The sales have started and there are bargains to be had on the high street and online. It’s the perfect time to buy those money-saving gadgets that you have been considering – once you know that Santa hasn’t left them for you under the tree.
We have looked at the savings that can be made with some popular household tech, and offer a guide to the best prices, including, where available, any special offers.
Retailers might have more discounts up their sleeves, so armed with this information, you will know when to pounce.
Heated clothes airers
These have been flying off the shelves ever since the energy crisis began, and look poised to be a big hit in sales.
At less than 10p an hour to use in many cases, they are a lot more cost-effective than a tumble dryer, which can currently be up to £1.18 a cycle, according to energy efficiency website Sust-it. It offers a calculator so you can check the cost of running appliances – you just need details of their energy use, in watts or kilowatts.
Prices usually range from about £35 to £200. If you are looking for a budget-heated airer, Aldi was last month selling a lightweight version with foldable wings for £34.99.
According to the retailer, it costs 8p an hour to run (during the current Ofgem price cap period, ending 31 December) and is due back on sale in stores on 14 January.
Esta historia es de la edición December 23, 2023 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 23, 2023 de The Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Lammers blow against United as Twente hit back to share spoils
When Manchester United click as they did here for large swathes, their attack features organised chaos and their defence is compact, as shown by their four clean sheets this season.
Cricket: Jacks stakes his claim in crowded top order
It was a breakthrough century for Harry Brook at Chester-le-Street, that sublime unbeaten 110 his first in oneday international cricket and a first against Australia in any format. But the contribution from Will Jacks was not insignificant either, especially given the potential squeeze when some of England's big guns return.
Top football clubs breaking betting advert rules meant to protect minors
Half of Premier League football clubs have advertised gambling on web pages aimed at, or featuring, people under the age of 18, prompting concern about a voluntary code of conduct drawn up with the help of the betting industry.
Economic inactivity: Why cutting NHS waiting lists is key to boosting growth
Wes Streeting was in the right place when he announced plans to prioritise cutting NHS waiting lists in areas with the highest numbers of people out of work due to ill health. Liverpool, where the health secretary was speaking at Labour's annual party conference yesterday, is top of the list.
UK growth forecast upgraded as global outlook improves
The global economy is \"turning a corner\", according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, which yesterday upgraded the UK's growth forecast for this year to be faster than that of Japan, Italy and Germany.
World's first AI art museum to look at 'creative potential of machines'
A prominent AI artist has announced he will open the world's first artificial intelligence art museum in Los Angeles, which will highlight the \"intersection of human imagination and the creative potential of machines\".
Officials brief Trump on suspected Iranian plot to kill him
US intelligence officials have briefed Donald Trump about a suspected Iranian plot to kill him, his campaign has said.
EU trust fund for Africa 'has not addressed risks of abuse'
A €5bn EU fund aiming to stem the mass movement of people from Africa to Europe lacks focus and fails to address the risk of human rights abusers who could benefit, the bloc's spending watchdog has found.
Letby case: father tells of 'headless chickens' at hospital unit
The father of two triplet babies murdered by Lucy Letby has described frantic scenes as the children collapsed, with medical staff in a neonatal unit appearing to search online for tutorials to guide them through \"everyday\" medical procedures.
Music review: Monster hits perfectly reshaped by new female vocalist
Linkin Park laid the foundations for modern metal with their 2000 debut Hybrid Theory. They weren't the first band to bring together rock, hip-hop, electronic music and a whole lot of angst - but they were the most successful.
