With autumn well on the way and energy bills hiked up this October, homes up and down the country are having the same debate as to whether to put the heating on and how they can save money on bills.
Even with the recent cold snap, we have been able to avoid pressing the button in our house, and this is in part, says Birmingham Live's Narin Flanders thanks to one of her best buys of last winter - an Oodie. Popular with all ages and beloved across social media, the must-have product is basically a thick, fleecy blanket with arms and a hood (obviously, hence the name).
The large pocket on the front is 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. The Oodie is deliberately, cosily, oversized and only comes in an adult/teen version and a child version. Soon even four-legged members of the family will be able to join in the fun with a dog-sized version.
It seems like with there being just one large version for all shapes and sizes that would make The Oodie cumbersome and you'd end up constantly pulling it up off your shoulders. The elasticated cuffs however mean that it stays comfortable and where it should be without causing any problems.
When she bought hers last winter, says Narin, it wasn't a snap purchase and she spent a lot of time researching dupes and similar products before taking the plunge. What made me choose the premium product was the fact many reviews mentioned how amazingly plush and fluffy the fleece of the blanket was - and the Oodie is premium and one of the pricier kinds of these blankets.
Here's Narin's experience:
I also liked the fact 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. It arrived in a cute storage bag and tied with a bow and 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. I'd normally feel really cold suddenly 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.
The fact that now when I go to make a hot drink I can put my hood up and practice my best 'help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope' Princess Leia is a secret firmly kept between me and my kettle.
As I work from home alone a lot , the Oodie really helped cut the amount the heating is on during the day - although it's also perfect to snuggle up with watching TV of an evening. I even chose a deliberately understated navy style so that, at a push, I could get away with it in work team video calls.
I don't know if my colleagues were particularly polite or didn't notice, but it did the job. When we bought the children their own versions we did go for more fun colourful Kawaii and Chibi inspired prints.
Oodie first became popular in the UK in 2020 as we all adjusted to life in lockdown. Orders for the Australian company's products rose by more than 200% from the UK. This demand has only gone on to grow as families look at ways to reduce their heating bills while staying warm.
The RRP for Oodies is around £80 depending on print but don't let that put you off. There are deals on currently where you can get 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.
When I bought my first one I was able to get it for £50. We bought the children's ones around Black Friday as they were considerably cheaper as we bought a bundle with friends who wanted to get their children some for Christmas too.
Another way to cut the costs is by signing up to the site's newsletter and social media. I did so before I took the plunge and was surprised at the number of discounts and deals I was offered. That meant by the time I clicked to buy it I was happy with the price I paid.
What's more, having washed and worn it for all of last winter, storing it over the summer and putting it back on today, I am thrilled at how soft and thick it still is - even with my slightly dodgy reputation for making things lose their fluffiness in the washing machine.
We're always asked would we spend the money and buy the product ourselves when writing reviews. Not only did I do that in the first place, but I'd happily do so again - and in fact if I could convince my husband (who has a different body temperature to the rest of us and doesn't wear so much as a dressing gown) that he needed one, I'd totally donate him mine and buy an adult's Dachshund version to brighten up this winter.
