Right now we're all trying to figure out easy ways to reduce our regular outgoings, whether that's shopping around for the best energy bills or changing up our go-to supermarket. But many don't realise how much cash could be saved just by making their ordinary household technology and appliances a little smarter – with very minimal upfront costs.
So we're not talking about spending thousands on the best new smart fridge or throwing away every inefficient device in your home, but rather adding some smart plugs to minimise the energy wasted by technology left on standby, or even that lamp you always forget to turn off! You can then control your electronics using just your phone, or one of the best smart speakers if you want to dive further into the automated homeworld.
According to research by Ocean Finance, enlisting smart home products in the fight against rising bills has the potential to save you more than £400 over just two years, with smart plugs just one of the quick, inexpensive fixes available.
With a smart plug, you can set routines for your electronics to turn on only when they're needed, and some even turn your devices off and on depending on whether you're home or not – a great burglar deterrent whilst you're away on holiday. The same is true of smart bulbs, and you can read more about these in our guide to the best smart lighting.
Best smart plugs – our top picks
Ideas for what to use with a smart plug
- Electric blankets – even the best electric blankets take a few minutes to warm up a cold bed. Make sure your bedsheets are cosy and warm before you get in by powering up your blanket from the sofa.
- Heated clothes airers – some of the best heated clothes airers come with timers that allow you to program an auto shut-off time, but they tend to cost more. Save money by pairing a more budget model with a smart plug that can do the same job.
- Lamps – turn on your bedside lamp with your phone to lead the way to bed, or if you tend to leave a light on when you go out to deter burglars, using a smart plug to switch lamps on and off instead means you'll save on the cost of leaving a lamp lit all night long.
- Coffee machines, microwaves, and other small appliances – whether it's the toaster of the kettle, appliances left in standby mode can be big energy wasters, especially when many of them aren't used after breakfast time. Have your smart plug schedule switch them off when they're not needed.
- Space heaters and fans – ever leave the house before panicking that you've left the fan or a space heater going? Well, smart plugs not only let you check on things from the bus, the office, or a friend's house, but can often also switch off automatically when you're a certain distance from home.
Visit the Ideal Home home energy hub for more top tips for tackling the cost of living crisis this winter.
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