State pensioners urged to use ‘bubble wrap’ to replace £300 Winter Fuel payment | Personal Finance | Finance
State pensioners are losing £600 this winter thanks to the double whammy of the Winter Fuel Payment being cut for most pensioners coupled with the end of the £300 Cost of Living Payments.
As a result, pensioners up and down the country will be looking for ways to make ends meet and reduce their energy bills any way they can, especially as the price cap is set to go up by another £148 from October 1.
And one heating expert has urged pensioners – although it will work for anyone of any age – to try cutting their energy bills by using a roll of bubble wrap.
As the warm weather starts to fade and the colder nights set in yet again, state pensioners in particular will be worrying about running the thermostat without their Winter Fuel Payment.
By using a roll of bubble wrap, you can cheaply keep your house warmer through the chilly winter months and save back some of the missing £300.
Mark McShane of Boiler Cover UK urged households to use the tip, adding: “Leaving your oven door open after cooking allows the residual heat to warm your kitchen, and using bubble wrap on windows can serve as an insulator, reducing heat loss.
Website WF Plastic explains how this works: “Often used in green houses, bubble wrap can also be used on domestic windows to boost their insulation rating.
“This is a simple technique for insulating windows with bubble wrap packing material. Bubble wrap is often used to insulate greenhouse windows in the winter, but it also seems to work fine for windows in the house.
“You can use it with or without regular or insulating window shades. It also works for windows of irregular shape, which can be difficult to find insulating shades for.
“The view through the bubble wrapped window is fuzzy, so don’t use it on windows where you need a clear view. But, it does let plenty of light through.
“People seem to like the medium to large size bubbles, but report of smaller bubbles having the same insulating properties are common. The larger ones appear (from surface temperature measurements) to insulate a little better, and you still get a nice artistic effect looking out of them. The small bubble wrap totally obscures the view, but you still get plenty of light.”
To put it into action, cut the bubble wrap to match the size of the window with scissors, then spray a film of water onto the window using a spray bottle. After, apply the bubble wrap to the windowpane while the window is still wet and press it into place.
The wrap should go bubble side towards the glass. It will not leave a mess or stains on the window when you remove it later after winter is over.
