Winter Fuel Payment - £13 Martin Lewis-inspired buy keeps me toasty warm and costs nothing to run

With energy bills on the rise and the weather getting colder as we head towards winter, households are doing all they can to keep warm without reaching for the thermostat.

Most people are wanting to reduce the use of the central heating, especially older people who no longer benefit from the Winter Fuel Payment.

But it's no good buying something to heat you or your home if it ends up costing a fortune to run.

Read more: I followed Martin Lewis' advice to swap 'demon' appliance for dehumidifier, it was the smartest move

That's why this particular product is proving so popular right now, because once you've bought it, there is no ongoing cost.

The weighted blankets come in various sizes, materials and colours and are exactly what the description suggests - a heavy blanket which not only keeps you warm, but helps you to relax too.

They're well known for calming the nervous system and according to the Sleep Foundation: "Many people find that adding a weighted blanket to their sleep routine helps to reduce stress and promote calm. In the same way as a hug or a baby’s swaddle, the gentle pressure of a weighted blanket may help ease symptoms and improve sleep for people with insomnia, anxiety, or autism."

My son has used one for well over a year - with a cool PlayStation Player design, priced £16 - and it keeps him warm on the couch, as well as helping him sleep.

Recently he's moved to an even bigger one, a plain black 'supersoft' one, to fit his larger frame, and it's had the same effect.

It inspired me to give one a try - with the mink coloured waffle fleece design - and now I know why he loves his so much.

The pressure from it feels like someone's giving you a hug and the weight, created by micro glass beads, means it keeps you toasty warm.

You do have to be careful that the one you buy isn't too heavy for a younger child - you need one specifically designed for children - but there are guidelines about that on the Sleep Foundation website.

It's another way of 'heating the human, not the home', which is something Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis advises for lowering energy bills.

Other products we've looked at that do exactly that include electric blankets, heated hoodies, portable heaters, thermal curtains, fleecy bedding, an electric foot warmer and even heated fingerless gloves.

The Supersoft Weighted Blanket from Online Home Shop costs from £13, reduced from £21, with two sizes available. You can also get it in blush pink, navy, silver grey, charcoal and forest green.

The Waffle Fleece Weighted Blanket also comes in two sizes, priced from £14, down from £26, and is in mink, silver, or charcoal. It's smooth on the inside with a fluffy waffle fleece on the top.

Other children's designs include Lol Surprise, Paw Patrol, Unicorn, Pokemon, Squishmallows, Sonic, Minecraft and more.

There are plenty more children's weighted blankets available from other retailers too, including Amazon, where this 7kg Cottonblue Weighted Blanket for a Queen bed, has been reduced to £36.54, as well as John Lewis and Argos.