With heating bills going up and colder weather well and truly here, we're all on the lookout for ways to save money. As we move into October, many of us would usually be turning the heating on around now but resisting as long as possible because of the frankly ridiculous cost.
And one of the things that a lot of people have been talking about recently is the Oodie, a thick, fleecy blanket with arms, a hood and a large pocket on the front that's getting loads of love across social media. It's deliberately oversized and only comes in an adult/teen version or a child version (with a dog-sized version due soon!). Narin Flanders from website Birmingham Live tested it out and described it as "one of my best buys of last winter".
She said she was sold on the Oodie ( which you can buy here ) after reading reviews about it and similar but cheaper products, saying: "In the end, what made me choose the premium product - and rest assured, The Oodie is premium and one of the pricier of these kind of blankets - was the fact many reviews mentioned how amazingly plush and fluffy the fleece of the blanket was. I also liked that its measurements came up longer than a lot of similar products, meaning it would be calf length on me rather than thigh or knee length.
"This pocket is both perfect for carrying everything you need round the house or to put your hands in to ensure you're totally cosy when the temperature drops. While you'd imagine having just one large version for all shapes and sizes would make the Oodie cumbersome and you'd end up constantly pulling it up off your shoulders, clever touches like the elasticated cuffs means that it stays comfortable and where it should without causing any problems. For the latest money-saving deals sign up to our Money newsletter here
"When it arrived, in a cute storage bag and tied with a bow, I was surprised to feel how luxuriously plush it looked, even compared to the pictures. When I put it on I very quickly noticed the difference in how warm I felt. Even sitting at the laptop without moving for an hour or two at a time, when I'd normally suddenly feel really cold and have to stand up and make a brew, instead I was getting up to stretch my legs rather than because I couldn't feel them anymore."
And, crucially, as someone who works from home a lot she said the Oodie really helped her have the heating on a lot less than she usually would — and she didn't even need to take it off for work video calls!
The Oodie first became popular in the UK in 2020 but demand has continued to grow as people look at ways to reduce their heating bills while staying warm.
How much does the Oodie cost?
The RRP for the Oodie is around £80 depending on the print, but there are deals on currently that can get you up to £30 off your Oodie, while if you know a few people who want them you can buy a bundle which reduces the cost even further.
Narin got hers for £50 and when she bought the children's versions they were considerably cheaper as she bought a bundle with friends who wanted to get their children some for Christmas too. Another way to cut the costs is to sign up to the Oodie's newsletter and follow it on social media, where there are also discounts.
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