Energy freebies and easy ways to stay warm this winter

Fancy a Greggs sausage roll, for free? Yes please!

Octopus Energy is giving them away, along with free cinema tickets, chocolates and takeaway vouchers, as part of its Pink Friday event, which is running all week.

What’s on offer?

Every day, Octopus is releasing a new deal or freebie. Highlights include:

• free ODEON cinema tickets
• free chocolates
• £8 off UberEats
• £8 off Ask Italian
• and of course… free Greggs sausage rolls

How to get the Pink Friday deals

To take part, you must:

• be an Octopus Energy customer
• have a smart meter that sends half-hourly readings
• pay by direct debit
• be signed up to Octoplus

Pink Friday codes are released daily between 24 November and 2 December. You can redeem them in the Octoplus section of the app or the online dashboard. All offers are subject to availability.

Free electric blankets from Octopus

Octopus is also giving free electric blankets to customers who need extra support, especially those with medical conditions or other vulnerabilities.

To apply:

• be an Octopus customer
• create a Paylink budget to see what support you qualify for
• wait for the team to review your application

It’s one blanket per household and you should hear back within a week.

Free electric blankets from OVO Energy

OVO Energy is also giving away free electric blankets as part of its Extra Support Package to help households cope with rising costs.

OVO reports that:

• 9 million UK households are now in fuel poverty, a 62% rise since 2020
• since 2022, OVO has provided £190m in support
• in 2024 alone, it supported 42,000 customers

This year’s £56m support package includes:

• free electric blankets
• energy-saving items such as mattress toppers and efficiency kits
• possible home upgrades like boilers or heat pumps
• financial help, including reduced direct debits, emergency credit and repayment plans

Who’s eligible?

You must:

• be an OVO Energy customer
• expect to struggle with your energy bills

You’ll need your account number, postcode and details of your monthly disposable income when you check eligibility on the OVO website.

Other ways to stay warm this winter

While an electric blanket is a great addition to your winter arsenal, there are other ways to stay warm and cut energy costs:

• Wear layers – heat escapes through your body. Wear thick socks, jumpers, and even a hat indoors.
• Seal drafts – check windows and doors for drafts and seal them to keep the warmth in.
• Use thick curtains – they can help to keep the heat in during the night.
• Consider a hot water bottle – they’re an old-fashioned but effective way to stay warm.
• Apply for a grant – most energy companies set money aside to help people who are really struggling. Read more about the additional support available in our guide.