. Generally we found it was those which could be charged via USB, but these items tend to be smaller, and may only warm part of your body (such as hands or feet)," it said.

A few people were clearly impressed by Martin's tips, as one wrote on the site: "I experienced the delight of an electric blanket for the first time. It saved me a lot on heating costs and there is nothing quite like getting into a toasty warm bed in a chilly room."

Another added: "A heating pad makes a great hot water bottle in bed. When I wake up with cold feet I just switch it on and then can got back to sleep with warm feet. Much better than getting up into an unheated house in the middle of the night to fill a hot water bottle."