As the cold weather sets in across Scotland, many households are turning the heating back on while being mindful of expensive energy bills.
With the cost of living continuing to impact Brits, experts like Martin Lewis are a wealth of information on how to “heat the human, not the home”, in order to keep energy bills from soaring.
One option previously shared in the Money Saving Expert Guide, which Lewis originally founded, advises to invest in a pair of USB heated gloves.
Costs for a pair of these gloves range from anywhere between £6 to £15, but the MSE team calculates they cost less than 1p an hour to use, and just 4p a week if used for five hours a day.
The budget-friendly winter warmer can be found on Amazon starting from £12.99 a pair, while Wowcher is selling a set for £7.99. A popular pair is the Yinuoday USB Heated Gloves, with over 1,000 reviews on Amazon.
Alternatively, a fingerless but non-USB set, the £7.99 SyeJam gloves, are available on Amazon, designed for people with arthritis for cold and inflammation relief.
As we previously reported, Martin Lewis introduced the guide, saying it was one that “I really wish we needn’t be publishing”.
He continued: “The reason I asked Sarah and the team to put this together is due to my overflowing email bag of desperation from people who can’t afford their energy bills. So 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.”
USB gloves are powered up just as you’d expect – the accessory is typically plugged into a power source like a power bank or laptop that provides a near-instant burst of heat whether you’re at home or out and about.
A review of the Yinuoday USB Heated Gloves from a person with Raynaud’s read: “Lovely mittens, I have raynauds so these have really help. Shame the heat pad is only on the palm om the hand though, would have great on the fingers too”
The zerotop USB Heated Gloves, costing £12.89, “works a treat” wrote one shopper: “Bought these for my dad. Very easy to use and very comfortable.
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“Tried them myself and was amazed by how much heat they give off. Considering buying a pair for myself.”
One customer going through chemo said of the £7.99 SyeJam fingerless gloves: “So glad at least one company does things like this which are of help to those of us with small hands. Fit well maybe the little finger sleeve is too long but not a problem.”
They continued: “Keeping my hands warm to prevent long term nerve damage from chemo means I am likely to be wearing these for considerable periods of time over the next six months. I may be getting a pair in each colour”.
Other items highlighted in the MSE guide include heated insoles, chargable hand warmers, electric gilets and microwavable wheat bags.
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