I’m an extreme cheapskate who never puts the heating on – I stay warm with a post-cooking ritual that warms my home
TRYING to cut costs over the cold winter months isn’t always easy, especailly with the huge cost of gas and electric.
But one man has revealed that he never puts the heating on in his home and instead has a few savvy tricks to stay warm.
Bradley, who is from the US, is a self confessed “extreme cheapskate” who goes to extremes to keep household bills to a minimum.
In a viral TikTok clip, the money-saving whizz explained that he’d been focusing on keeping costs low ever since he moved into his flat five years ago, and now he’s pretty much perfected it.
So, what are his tip?
Having a warm bed is a must, and Bradley does this by “winterising” it, which involves having a thick duvet and as many blankets as possible.
Luckily for Bradley, one of his parents happened to have plenty of spare blankets for him to use.
Always wearing plenty of layers is another non-negotiable for the cost cutter, who showed himself wearing several T-shirts, a warm jacket, and thermals under warm sweatpants.
And if you’re lucky enough to get a sunny winter day, make sure to keep blinds and curtains open so the sun can come in, Bradley said.
“The sun is such a natural and free way to warm up my place, especially because I live in a small studio it actually warms it up quite nicely,” he explained.
But one of Bradley’s most loved tips involved a post-cooking ritual that won’t cost you a penny extra.
He explained that he always cooks at home to save cash, but will go the extra mile and use the heat from his electric oven to help warm the rest of his home.
First, he said he warms his hands with the leftover heat from the hob, then he’ll use a tea towel to waft the rest of the warmth around his flat.
Meanwhile, other keen money-savers have previously suggested leaving the oven door open after each use so that heat doesn’t go to waste.
At night time, Bradley also has a small routine to keep warm.
This involves closing the blinds to keep the draft out when the sun has set, and using blankets under doorways to further help with drafts.
After sharing his “frugal” hacks on TikTok his video amassed over 4million views, but people had mixed feelings about it all.
One said: “Life isn’t long enough for this to be worth it.”
“I mean it’s good to save money but please heat your apartment enough to stop mould from growing,” another commented.
“If it’s too cold the condensation in the walls promotes mould and that can be unhealthy,” they added.
And another said: “You deserve a warm and cosy home during the winter, you can save money in other ways.”
But others praised his efforts and one said: “It’s good to be frugal sometimes and these are good tips, just not at the cost of your health.”
4 ways to keep your energy bills low
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.