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Heatwave hacks: how to keep costs down as the temperature rises

With temperatures set to soar to 30 degrees in parts of the UK this week, many Brits will fall into the pattern of splurging on the latest heatwave hacks to keep cool. But whilst some hot weather tips are great for lowering temperatures, they can cause your costs to rise. So, consumer finance expert, Paul Wilson, has shared his top tips on how much popular heatwave hacks will set you back financially, which are the best hacks to get on board with and which warm weather tips could actually save you money.

Go veggie to stay cool & avoid ‘meat sweats’ – save £62

“Heatwaves are the perfect time to get the family together and have a BBQ. But whilst burgers and sausages are summer BBQ staples, there’s a reason eating lots of meat results in ‘meat sweats’. Studies show that when your body digests food, it uses energy to process the food, and this energy causes heat. Different food types require different levels of energy, with protein from meat being one of the highest. Digesting meat can literally cause meat sweats. So, opting for a veggie option could help to keep you cool this summer.”

“The average Brit spends around £62 a month on meat. So, not only would swapping in a veggie option help you stay cool during the heatwave, it can also help save some cash.”

Avoid portable air conditioning units – save £40

“Homes in the UK tend to be poorly prepared for heatwaves, so when the temperatures start to soar, it can be tempting to spontaneously splurge on the latest cooling gadget or device.”

“Whilst portable air conditioning units sound like a great idea in theory, in principle they can eat through your money and wrack up heavy costs on your energy bills. Our research shows that portable air conditioning units are 22x more expensive to run than a standard electric fan and 44x more expensive than an air cooler. According to Uswitch, running an air cooler or a standard electric fan for an hour will cost you 1p and 2p per hour each, respectively. Whereas, running an air conditioning unit for the same time could cost you as much as 44p per hour. So, if you used an electric fan for the hottest 3 hours of the day, every day throughout August, the additional cost would be barely noticeable, at an estimated £1.86 per month. However, using an air conditioning unit instead of an air cooler, for the same period, would add an additional estimated £40.92 onto your energy bill.”

Buy supermarket branded ice lollies – save £11

“Whilst making your own ice lollies is a nice idea, in reality it’s not really a summer savings hack as the savings aren’t massive compared to buying ice lollies to store in the freezer. A simple orange ice lolly recipe will set you back £1.82 in ingredients, but many supermarkets do budget ice lolly ranges for as little as £1 for 6 orange ice lollies.  Making ice lollies can be a really fun family activity, so if you’re looking at it from a family activity perspective, rather than savings, then it’s a cheap way to entertain the kids and save on an afternoon out.”

“Of course, making your own ice lollies is much cheaper than buying them at an ice cream van. If you bought 6 orange calippo ice lollies from an ice cream van this would set you back on average £12, so saving yourself for the ice lollies back home is an easy way to save £10.”

Opt for cotton sheets – save £7

“There’s nothing worse than being kept awake all night due to the heat. Rather than buying satin sheets, opt for white cotton sheets. The light and breathable material will enable you to sleep much easier during a heatwave. They come at the fraction of the cost of satin sheets which retail around £18. If you’re thinking of purchasing sheets for a double-bed, from a large online retailer, you could save as much as £7 by choosing the cotton option over satin.”

Ditch branded summer toiletries – save £12

“Suncream is an essential summer toiletry, especially when the temperatures are set to hit highs of 30 degrees in mid-end August. But instead of splurging on summer sun essentials, ditch the household brands and choose supermarket branded items instead. They’re just as safe and are often more than half the price of the branded alternative. For instance, you could get your hands on a budget-friendly suncream for £3.40 instead of a household name brand that retails at £12. For those that suffer from Hayfever, try swapping out your usual branded packet of tablets for a generic branded packet to save over £5.”

Take a cold shower – save £25

“Jumping in the shower is a great way to cool off instantly when the temperature climbs, but make sure you’re being efficient with your water usage. Reduce the number of baths you are taking and opt for a short, cold shower with a water-efficient shower head. This saves you the cost of heating water and reduces steam which would make your bathroom hotter – which is the last thing you want in a heatwave. If you swapped a daily bath to a short four minute shower, you could save £24.82 over the course of a year.”

Swap coffee for flavoured water – save £5

“It can be tricky to stay productive when you’re trying to work in a stuffy office or at home during a heatwave, especially when you’ve had a bad night’s sleep thanks to soaring temperatures. So, it’s a natural urge for many of us to want to reach for a cup of coffee for a caffeine boost in the morning. But caffeine can actually make you feel hotter in a heatwave, as it can make you feel jittery, and this can have a knock-on effect on your productivity. Instead, try swapping a takeaway coffee from a popular high street chain for a bottle of water. Keeping hydrated in a heatwave is crucial, as your body sweats more to keep itself cool. Plus, your wallet will thank you later, as you could easily save £5 by swapping your daily coffee for a flavoured water or soft drink.”

Turn appliances off when you’re not using them – save £30

“When the heatwave hits, the last thing any of us want to do is generate more heat indoors. But did you know that electrical appliances generate heat whilst they’re in standby mode? Not only does this create more heat in your home, but it also adds extra costs to your utility bills.”

“The average UK household spends £30 a year leaving their devices on standby. Appliances like TV’s generate heat when they are left on standby, so make sure you switch everything off if it’s not being used.”

Air dry clothes – save £100

“Hot weather is the perfect condition for air drying clothes and getting on top of that dreaded laundry pile. Check what rating your tumble dryer is, so that you can make some quick savings. For instance, a ‘C’ rated dryer costs over £100 a year to run, meaning that you can easily cut costs over the summer months simply by letting clothes air dry in the garden or well ventilated rooms in your home.”

“As with any cost-saving plans, the key is convenience when figuring out if you can stick to a cost-saving technique or not. Lockdown has been tough on all of us and the heatwave offers Brits a great chance to get out and about and make the most of restrictions lifting. Hopefully these tips will offer options on how to keep costs down and stay cool, whilst still being able to make the most of the great weather.”

Paul Wilson is a Consumer Finance Expert at Financial Conduct Authority authorised and regulated credit broker Cash Lady.