Martin Lewis MSE 'cheapest' ways to stay warm for 'less than 1p' - full list

Martin Lewis MSE 'cheapest' ways to stay warm for 'less than 1p' - full list Martin Lewis asked his MoneySavingExpert team to find the best options for Brits Martin Lewis asked his team behind the MoneySavingExpert (MSE) website to uncover some of the cheapest ways to stay warm this winter. It comes as temperatures are set to fall further, and homes will soon become much colder across the UK. Despite a milder-than-average start to October, colder weather conditions are approaching. The latest forecasts suggest "a smorgasbord of weather types", according to the Met Office, with swings from "relatively balmy conditions to relatively cool". Plus, as the price cap increased at the start of the month, keeping costs as low as possible is a top priority for many. Martin Lewis said: "This is a guide I really wish we didn't need to publish. The reason I asked the team to put this together is due to my overflowing email bag of desperation from people who can't afford their energy bills. "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." What ways can I stay warm without using the central heating? Because winter months drive up heating and electricity usage, typical winter bills will skew higher than the annual average. The headline advice from the personal finance experts is to focus on heating yourself rather than the whole house if your monthly bills are a concern. The MSE report claims: "There are lots of options out there – we can't vouch for which will keep you warmest, but we've 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)." Personal heating methods - ranked by cheapest - USB gloves: Cost initially - £13 | Cost per hour: Less than 1p - Heated insoles: Cost initially - £11 | Cost per hour: Less than 1p - USB hand warmers: Cost initially - £15 | Cost per hour: Less than 1p - Electric gilet: Cost initially - £41 + battery pack | Cost per hour: Less than 1p - Microwaveable wheat bag: Cost initially - £4 | Cost per hour: Less than 1p - Electric heat pad: Cost initially - £20 | Cost per hour: 2.6p - Electric footwarmer: Cost initially - £25 | Cost per hour: 2.6p - Electric blanket, single: Cost initially - £35 | Cost per hour: 2.6p - Reusable hand warmers: Cost initially - £10 for 5-pack | Cost per hour: Less than 1p (gas hob), 4p (electric hob) - Hot Water Bottle, 1.5L: Cost initially - £5.50 | Cost per hour: 5.3p Aside from direct heating devices, Martin's MSE team suggests a variety of ways to help stay warm that likely use items people already have at home and cost nothing to use. Layering your clothes to retain heat can also help. People may want to invest in thermal tops and leggings, or simply layer up with clothes they already own. When layering, don't forget your feet with a pair of socks or slippers. The MSE team said: "It's said that if your feet are cold, the rest of you will feel cold too. So wearing slippers can be essential to staying warm inside, particularly if you have hard floors."