TikTok gadgets that actually do save you money – from air fryers to electric blankets

We’re bombarded with gadgets and gizmos every time we go online – especially at this time of year when everything is marketed as an ideal Christmas gift.

However, there are some gadgets that can save you money in the long term so could be a good investment. If you’re thinking of updating your home tech, consider investing in these items to save cash in the longer term.

Air fryers

Yes, they’ve been around for a while but the craze isn’t going away. That’s because air fryers save money and are incredibly convenient for busy lives. Air fryers save money because they are more efficient than ovens, and multitask too. Some of the fancier models even have functions such as dehydrate, roast, bake, grill, and more. Even the basic models are easy to use, and clean, and use a lot less electricity than an oven.

A double basket air fryer is best for families as you can cook entire meals at the same time, while a single basket is ideal for smaller kitchens and individuals. The cooking time of an air fryer is several minutes less than an oven, and they turn off automatically at the end of cooking so you’re not at risk of burning your dinner!

Heated airer

Tumble dryers are great for getting your laundry dry in winter, but at a huge cost on the energy bill. They’re one of the most expensive appliances to run in the home, and if they’re not ventilated properly can also cause condensation and damp issues. Save on drying clothes with a heated airer instead. They cost an average of 14p to run an hour compared to 40p an hour for tumble dryers. If you need a faster dry, seek out a fan-assisted heated airer.

Electric blanket

If you find your cold bed off-putting, and you can’t get to sleep without being all toasty with the heating on, consider an electric blanket. It’s much cheaper to pre-warm your bed before you get in than running the heating for long hours into the night.

You can get singles or doubles, and most double sized ones have individual controls for each side of the bed, meaning you and your partner can sleep at a temperature you each prefer. Speaking of which, consider two separate duvets so you can have one each. This is more common on the continent, and means nobody is fighting for the covers in the middle of the night – and you can each have a weight that you like best. It’s a perfect solution for when one person sleeps hot and the other likes it cool!

Dehumidifiers

Dehumidifiers are perfect for the UK climate. In winter, they can draw moisture from the air and prevent damp and mould. In the summer, the process cools the air (and your frizzy hair will thank you!). The dry environment also helps reduce allergens and can even mitigate pests usually drawn to damp places.

Dehumidifiers are also great to double with heated airers for drying clothes, speeding up the process while preventing damp and condensation build up in the room you’ve got your laundry. Finally, dehumidifiers can prevent rust and mildew in areas like workshops and garages, protecting any tools and equipment so you’re not left replacing expensive kit.

Multi hair stylers

You’ve probably seen these taking over TikTok and other social media platforms lately. Instead of a single hairdryer, curler, waver, volume booster and other tools all taking up space in your cupboards, the tools are interchangeable on one handle.

They can be very expensive, like the Dyson Airwrap (RRP £480) or midrange like the Babyliss Air Wand Hair Dryer (RRP £120) or inexpensive ones such as the Belissima 6 in 1 Hair Styler (£79.99). There are cheaper ones available online but the quality is not guaranteed.

These multi hair stylers allow you to get every kind of hairstyle you want with mid length and long hair, saving you from buying loads of different tools. They are often kinder to your hair, using hot air to style instead of direct heat like with straighteners or curling tongs. This also makes it faster to style – meaning less time and energy used.

E-readers

Bookworms know the struggle: books take up a LOT of space. And that means storage. Many of us can’t afford to have our own home libraries, or invest in built-in bookshelves. EBooks are a really popular way to read books, and now libraries are in on the act with their own apps like Libby, you can even borrow them for free. If you prefer to buy, or have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, you can have thousands of titles in the size of one tiny e-reader.

EBooks are also cheaper to buy, as there are no production costs such as printing and shipping involved like there is with a physical book. Popular e-readers include the new Kindle Paperwhite and the Kindle Colour, the Kobo (which also has a colour option), or you can use a tablet with the Kindle app.

Smart plugs

Turn any item into a smart piece of tech with a smart plug. They don’t cost much – around £10-£15 – and could save you a lot on your energy bills. Operate your appliances using a smart plug and you can make sure they only operate when they need to. Or, go old-fashioned with a manual timer switch to ensure things are only on for set hours. This is a great way to make sure you’re charging appliances like laptops during off-peak energy hours without having to set an alarm!

You can also get a smart button pusher, which can turn on any appliance from the app. It literally pushes any button it’s set for – so you can come home to a ready-boiled kettle, switch on hard-to-reach lights, or make sure you turn your TV off standby at night.

Thermal mugs and flasks

If you’re constantly making a cup of tea then forgetting it until it goes cold, you’re not alone. Thermal mugs and flasks aren’t just for when you’re out of the house! They can keep your hot drinks hot for hours, and your cold drinks ice cold, too.

More than that, if you’re trying to watch the pennies, you can boil the kettle once in the morning and put the boiled water into a hot flask. This will make several cups of tea in the day, at a piping hot temperature, without the need to boil the kettle (and probably re-boil it when you’ve forgotten, too) several times a day. SHO Reusable and Chilly’s are reliable brands for thermal flasks and mugs used by the MoneyMagpie team (not sponsored, just fans), if you’re not in the mood to spring upwards of £40 for a Stanley mug.

Some of the brands and websites we mention may be, or may have been, a partner of MoneyMagpie.com. However, we only ever mention brands we believe in and trust, so it never influences who we prioritise and link to.

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