When it comes to people trying to keep their energy bills low, it is fair to say that there have been a number of weird and wonderful suggestions. From TikTokers to politicians, many individuals have been racking the more bizarre areas of their brains in an attempt to mitigate the negative effects of the October price cap increase.
With this in mind, the boiler and home emergency insurance challengers at Hometree have compiled a list of the most outrageous tips and tricks that have recently been dished out to the public – from £10 kettles to frying eggs with tea light candles.
The infamous £10-saving kettle tip
Thanks, Boris! Our previous prime minister made headlines prior to the October energy price cap increase, by advising the public to simply spend £20 on a new kettle to save an astonishing £10 on electricity each year. This comment was made during a visit to a power plant in Sizewell.
While many of us were unsure of whether this was serious or satire, the ‘helpful’ tip caused an internet uproar, with thousands of people accusing Johnson of being ‘insensitive’ and ‘out of touch’.
While it could be argued that a newer kettle would use less electricity, it is undeniable that a millionaire offering this advice to people on the brink of not being able to afford their bills was never going to go down well.
Lining our radiators with tin foil
Former Conservative MP Edwina Curry recently took to Good Morning Britain to offer us all a golden nugget of knowledge: lining radiators with tin foil to save money on our electricity bills.
Naturally, once again, the comment was met with disbelief from the public, as well as energy experts revealing that this tip would not, in fact, save you anything when it came to your bills.
This is due to the fact that your radiator would still have to be switched on, and turned up very high to project any heat around the room. Your room may end up being warmer, but not for less money.
Frying eggs with tea lights
While this hasn’t been suggested by any politicians (yet) it has been recommended on TikTok in widely-spread videos. The clip has since been taken down but had a whopping 8.6 million views at the time.
In the video, the TikTokker filmed themselves lighting several tea lights on their hob, before placing a pan with a raw egg in it. The video then speeds up, showcasing the egg cooking. However, many people were not convinced, as the TikTokker revealed that it took 13 minutes overall to cook properly.
As well as this, cooking an egg with tea lights would be a fire hazard if left unattended. Furthermore, having an open flame near any electrical appliance in the kitchen is always best avoided.
Freezing the remaining water in your kettle
Next up was this bizarre TikTok tip: after boiling your kettle to make a hot drink, pour the remaining water into a ziplock bag and freeze it for later.
The video picked up a disappointing 106 views, which is unsurprising seeing as the ‘tip’ would require a lot more work and effort than it is worth.
Many people in the comments suggested simply leaving the water in the kettle for later, while others pointed out that waiting for the water to thaw would take a considerably long amount of time. As you would still be using the freezer and the kettle, most people wondered how this trick would save you money at all.
Cook absolutely everything in the microwave
Finally, we have the president of the Microwave Association (you will not be the only person to be surprised that such an association exists) Jennipher Marshall-Jenkinson suggesting to, simply, stop using your oven and opt for a microwave instead.
Despite being unashamedly biased in her microwave-related agenda, the advice also suggests that all food can be prepared in one – as well as assuming that every household has one. While this claim was made several years ago, it remains one of the most notorious pieces of unhelpful advice to ever be uttered.
While microwaves can be a more cost-effective way to heat an easy dinner, the advice fails to mention that they don’t always cook as uniformly as ovens, which increases the risk of harmful bacteria in certain foods such as chicken, rice and processed meats. This can lead to food poisoning, so you should always check that the centre of your meal has been heated sufficiently.
