HEATED airers are one of the best products you can use to dry your clothes over winter without hugely increasing your energy bills.

The gadgets work by heating up metal bars which you wrap your garments round – and they cost just pennies per hour to run.

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But, like with any product nowadays, there are so many on the market and it can feel a daunting task to figure out which one to buy.

So, we’ve done some of the hard work for you to find the cheapest models out there.

Of course, make sure you do your own research as you might find a cheaper alternative, particularly as we only looked at winged heated airers.

Websites like Price Spy let you search the internet for a range of products, filtering from the cheapest to most expensive.

You can try having a quick scan of the internet using Google‘s Shopping/Product tab as well.

Always read product reviews too so you know what you are getting for your money.

Here are the cheapest heated airers we found this week.

Aldi – £34.99

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Discount supermarket Aldi’s £34.99 heated airer is always welcomed back by customers with open arms, and it is the cheapest we could find this week.

The retailer started re-stocking the gadget on September 19, so you’ll want to be quick as it typically flies off shelves.

Aldi’s heater costs roughly 6p an hour to run and can hold 10kg of washing, including towels and bedding.

If you want to buy one of the heated airers, you’ll have to head to your nearest Aldi branch as the retailer doesn’t do home deliveries.

You can find your nearest Aldi store by using the branch locator tool on its website.

George at Asda – £40

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George at Asda‘s heated airer comes in at £40 – £5 more expensive than Aldi’s.

It is made of aluminium, comes with a 100-day warranty and has plenty of five star reviews on the Asda website.

The airer also has foldable arms which make it easy to pack away when you’re done drying all your bits.

Click and collect is currently unavailable on the product online, while delivery costs from £3.75.

Dunelm – £40

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Dunelm shoppers can snap up this heated airer for the same price as Asda’s – £40.

The retailer says it costs just 5p an hour to run as well, which is 1p cheaper than it costs to run Aldi’s winged airer.

The airer has a 10kg washing limit with a combined 12 meters worth of bar space to hang your pants, socks and other clothes.

You can click and collect one for free from your local branch or delivery costs from £3.95.

You can find your nearest Dunelm branch by using its store locator.

Homebase – £40

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Homebase has slashed the price on this heated airer from £60 to £40 – a 33% discount.

One massive perk is that it comes with a cover included, which helps lock in any heat produced to dry your clothes quicker.

It comes with 10.9metres of drying space across all the bars and can hold up to 10kg of your garments.

Bear in mind delivery will set you back a whopping £6 – although click and collect is free.

You can find your nearest Homebase branch by using the store locator tool on its website.

The Range – £37.99

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The Range has slashed the price of this winged heated airer from £44.99 to £37.99, or you can buy one with a cover for £47.99 – an extra tenner.

It comes with foldable wings so you can store it away easily after use plus delivery is also free as well as click and collect.

You can find your nearest The Range branch by using its online store locator tool.

Bear in mind though, if you do want free delivery, you may have to wait over a week for it to arrive.

Robert Dyas – £39.99

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Robert Dyas has discounted this heated airer by £7, putting it just under the £40 mark.

One advantage to the airer compared to the others we found is that it can hold 15kg worth of clothes making it slightly sturdier.

It also comes with 18 heated bars and a foldable rack making it easy to stash away.

Robert Dyas’ website is offering shoppers who enter a specific code free delivery too.

Or, you can try finding it in your local Robert Dyas store, by using the retailer’s store locator tool.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

Do you remember all those awkward job interview questions?

I’m thinking of pearls such as: ‘Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?’ (Not here); ‘Why do you want to work in this industry?’ (I can’t get a job in my preferred field); and ‘Why should we hire you?’ (I desperately need the cash).

But, for me, the most annoying by far is, ‘What’s your greatest weakness?’

Of course, it’s not difficult to answer – I can reel off several weaknesses without breaking a sweat. But it can be hard to think of a weakness that doesn’t undermine your claim to the role. After all, who’s going hire someone who’s lazy, unpunctual and selfish (except maybe Donald Trump)?

However, when grumbling about this loaded question to a friend, she surprised me by coming up with the perfect answer: public speaking.

“It’s something everyone can relate to,” she pointed out. “No one will judge you negatively for it and you can use it as an example of personal growth (i.e. I’ve sought to tackle the fear by volunteering for speaking opportunities, training courses, etc).”

If public speaking was ever a fear when I was younger, it’s one I’ve had to confront in my professional life

You can’t fault the logic, and it got me thinking: have I ever been afraid of public speaking?

As a naturally shy person, the answer must be ‘yes’. I certainly remember being very nervous if I ever had to stand up in front of a class or in school assembly. But if public speaking was ever a fear when I was younger, it’s one I’ve had to confront in my professional life.

As a journalist, I’ve done countless speeches, presentations, panel discussions and onstage interviews. I’ve addressed rooms filled with people hanging on my every word (or at least pretending to). And I’ve had to deal with the terror of clamming up, forgetting my train of thought, making a faux pas – all in front of a packed audience.

Make no mistake, this can be a genuine terror. “Most people fear public speaking more than death,” says Dan Graham of NextGen Planners, whose Speaker & Influencer Programme has trained over 300 finance professionals to overcome this fear since its launch in 2019.

According to Graham, public speaking is a crucial and undervalued skill: “The majority of financial advisers are required to have an influence on their clients every day. By developing their message and their confidence, they can convey important ideas more succinctly.

“From those we have worked with on our programme, the increase in confidence has not only allowed them to deliver their key messages to the world, but also to come out of their shells and let their influence come to the surface.”

The results, claims Graham, have been transformational: “New friendships have been formed, new businesses have been found, client service has improved and those doubting their careers have stayed in the profession.”

By contrast, those who lack the confidence to speak in public miss the opportunity to make these connections. “It means their great ideas are, often, not being heard,” says Graham.

Most people fear public speaking more than death

All of this has been on my mind recently, with the Money Marketing Awards having taken place last month (I did the introductory speech) and MMI London and MMI Leeds coming up soon (I’m opening proceedings and chairing panels at both).

Admittedly, I don’t know how many of my ‘great ideas’ have been shared via public speaking at events such as these. But I do know that speaking in front of people has given me a better sense of myself – how I sound to others, how I communicate and how my personality comes across.

Stated another way, it puts my strengths and weaknesses up in lights for all to see. This can be daunting, but it’s also empowering. Becoming a better public speaker has definitely improved my one-on-one skills, which makes me a better interviewer and networker. It may even have improved my writing (although you, dear reader, can be the judge of that).

And on good days, it plays to the other side of my personality. The truth is, I’m a bit of a show off. As part of my am-dram group, in particular, I love playing to the crowd, making people laugh, feeding off an audience. Those backstage moments can be terrifying, but when it all goes well, it’s the best kind of validation and a huge confidence boost.

So, if public speaking is a step outside the comfort zone for you, don’t be afraid to take that step. In the words of the motivational speaker Rob Brown, “If you can speak, you can influence. If you can influence, you can change lives.”

MORE than 800,000 households will have their energy meters replaced before the RTS network is switched off next summer.

Economy 7 and other multi-rate energy tariffs use these meters, which charge users different rates depending on the time of day.

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These devices are operated through the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS), which broadcasts a signal alongside the long-wave channel for BBC Radio 4.

This service is being turned off on June 30 2025 after the deadline was extended following coverage by The Sun last year.

The switch-off could lead to huge bill hikes for customers as they are no longer able to access cheaper energy rates.

Some homes, businesses and schools could even be left without heating or hot water.

Others may be unable to turn off their heating.

The only way to avoid facing these issues is for affected households to switch to a smart meter.

Customers who swap to a smart meter will still be able to access multi-rate energy tariffs including Economy 7.

What has been agreed?

Energy suppliers, Government and consumer groups have now pledged to work together to replace RTS meters before the switch off.

The ten energy companies who have signed up are British Gas, EDF, E.On, Octopus, Ovo, Scottish Power, So Energy, SSE, Total Energies, Utilita and Utility Warehouse.

Industry regulator Ofgem, trade association Energy UK, Distribution Network Operators, Smart Energy GB, Government and consumer groups will also be involved.

Through their Call To Action, the industry has pledged to:

• Focus their resources on regional “hot spots” where there are the most RTS customers
• Fast track RTS customers for meter upgrades
• Prioritise upgrades for customers who are known to be vulnerable
• Tackle any technical problems by sharing their knowledge and expertise
• Provide monthly updates on how many meters have been replaced
• Consider if further action is needed

The pledge will also speed up the rate at which RTS meters are replaced.

At the current pace, it would take until 2028 for all of the RTS meters across the UK to be upgraded.

What does it mean for me?

Customers who have an RTS meter, or those who are not sure if they have one, should contact their energy supplier for advice.

The supplier should then be able to make an appointment for an engineer to visit their home and check.

Energy companies have been contacting customers about the switch-off since 2023.

But under the new plans suppliers will contact all RTS customers by December 31 2024 to let them know that RTS will be shut down.

Households will also be told why it is important that their service is upgraded and they will be offered an appointment to have their meter upgraded.

It usually takes around two hours for an RTS meter to be upgraded but some cases may need more than one visit by an engineer.

Many properties with RTS meters are in rural areas or on islands.

What are the benefits of installing a smart meter?

Getting a smart meter does not cost anything as your supplier will install it for free.

Customers affected by the RTS switch-off will also not be charged.

Smart meters send readings to your energy supplier automatically, which means you do not need to do this yourself.

They can make your bills more accurate too as they are based on readings from your actual usage, rather than estimates.

The devices can help to track how much energy you use at night, during the day and at peak times.

You will be given an in-home display, which connects to your meter and shows your energy usage and the cost in pounds and pence.

Customers with RTS electricity meters that swap to a smart meter will still be able to access flexible electricity tariffs if they opt for one.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

In this week’s Weekend Essay, editor Tom Browne dives into one of our biggest fears: public speaking. From awkward job interviews to addressing packed rooms, Tom reflects on his journey from shyness to confidence, and how mastering public speaking can be a game-changer in both personal and professional life. Tune in now:

TESCO has issued an urgent recall urging consumers not to buy certain mince pies because they could contain glue.

The product affected is the six pack of Tesco Finest 6 All Butter Pastry Mince Pies.

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Packets with the following best before dates should not be eaten: October 4, October 26, November 2, and November 10.

The Food Standards Agency put the alert up on Thursday warning customers that the baked goods may contain pieces of dried glue from the packaging, making them “unsafe to eat”.

The agency advises customers who have bought the product not to eat it but to return it to any store for a full refund – no receipt is required.

If customers run into any further issues they have been urged to call the Tesco Customer Service line on 0800 50 5555.

The supermarket has reassured customers that no other products have been affected by this issue.

A spokesperson for Tesco said the recall was a “precautionary measure”.

They added:“The quality of our products is our number one priority and we immediately began an investigation with our supplier to understand what happened. We’re sorry for the inconvenience”.

However, if you suspect someone has swallowed glue, the NHS recommends calling 111 for advice.

If the person is showing signs of serious illness, such as loss of consciousness, seizures, or drowsiness, you should call 999 to request an ambulance or take them to the A&E department.

Tesco’s recall follows Marks & Spencer’s announcement yesterday that its butternut squash soup,  with a use-by date of 6.10.2024 and barcode 0041142, may contain pieces of metal.

The UK supermarket warned its customers that due to the possible contamination the soup was “unsafe to eat”.

In a similar course of events, Farmfoods, another popular UK supermarket, issued a “do not eat” alert on 20 September over some chicken nuggets.

The frozen food brand said undeclared ingredients could put some at risk of dangerous allergic reactions.

As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action.

Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods.

Many safety notices are issued as a precautionary measure, letting consumers know an item may be dangerous.

In more serious cases like this one, retailers issue a recall, warning customers not to use the product and asking them to return it.

Usually, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer will be responsible for the recall action.

But it’s often left up to retailers to notify customers when products could put them at risk.

A company will sometimes issue a recall to limit the number of complaints.