Cost of living: 7 cost-effective ways to keep warm while working from home

Britons’ concerns over the rising cost of energy, fuel, food, and other goods are at an all-time high as winter plods on. While the government has announced a package of support to limit how much households will pay per unit of gas and electricity from October, many are fearful of getting overwhelmed by soaring costs.

A recent poll of more than 2,000 UK adults found that nearly one in four people plan never to turn on their heating this winter in a bid to save money. In addition, 69 per cent of those surveyed said they would switch on the heating less, while 11 per cent said they would take out a loan to help pay for their bills.

As the Met Office issues a cold weather alert for large swathes of the country this week, it’s no surprise that many people are searching for cost-effective ways of staying warm at home. A separate survey by debt charity Christians Against Poverty found that more than a third (37 per cent) of people have cut out socialising and leisure activities as a means to cut back on spending – suggesting that even more people will need to keep their homes warm this winter.

We spoke to the experts for their top tips on staying warm this winter, without spending money on expensive products or home fixes.

Layer up

Wearing more layers is the cheapest and quickest way to warm up without turning the heating on.

Jennifer Warren, spokesperson for Energy Guide UK, says: “Wearing more layers will ensure your body is well-insulated and that your body heat stays trapped for longer.”

She adds that wearing a hat, gloves and scarf will keep you even warmer because “between 40 to 45 per cent of body heat is lost through the head and neck”.

Finance blogger Joseph Seager, who has run the Thrifty Chap blog since 2016, agrees and gives additional advice to those who work from home: “Put a blanket over your knees and legs for extra comfort, ensuring you get up and move regularly.”

When it comes to bedtime, he says: “Pyjamas and extra blankets on the bed will keep you warm. You can even use sleeping bags from your summer camping trip to avoid you having to buy new blankets.”

Stop draughts

A draughty home is a cold one, so making sure you identify where draughts are coming from and blocking them will help warm things up.

Marianne Suhr, spokesperson for the National Home Energy Week, points towards hallways as being notoriously draughty and suggests checking your front door.

“Check whether the draught sealing around the door needs replacing and consider installing a rail and putting up a thick floor-to-ceiling curtain to cover the door at night,” she says.

“If the wind is whistling through the keyhole, attach a keyhole cover and place a block of foam inside the letter flap.”

You should also check other parts of the house that may be letting cold air in, such as loft hatches and period windows. Double glazing is the best way to stop draughty windows, but can be an expensive endeavour. A cheap, renter-friendly DIY solution is to install a lift-out clear plastic panel fixed with magnetic tape around the edge of the frame, Suhr recommends.

Close the door

A simple, yet effective way of keeping heat inside a room is to just close the door, according to Kevin Mountford, consumer savings expert and co-founder of Raisin UK.

He says: “If you’re spending time in one room for an extended period of time, like a home office or bedroom, it’s important to close your doors to trap any heat in.

“Closing all your internal doors can also stop draught from entering rooms, and when paired with draught excluders or tights stuffed with old socks or rice, can easily trap heat in your rooms.”

Consider your floors

It’s easy to overlook your floors, but they might be making you colder than you should be. Homes without carpets in particular will feel the chill much more, Seager says.

“Be sure to wear socks and slippers to avoid the cold, but also consider laying rugs,” he advises. “These will help you avoid cold tiles or laminate. Rugs on the carpet help provide an extra layer of insulation and make the property feel cosier.”

Check your radiators

If you do get a chance to turn your radiators on, you want to be making the most out of the heat you’ll get. The first thing you should do is bleed your radiators to ensure they run as efficiently as possible so that you don’t use any more energy than you really need to.

Experts also recommend putting foil behind your radiator to maximise the amount of heat they give out.

Mountford and Suhr both recommend doing this, as it “allows for heat to reflect back into the room”.

“This simple hack is a super cheap way to boost your radiators and can help keep your house warm this winter,” Mountford adds.

Stay active

The temptation to stay put on the sofa with blankets piled high during the colder months is strong. But getting up and moving around will help you feel much warmer, Warren and Seager say.

“Exercising is incredibly useful as it helps your body output its own heat,” Warren explains. “This occurs due to our muscles converting stored energy into heat energy, causing your body to warm up.”

But exercising isn’t the only way to stay active, Seager says. “You don’t have to be doing star jumps! Simple household chores like vacuuming the living room will get you moving and warm you up.”

Make hot drinks last

Making a hot cup of coffee or tea is always a welcome comfort from the cold. However, it’s all too easy to forget about the cuppa you made 30 minutes ago and by the time you finally remember, it’s gone cold.

Suhr warns that, while body temperature does rise while consuming a hot beverage, it only increases by about 2.5C and lasts just 20 minutes. “They aren’t the most effective, especially when you consider the costs of using the kettle,” she says.

However, Seager has a solution to keep drinks hot for longer and ensure you don’t waste any energy boiling the kettle only to forget about your cuppa.

“Pull out those thermal travel mugs and use them for your hot drinks instead of cups and mugs,” he says. “They’ll keep drinks warmer for longer. Hot chocolate and soup will also warm you up.”