With Winter Fuel Payments of £300 having been cut for millions of state pensioners this winter, many are looking at any changes they can make to try to reduce their energy bills or cut their costs to survive the coming months.
This morning, money expert Martin Lewis has warned that energy prices are set to increase three times in 2025, leaving households up to £200 worse off.
That’s why many, especially low income pensioners who have already lost their winter fuel payments, will be looking to bring the costs of their usage down as much as they can.
And one heating expert has put forward a tip which could slash your energy bills this winter in the most unusual way: by using crisp packets.
But by using an empty crisp packet, you could reduce your heating costs this winter.
Mark McShane, a heating expert at Boiler Cover UK, says this ‘simple yet effective’ method will boost your radiator’s efficiency, meaning that you don’t need to run it as long, costing you less in heating bills.
He said: “By placing a reflective material, such as an empty crisp packet, behind your radiators, you can bounce the heat back into your room instead of letting it escape through the walls. It’s an easy, cost-effective way to make the most of your heating.”
To use this method, simply cut and clean an empty crisp packet, then attach it to the wall behind your radiator using double-sided tape. The reflective surface helps direct more heat back into the room, allowing you to feel warmer without increasing your energy usage.
This is the same method as the ‘foil trick’, but is even cheaper than using foil because you can use empty packets you already had at home, saving you even more money.
Another tip involves the oven door.
He added: “Leaving your oven door open after cooking allows the residual heat to warm your kitchen, and using bubble wrap on windows can serve as an insulator, reducing heat loss.”
