12 money-saving gadgets to buy in the cost of living crisis (that actually work)

**Best energy-efficient hot water bottle
**We've all probably owned one of these at once in our lifetime, and it's no surprise because they really do the job of keeping you warm. That's right, hot water bottles are one of the best bits you can invest in if you want something cheap, cheerful and cosy.
Why it works: Simple, cheap and effective - this one's for people who want an affordable quick result
Cost and energy use: £9.99 one-time buy plus kettle or stove to heat up water
How to use: Fill it up with hot water and pop the cover over
Review: "This water bottle’s even softer than it looks in the pictures. Fills easily, and stays warm for hours."

**Best energy-efficient heated clothes rail
**If there's one piece of tech we don't regret investing in, it's this three-tier heated airer from Lakeland. Running at 7p per hour, it's much cheaper than running a tumble drier and because it's huge it will take a lot of washing at once - say goodbye to damp and soggy clothes with a warm house too. If you're scared of burning down the house, it also has a timer for the on and off switch, so you can control how long you use it. Definitely one of our top buys for this winter.
Why it works: Clothes dry much faster, avoiding dampness and also offering extra cheap heating for the home
Run-time cost: £119.99 up-front, 7p runtime per hour
How to use: Holds up to 15kg of washing, turn on and off when needed. Use the timer (up to 12 hours) for automated on and off.
Review: "Really pleased with this purchase. It's the perfect size for a medium wash load, I had to turn the clothes about a couple of times, but just left it on most of the day and the clothes dried. I decided to purchase the cover a week later and I think it makes a big difference, less turning and drying quicker also made the room warmer. It folds away perfectly for storage."
Can't afford to splash out? Try out Dunelm's range which has a range of options for a lower price from £40.

**Best energy-efficient heated blanket
**Is there anything better than snuggling up in a warm cosy bed? With a runtime of 1p a night to run, your tootsies won't get cold in the winter months now. This comes in three sizes (double, king or single) and also three types (comfort control, dual control, and fleecy material) so that you can choose one that suits your needs.
Why it works: You won't need to switch the heating on if you cosy up on this blanket when needed
Run-time cost: 1p a night
How to use: Turn on and off when needed with three heat settings
Review: "It's perfect for me, makes my bed so lovely to get into... My bedroom is very cold, so having a warm bed to get into makes it so lovely. So much better than hot water bottles!"

**Best energy-efficient air fryer
**A huge trend you'll see on everyone's kitchen sides is a decent air fryer. That's right, these little tools that make delicious crispy meals are actually extremely efficient in energy saving too. Heating up quickly and using less energy than an average household oven you can use less electricity, saving you money in the long run.
Why it works: Quicker meals, less electricity and less energy make these a top kitchen appliance you need
Run-time cost: 5p per 10 minutes (30p an hour)
How to use: Roast, dehydrate, bake and reheat with multi-use in this air fryer
Review: "This is now my most used appliance. It’s great for roasting vegetables - butternut squash, peppers, and courgettes do particularly well. I make homemade falafels and they come out very crispy. The reheat setting is really handy too. Easy to use and easy to clean."
Other lower-cost options: Tower T17021RG Family Size Air Fryer and the Tristar FR-6980BS Air Fryer.

**Best energy-efficient egg cooker
**As much as we couldn't believe it ourselves, it's true that the viral Salter egg cooker saves up to 91 per cent off your energy bills compared to using a 1.8kW electric hob. When feeding a big family or just looking to cut some costs, that amount of savings can be immense in this cost-of-living crisis. It's extremely easy to use, making up to six soft, medium or hard-boiled eggs as well as poaching options in minutes (and, it's super easy to clean too!).
Why it works: Making kitchen cooking easy and cheaper, this will feed you this winter without taking up all your energy
Run-time cost: £15.99 up-front cost, 430W power
How to use: Pop six eggs in the trays for boiled eggs, or two eggs into the poaching racks. Switch on for however many minutes you wish to set your eggs for.
Review: "Wasn't sure what to expect but it worked beyond my expectation. I wanted three hard-boiled eggs, filled the cup to the level and poured the water in, switched it on and left it. Took less than six mins and they were done perfectly."

Best energy-efficient slow cooker
If you want to really complete your kitchen cabinets with energy-saving tech this winter, you'll want to grab a slow cooker. Running at a lower wattage of an average of 5p an hour, this is a fraction of what your hob will use, even when switched on for a while. Plus, they make tasty comfort food in those cold winter months...
Why it works: Less oven and hob use means lower bills (and slow cookers cost less to run even over hours!)
Run-time cost: 5p an hour
How to use: Plug in the slow cooker and use the high or low buttons to make a variety of meals, depending on your recipe
Review: "My wife loves it and it’s ideal for us. It arrived on time and was well packaged. It looks good as well, if there is only one slight drawback compared to our old one, it doesn’t have an auto setting. Just high or low, but we haven’t noticed a real difference."
Other options we also like: Morphy Richards 460020 Sear, Stew and Stir 3.5L or Salter EK2842 Chalkboard 3.5 L Electric Slow Cooker

Best energy-efficient smart plug
Smart plugs are simple genius to save on your energy bills. Using a smart plug and hooking them up to an app allows you to set timers and automated skills to turn electronics on and off (so you'll never leave a lamp on now!). You can also link up to your smart speakers and voice controls for even techier choices.
Why it works: Automated on and off switches as well as a remote control allowing you to monitor your energy use
Run-time cost: Up-front cost plus electricity use (when switched on)
How to use: Plug into any wall, download the app and hook up to wifi to control your switches
Review: "Brought these as worried about the cost of living and energy crisis and I'm really impressed. Each one takes about a minute to set up and the schedule is awesome. I've set certain rooms to turn on at certain times to stop devices draining power on standby. I've noticed my usage on my smart meter has lowered over a few days already. I will def buy more!"

Best energy-efficient energy monitor
We don't have to explain this one - if you're keeping an eye on your energy it's definitely a good idea to invest in an energy monitor (as the name suggests). Measuring and displaying info such as voltage, current, frequency, time days cost and more, you'll really be able to get a hang of what you're using and spending - and even when you're exceeding overload!
Why it works: The most efficient way to keep an eye on your energy spendRun-time cost: One up-front costHow to use: Plug into an appropriate wall plug to keep an eye on the stats on the energy monitor**
Review:** "It is then fairly straightforward to estimate the cost of that energy. The ease of plugging in and the bright large display makes the job easier as well. All in all, I am very pleased with its use and performance."

**Best energy-efficient smart radiator thermostat
**This is much more of a smart home improvement to indulge in, rather than a cheap energy-efficient buy but it's true - smart radiator thermostats help you take control of your heating, and therefore help you save a penny (or two) when thinking about cost savings. This way, you can control multiple radiators at once and hook them up to Alexa, Google Assistant or Google HomeKit for easy living.
Why it works: Not only do they give you more control, but they can also assess the temperature of your house and adjust so you save money in the long-run
Run-time cost: One up-front cost
How to use: Upgrade your old radiator valves using the guide in the kit
Review: "This has been a wonderful upgrade for our home. We are now able to heat rooms rather than the entire house. The control these give you is fantastic. The instructions to install them are very clear and as long as you have a basic understanding of DIY they are easy to install. Would recommend them to everyone."
Another smart thermostat we recommend: Google Nest Learning Thermostat, 3rd Generation, Stainless Steel

**Best energy-efficient draught excluder
**Nobody wants to be feeling extra cold this winter, especially when we want to be as warm as we can get. One way to easily keep the warmth in? Draught excluders. Just pop this at the bottom of any outside door you can feel letting out heat and making it a little more toasty inside.
Why it works: A simple solution to knock out the cold weather
Run-time cost: One up-front cost
How to use: Lay at the bottom of any door

Best energy-saving radiator reflector
Ever feel like your radiators aren't doing much? Up the heat with these radiator reflectors which really make the most of your heating - and we all know how important that is this winter. Reflecting up to 95 per cent of the radiator heat back into your room, these are a really simple solution to making the most of your energy.
Why it works: Simple, affordable and easy to install, they're an addition you won't want to miss
Run-time cost: One-time purchase
How to use: Just pop it behind your radiator
Review: "The product is quite thick and easy to install as it just hangs behind the radiator on the radiator fixing brackets. Very difficult to assess the exact performance but overall we have seen an improvement as our thermostat is now on a lower setting. Would recommend it as energy costs are now very high."

Best energy-efficient dehumidifier
This may be a best-buy for something to invest in, especially if you're hanging washing inside and not opening windows too frequently (as many of us will be doing this winter). A dehumidifier takes the moisture out of the air, drying clothes faster and combatting any pesky mould that may be coming in. Something that you may have thought of, but super important.
Why it works: Stops mould and dries washing faster (meaning less time the heating's on)Run-time cost: Up-front cost, 1p per hour run time
How to use: Close all doors and windows, place the dehumidifier in an open space and switch it on. Empty the tank when necessary**
Review:** "Great little dehumidifier. Solved our room dampness issue, (the side effect of living in North West Scotland) mould has not returned since we use this. Collects a decent amount of water daily. Recommended for the price!"
Want to save a little more? Go for the Pro Breeze Dehumidifier 500ml Compact and Portable Mini Air Dehumidifier.