Personal finance expert Martin Lewis has advised people who cannot afford to put their heating on to consider a gadget that costs about 3p an hour to run, as energy bills are set to rise further. Speaking on his Money Show Live this week, Mr Lewis discussed the current energy price crisis with experts and suggested that those in "desperation stakes" should focus on heating themselves rather than their homes.
Energy price cap set to rise sharply
The Ofgem Energy Price Cap currently stands at £1,723 per year for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit (October 1 to December 31, 2026), which is a 4% (£60) increase from the previous quarter, driven largely by high Middle East wholesale gas prices. However, forecasts warn that the cap could jump by roughly 27% to 29%, taking the typical annual bill toward £2,187 to £2,215 from January 2027 onward if wholesale pressures persist.
Viewer Cass said: "I don't put my heating on at all. I simply cannot afford it." Mr Lewis responded: "That's before the 27% hike. And I think this is a real societal problem rather than just a money-saving problem. First thing I'd say is speak to your energy firm. They may well have grants or help or support, especially if you're struggling and it's going to be too cold to survive. If you have to: heat the human, not the home. I'm not saying you should do this. I'm saying we're talking desperation stakes."
Cheap ways to keep warm indoors
Mr Lewis recommended electrical warming devices that cost very little per hour, such as an electric blanket, which he said runs at 3p an hour. Asda sells a Silentnight Winter Nights Electric Blanket currently on offer for £18, down from £30.
He also advised: "So, layered clothing—an inner layer, a mid layer, an outer layer that can keep you warm. Lots of different layers on top when you're in the house. Put a hot water bottle in a sleeping bag. Sleep in that. Very well insulated. Make sure the hot water bottle isn't scalding. It sounds weird. It's true, isn't it? Put your feet up. The coldest part of your house is the floor. So, have your feet on a table. It's not quite as cold."
Localised heating options
Mr Lewis highlighted other low-cost devices: "But also about heating you. If you can't put the central heating on: heated gloves, insoles, electric gilet—£12 to £30 quid. Plug in USB. Less than a penny an hour. Keeps you warm. Very localised heating. You're not even heating the room, which is, you know, normally the cheaper way."
He added: "We heat the house. No, you just heat the room. No, we just heat the person. A microwave heat bag costs less than a penny to put it in the microwave and keep you warm. A hot water bottle boiled in the kettle is about 5p for a one-off. Stays warm if it's well insulated. Make sure you know you're putting a bit of cold water in so it's not boiling. An electric blanket plugged into the mains is less than 3p an hour to run. Make sure you're not sleeping in it unless it's one that can be slept in at night."
Expert warns about damp risks
James Lacey, director of JLN Plumbing & Heating Ltd, warned that not putting the heating on at all could cause problems. He said: "We need to maintain some background heat in the house just to avoid any sort of condensation or damp in other areas of the property. Definitely protecting your house is important, but ultimately at desperation stakes, it's not as important as protecting yourself."
He added: "I don't want to be saying this, but I'm saying this. Listen, you might also find, 'Hey, during the day I'm in by myself, I don't want the central heating on, I like my heated gloves, and that works fine, and it can help me cut the cost.' All of that is wonderful, but when we get to the extreme point it is a problem. But I thought it was important back to that time to mention it, I'm afraid."
