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ENERGY bills are set to get a lot expensive but there are cheap ways to keep your home heated.

Forget cuddling your pets or wearing extra socks, here are some low-cost ways to keep your home warm as heating bills rise.

Record gas prices have already pushed energy bills up and put pressure on households.

More price hikes are expected in April when Ofgem's price cap for gas and electricity tariffs are revised.

Switching energy supplier isn't currently the most viable option to save money as many struggle with rising costs and more than 30 providers have collapsed since the start of 2021.

Unfortunately, energy saving tricks such as installing solar panels and loft insulation, while helpful, can cost thousands of pounds.

So, we have found some low-cost ways to heat your home instead that start from just £2.

Some involve DIY work so you may need an expert if you are not sure and don't forget to shop around for the best deal, but others simply involve a quick pop to the shop.

DIY draught proofing - £2

The more heat you can keep in your home, the more warmer it should be.

But heat can easily escape through gaps in your windows or the front or back door.

Walk around your home and see if you can feel any draughts.

You want to stop cold air getting in and hot air getting out by sealing any gaps on windows or doors.

DIY draught-proofing can cost you only a few pounds, with rolls of self-adhesive draught-excluding tape starting from as little as £3.

On Amazon, you can buy 10 metres of the self-adhesive seal for only £2.64.

But it's a good idea to shop around to get the best price, and work out how much surface area you need to cover.

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that draught-proofing can save you around £30 a year on your heating bills.

Hot water bottles - £6

Hot water bottles are a low-cost and energy-free way of getting extra heating at home.

Amazon sells hot water bottles for as low as £6 but do shop around to see if there are better deals.

The only other cost is boiling the water and KeepingWarm.co.uk suggests this could be a good way to keep your bed warm at night so your heating can be turned down or off.

The website said: "You just need to pour some hot water into the bottle and screw the lid on tightly, then put it on your bed for a minimum of 15 minutes prior to going to sleep.

"The hot water bottle will stay warm and slowly spread the heat into your bed while you sleep making it nice and warm."

Thermal curtains - £12

Thermal curtains are thicker than normal curtains and can also help stop heat escaping as well as keeping the cold air outside.

Keep them closed when the temperature is at its coldest to stop the air getting in.

This is typically in the morning.

Another tip is to keep doors closed as that can also help maintain the heat of each room.

You can get thermal curtains for as cheap as £12 at Argos but it will depend on the size, colour and style you need.

Use Google Shopping or PriceSpy to shop around for the best deals.

Portable heaters -£20

It can be a waste of money to heat rooms that you aren't in regularly.

Instead, you could turn the thermostat down and use portable plug-in radiators to heat rooms you are using most frequently such as the lounge.

You could choose between a plug-in or oil-filled radiator.

Prices for plug-in heaters start at around £23 from Argos and we found oil-filled radiators for £20 at Screwfix but you will need to check that they are powerful enough to heat your room.

We have calculated the running costs for a plug-in electric heater and an oil-filled radiator and you should see how these compare to your energy bill.

Smart thermostats - £180

Smart thermostats connect your heating to the internet and let you control it through an app or smart speaker.

You may already be able to set when your heating comes on through your boiler controls but a smart thermostat may be more flexible as you can alter the settings on the move and set different times and temperatures for rooms around the house.

The best known are Hive and Nest, which can cost around £180 to purchase.

Nest estimates that users can save around 10% on their heating costs by using a smart thermostat so you could make a saving in the long-run.

Check out these 21 steps you can take to slash your energy bill.

The government has promised to intervene amid warnings about an energy and cost of living crisis but it's still unclear what bill help could look like.

Your local council may also be able to help with cash and grants if you are struggling with bills through the Household Support Scheme