UK Heatwave: How to Beat the Heat on a Budget

British weather can change drastically in 24 hours. One minute it can be sunny with blue skies, the next minute it could be thunderstorms. You never really know what you’re in for. This summer certainly hasn’t been the warmest, but we hope we’re past the worst of the weather – today’s high is 31 degrees! Get ready for the UK heatwave, and get ready to beat the heat on a budget at home.

How to beat the heat 🥵

Most people’s answer to the question “how to beat the heat” would be to turn on the air conditioning. However, in the UK it’s very uncommon to have an AC unit in your home, in fact it’s considered a luxury. This is because there is a UK heatwave once a year, and that’s if we’re lucky. In 2023, the UK had 172 days of rain, that’s nearly half a year! So save your money and don’t buy an air conditioner, because we’ve listed some easy and budget friendly tips for how to beat the heat at home on a budget👇

How to beat the heat on a budget ☀️

• For an instant cool down, run your forearms under cold water
• Run a towel under cold water, place it in the freezer for 30 minutes, when ready hang it around your neck to cool down
• Place ice cubes on your toes
• Invest in a cheap fan
• Place a bowl of ice cubes in front of a fan to distribute cold air around the room
• Close all blinds and curtains during the day
• When it’s cooler outside, open windows on both ends of your home to let the cooler air run throughout your property
• Freeze a bottle of water so you can have cold water throughout the day
• Place a fan towards the window to circulate heat out of your home
• Wear cotton or linen clothes as these materials circulate air better
• Invest in some ice packs, wrap them up in a towel and place them on your feet or tummy
• Have cold showers in the morning – this will also wake you up!
• Go for a walk – sometimes it’s actually cooler outside than it is inside your home
• Utilise your local facilities – if you live near a cafe, buy lunch and steal their AC

It’s very important to stay cool whenever it gets hot. You don’t want to overheat or get heat stroke. It’s also worth checking up on those who might be vulnerable during this time. The elderly, those who live alone, those who have long-term illnesses and those who are on multiple medications can often feel the worst of the heat. If you of someone you know starts to feel ill, make sure you contact 111 to receive medical help, as it could be heatstroke or heat exhaustion.

Video content 📹

Prefer to watch content instead? See these tips in action by watching the videos below 👇

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