Many of us are looking for innovative ways to stay warm this winter as the cost of living crisis continues to hit families hard. As temperatures have drastically dropped in recent days, we've been testing some affordable products that may just take the edge off without adding too much to your already extortionate heating bills.
We're by no means suggesting that these products should replace your heating completely, nor that they hold the answer to a crisis that is beyond the public's control, but as many money-savvy people share their top tips, we were keen to test some out, to see if they really can make you feel warmer throughout the winter.
With this in mind, I tested the 'cobblestone hand warmer' from Amazon as an alternative way to keep warm as it gets colder. It is a palm-sized device which, admittedly, I wasn't really expecting much from.
My hands and feet are always the first to get cold, and slippers or woolly socks usually do the trick for my feet, but wearing gloves in the house is a bit bulky, so this could be my ideal winter warmer.
This little device cost me just £9.99 back in October, but now it's risen in price to £15.99 as the weather really begins to bite. It comes with a USB lead to charge it up, an instruction manual, a velvet storage bag, and a little lanyard so you can wrap it around your wrist should you so wish.
It also comes in a vast array of colours, but since black was the cheapest I just opted for that (my heart was drawn to the rose gold option, however).
After I unboxed it, I immediately charged it up for about ten minutes by sticking the cable into my iPhone charger adaptor, and it was ready to go - and I was so ready to see what it could offer me.
After briefly reading the precautions in the manual, I noted that it said: "When warming your hands when the temperature is too high, you need to put the warmer in a velvet bag to avoid burns."
It also states that you can put the warmer on your 'hands, feet, belly, knees, waist and so on'. It also claims that the device can relieve things such as back pain, referring to the product as 'lightweight, beautiful, stylish, and high-end'.
The instructions explain that you need to turn it on with the small button and it also mentions there are different temperature settings - with the hottest one obviously being rather strong if it needed to be used with the accompanying bag.
Now apprehensive and a little nervous to boot, I turned on the unassuming-looking device - and to say I was shocked is an understatement. I pressed the button for three seconds, it turned red and sprung into action.
On setting one, I was pleasantly surprised - it heats up incredibly quickly (literally from the moment you hold the button down) and immediately made my hands reasonably warm.
I was pleased that there was a higher setting, however, as I found that the first one didn't make you feel cosy all over. With that said, it certainly did make some difference to my overall temperature whilst I was holding it.
I must say, the hottest setting is certainly where the magic happens - I was blown away at just how much heat actually radiates from the tiny little pebble. There was no discomfort or burning, and I found it very toasty after holding it for a while.
As well as helping me stay warm at home, I can envisage myself stepping out in the colder months with it after ensuring it's fully charged. It's definitely a great alternative to gloves, if like me you're not a fan of wearing them.
I decided to take it one step further and put it in the pocket of my Oodie to see whether it could add an extra layer of warmth - and that really did deliver. Oodie + pebble hand warmer + a Christmas film on Netflix = perfect.
I also found it fascinating how quickly the device cools down, meaning it's safe to leave around in your home without the fear of your pet getting hold of it whilst it's very warm. And you won't risk your children harming themselves either which is definitely a win-win.
My final verdict? This hand warmer certainly won't singlehandedly solve the cost of living crisis by any means, but it definitely could make a difference while you're chilling on the sofa watching TV, or if you're going out and about and the weather is particularly cold.
I'd be less inclined to switch the heating on as much with this device nearby as it does get really hot - if everyone in your household had access to one then you can move it around to the part of your body that needs an extra bit of warmth.
I pay roughly £169 per month for gas and electricity for a two-bedroom apartment, and according to British Gas, the average cost across the country is £142.69. If were to use this instead of heating my home the 'traditional' way for two hours, I'd roughly save £4.45 per day. If I used central heating for an hour less each day, the saving would be roughly £2.22.
The device is so warm, it could mean you'd find yourself turning the heating on less - I'd go as far to say that we could turn ours on for an hour less per day when using these warmers. In terms of charging the device, it would cost 29p per hour of charging - and it wouldn't need more than that to last for a decent amount of time.
Overall, I think it's well worth the money, even though it has gone up in price, and I do think it could take the major chill out of the winter months.
Do you have any recommendations for products that can help warm your home? Email us as danielle.wroe@reachplc.com
