As the clocks turn back and the first hard weather of the season settles over the country, households are once again doing the old arithmetic of warmth: how to keep the body and the home comfortable without letting the bill outrun what they can pay. The advice gathered here is humble and largely familiar, from layered clothing and draught-proofed doors to a hot water bottle filled two-thirds full, yet beneath it lies a harder truth that the cold has always exposed. For the elderly, the young, and those living with illness, staying warm is not a matter of thrift but of health, and the experts a
Keeping warm without the heating: practical tips as UK energy bills climb
Rodney Winchester, 65, says he is cutting back on food and keeps getting ill in cold weather while worried he cannot afford heating his home.
Cutting back on food, and getting ill in the cold
Mark
Most of this sounds like small, practical stuff. Why does it matter now?
Mimi
Because of timing. The clocks change this weekend, and a forecast from Cornwall Insight says a typical bill rises £276 a year in January, a 16% jump.
Luke
Worth saying that's a forecast from one consultancy, not a confirmed price.
Mark
Fair. What's the cheapest tip in the piece?
Mimi
Probably the electric blanket. Which? testing puts it at 2p to 8p an hour on its highest setting.
Luke
That's their testing figure, and it depends on the blanket. The fire brigade's safety rules matter alongside it.
Mark
Does anyone say to skip heating entirely?
Mimi
No. Emily Seymour warns against it, citing health problems and frozen pipes.
Mark
And the human side?
Mimi
Rodney Winchester, 65, needs heating all winter for health reasons. He's cut back on food and keeps getting ill.
Luke
His is one account. The wider figure is 9.4% of English households in fuel poverty in 2025, from government numbers. Nothing here tells us how many people are cutting back on food.
Mimi
And the tips only go so far. The article points people to the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and supplier repayment plans.
The Pulse
- Strong autumn winds and heavy rain are arriving just as the clocks go back, pressing households to keep warm before the heating is fully switched on.
- A forecast 16% rise in household energy bills in January, the steepest in four years, is tightening the pressure on families already counting every pound.
- Households are scrambling for cheap fixes: thermal layers, electric blankets costing a few pence an hour, towels and socks stuffed against draughts, and radiator foil.
- Experts warn against switching heating off altogether because of health risks and frozen pipes, while support schemes such as the Warm Home Discount remain open to those who check eligibility.
As the clocks turn back and the first hard weather of the season settles over the country, households are once again doing the old arithmetic of warmth: how to keep the body and the home comfortable without letting the bill outrun what they can pay. The advice gathered here is humble and largely familiar, from layered clothing and draught-proofed doors to a hot water bottle filled two-thirds full, yet beneath it lies a harder truth that the cold has always exposed. For the elderly, the young, and those living with illness, staying warm is not a matter of thrift but of health, and the experts are clear that it should never be bought at that cost.
The clocks are going back, and with strong winds and heavy rain sweeping across parts of the UK, many households are trying to stay warm without turning the heating on in earnest. BBC News asked families and energy experts for their advice, and one warning runs through all of it: anyone elderly or vulnerable should not put their health at risk to save money.
Much of the advice begins with the body. Layering several thin clothes traps heat better than one thick jumper, and Natalie, 29, says her supermarket thermal leggings and tops have made a real difference. At home in Devon, Amber Waring, 27, keeps warm by cooking stews and pasta bakes and dancing around the kitchen with her toddler. Bedtime offers its own small economies: winter duvets under £20, a blanket tucked beneath the mattress to block draughts, and a hot water bottle filled two-thirds full, with the air squeezed out before the stopper goes on.
Electric blankets are among the cheapest ways to keep warm, costing perhaps 2p to 8p an hour on the highest setting, though they must be switched off before sleep unless they have a thermostat, and replaced every decade. Draughts are the other great enemy. Towels or stuffed socks along door frames, sealed gaps, and chimney excluders all help, though ventilation must remain so that damp does not take hold.
Leaving the heating off entirely is not the answer, since it risks health and frozen pipes. Wiser use means checking for off-peak tariffs, bleeding radiators, raising temperatures slowly, and keeping furniture clear of them. Cora Harrison, 34, from Wakefield, heats only the rooms her family uses and keeps the heating low when they are away.
The urgency is financial. A typical household bill is forecast to rise by £276 a year in January, and 9.4% of English households were already in fuel poverty in 2025. Rodney Winchester, 65, from Thetford, must keep his heating on all winter because of his health, and he fears he cannot pay for it. He has cut back on food and keeps falling ill in the cold. StepChange urges anyone struggling to check their eligibility for the Warm Home Discount and Winter Fuel Payment, and to speak to their supplier about support. The January rise is the next date to watch.
As the clocks go back this weekend and a spell of strong winds and heavy rain moves across parts of the UK, many households are trying to stay warm without switching the heating on in earnest. BBC News asked families and energy experts for their tips, and the advice comes with a warning: anyone elderly or vulnerable should not put their health at risk to save money.
Much of it starts with the body. The British Heart Foundation recommends several thin layers of clothing rather than one thick one, because layers trap heat. Natalie, 29, has swapped some of her at-home clothes for supermarket thermal leggings and tops and says it has made a big difference. Amber Waring, 27, from Devon, cooks warm meals such as stews and pasta bakes, and dances around the kitchen with her toddler while they do.
Bedtime has its own tricks. Some supermarkets sell winter duvets for under £20, and the advice is to look for 10.5 tog or higher. Rebecca, 44, from Hertfordshire, sleeps with a blanket beneath her mattress to stop draughts, a habit handed down by her nan. Others put the blanket above the mattress but under the sheet. A hot water bottle can warm the bed, though the expiry date should be checked. NHS Scotland advises letting kettle water cool for a few minutes, filling the bottle only two-thirds full, squeezing out the air before fitting the stopper, and keeping it off bare skin.
Emily Seymour, energy editor at Which?, calls an electric blanket one of the cheapest ways to keep warm. Which? testing found that running one on its highest setting typically costs 2p to 8p an hour. The London Fire Brigade says to unplug it before getting into bed unless it has a thermostat control, not to use it alongside a hot water bottle, and to replace it every 10 years.
Then there are the draughts. Towels, or socks stuffed into a pair of tights, can serve as excluders along door frames. On windy days Seymour suggests hunting for other gaps and sealing them with foam strips or sealant, or calling a professional. Unused fireplaces can be fitted with chimney draught excluders. Extractor fans and purpose-built ventilation should stay unblocked. For single-glazed windows, Sophie Burr of National Energy Action points to secondary glazing or thermal curtains, while bubble wrap is a cheaper option some people use. Windows should not stay shut permanently, Seymour says, since some ventilation prevents damp.
She would not recommend leaving the heating off altogether, citing health problems and the risk of frozen pipes. Using it wisely means checking whether your supplier offers cheaper off-peak rates, bleeding radiators, raising the temperature in small steps, and moving furniture away from radiators. Burr says about 35% of radiator heat is lost through walls, and radiator foil, or kitchen foil, can reflect it back into the room. Cora Harrison, 34, from Wakefield, heats only the rooms her family uses and keeps the heating low when they are away to avoid mould and burst pipes. Radiators with a snowflake symbol on the valve have a frost protection setting. Lowering a combi boiler's flow temperature, which an engineer can do during a service, may also cut bills. Free warm spaces such as libraries and community centres can be found online or through the council, and some offer free hot drinks.
The urgency comes from prices. Consultancy Cornwall Insight forecast last month that a typical household bill will rise by £276 a year in January, a 16% increase and the biggest in four years. Emily Jeremy of Manchester South Central Foodbank calls the rises particularly concerning for people with children, health conditions and the elderly. The latest government figures estimate 9.4% of households in England were in fuel poverty in 2025.
Rodney Winchester, 65, from Thetford, spoke through Christians Against Poverty. Because of his health conditions he must keep the heating on all winter, and he fears he cannot afford it. He calls it scary, says he has cut back on food, and keeps getting ill in the cold. StepChange advises anyone struggling to check eligibility for the Warm Home Discount and Winter Fuel Payment, and to contact their supplier about repayment plans or support schemes. The January price rise is the next date to watch.
Notable Quotes
I wouldn't recommend not having your heating on at all.— Emily Seymour, energy editor at Which?
It's so scary.— Rodney Winchester, 65, Thetford
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