B&Q is selling Christmas lights that cost just 50p a month to run
B&Q has launched a new range of LED lights that it claims cost just 50p to run for a month.
It comes as Christmas is just around the corner and people are looking to save money on their energy bills.
The cost of living crisis has meant we’re all making adjustments to how much energy we use.
Experts frequently recommend switching the bulbs in your home for LEDs.
B&Q’s energy efficient Christmas lights mean you won’t be seeing your bills soar as you get in the festive spirit.
The retailer says they cost 50p to run for 30 days based on using the lights 8.5 hours a day.
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So, that’s less than 1p a day based on this usage.
Although do bear in mind that these rates are averages and will vary by region, payment method and metre type.
The lights are available in a range of variations such as multi-coloured, white and different colour cables.
You can also get them in different sizes of either 120, 240, 400 or 720 LEDs.
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The 120 Warm white LED String lights with clear cable cost £9.
Or if you’re looking for a cooler coloured design you can grab the 240 Ice white LED String lights with green cable for £15.
Alternatively, B&Q is also selling 240 Multicolour LED String lights with clear cable for £16.00.
You can buy each of them in store and online, but if you’re ordering on line make sure to factor in delivery costs.
How much do Christmas lights cost to run?
According to Uswitch on average, LED fairy lights cost 0.2p to run for an hour which comes to 50/51p to run for 8.5 hours a day for 30 days.
Sarah Broomfield, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “The cost of heating the home will be most households’ biggest energy bill worry this Christmas.
“But when it comes to Christmas lights, the good news is that they do not cost too much to run if they use energy efficient LED bulbs.
“Last year only one in ten households were still lighting their trees and festive displays with inefficient halogen and incandescent bulbs, which burn 320% more electricity than their LED equivalents.
“A household with a string of 200 LED fairy lights would expect to increase their bills by just 27p if used for six hours a day for 22 days over the whole festive period based on the current price cap.”
How can you reduce your energy bills this Christmas?
If you’re looking for extra ways to cut back on your energy bills this winter, they are a number of options open to you.
First, there’s the warm home discount scheme which is an automatic £150 discount off energy bills between October 2022 and March 2023 for millions of families on the lowest incomes.
Plus, the next tranche of the Household Support Fund is being rolled out across the UK.
What you’ll get through the fund will depend on where you live as councils decide how to issue their share of the fund.
The best thing to do is contact your local council to find out whether you might be entitled to help.
Next, there’s the cost of living payments which have already started being issued.
Millions should be in the process of receiving the second instalment of the £650 cost of living payment.
Millions more will get help depending on their circumstances.
In addition to that, energy companies often offer grants to customers who are struggling to pay for their bills.
For a list of freebies and grants you can get, you can read our guide here.
Meanwhile, we’ve made a full list of all the help available to people this winter, including help with water bills and grants.
Also, these four energy saving tricks cost as little as 68p and could slash your bill by £142.