Wake up to a warm home with Wilko’s £1.75 buy that can also save you £100s on energy bills

SAVVY shoppers are racing to Wilko to snap up a bargain gadget that could slash your energy bills and it costs less than a loaf of bread.

As families look for any way to cut costs amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, a simple plug-in timer has been reduced to clear for just £1.75 in Wilko‘s closing down sales.

wilko

The nifty device could save you dosh by tackling the “vampire drain” from your electronics, and shoppers are being urged to grab one before they’re all gone.

What is it?

The item is Wilko’s own-brand 24 Hour Timer Mains Switch.

It’s a simple mechanical plug that you fit between your wall socket and your appliance’s plug.

Bargain hunters can order them for click and collect to your nearest Wilko and The Range store, or have the option to have them delivered.

The timers are part of the huge closing down sale, which is why they’re at the rock-bottom price of £1.75.

How does it work?

You don’t need to be a tech whizz to use it, it’s dead simple.

The timer has a dial with a 24-hour clock on it, surrounded by little pins.

You simply push the pins in for the times you want your appliance to have power, and pull them out for the times you want it to be completely off.

For example, if you want a lamp to come on between 6pm and 10pm, you just push in the pins for that four-hour slot.

For the rest of the day, the timer will completely cut the power to the lamp, meaning it’s not using a single watt of electricity.

The plug in control is suitable for most 13 amp appliances and filament lamps up to 300w. 

Slash your bills

Many of our gadgets are secret energy guzzlers, even when they’re on standby.

Experts call this “vampire drain” and it can add a surprising amount to your annual electricity bill.

A TV on standby, a phone charger left plugged in, or a games console waiting to be turned on are all sipping power silently.

British Gas conducted research showing that households could save around £147 a year by switching off so-called “vampire” electronics.

Their study showed that a television and a set-top box alone could contribute over £47 a year to this total.

The appliances that suck the most electricity when left on standby include:

• Smart speakers and smart home devices
• Set top boxes and recorders
• TVs
• Microwaves
• Phones, tablets, computers and laptops left on charge

By investing in this clever plug, you can control how long your devices are running and save pocket that £147.

How does it compare?

Tool Station sells a similar 24-hour mechanical switch for £4.99.

Amazon sells a version for £7, whilst picking one up from Screwfix will set you back £12.

As it stands, Wilko’s version is the cheapest on the market.

It’s always worth comparing prices across different retailers to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.

There are plenty of websites you can use to help you out by checking prices for you, like Idealo, Price Spy or even Google Shopping.

Other ways to keep bills down

There are other simple ways to keep your electricity bills down – including signing up to British Gas PeakSave.

British Gas customers can sign up to the free scheme that gives you discounts for shifting your electricity use to times when there’s less demand.

Over one million customers get half price electricity every Sunday, and you can also be rewarded for using renewable energy.

Since the scheme launched in 2020, customers have saved over £28 million in electricity bills, with more than 16,000 customers saving over £100 each.