Martin Lewis urges UK homeowners to follow 4pm 'rule' in money-saving plea

Mr Lewis, who founded MoneySavingExpert and regularly shares consumer advice through television, radio and online platforms, recommends closing curtains at sunset to help retain warmth inside homes.

With sunset occurring at 4.14pm today, his team advises that drawing curtains around 4pm can help maximise heat retention.

MoneySavingExpert said the method can delay the need to turn on central heating, potentially limiting energy costs during colder periods.

The advice was originally broadcast during Mr Lewis's ITV programme in November 2022, but his team confirmed the tips remain relevant.

Explaining the approach, Mr Lewis told viewers that curtains should be used strategically throughout the day.

He said: "When the sun is shining, it is letting light and heat into the house, so you want the curtains open. When it gets dark, it's not, so you want to keep the heat in by closing the curtains."

He added that a consistent routine can help improve insulation, particularly when using lined or thermal curtains.

As November continues, sunset times will move earlier, falling to around 3.55pm by the end of the month.

Households following the routine will therefore need to adjust the timing to maintain the potential benefits.

For those looking for low-cost options, Mr Lewis said households can enhance insulation by lining existing curtains with inexpensive fleece blankets.

He noted that any fleece should be fire-resistant and that guides are available online for making temporary linings.

Thermal curtains are also available across a wide range of retailers, including Dunelm, Amazon, Argos, The Range, B&Q and Tesco.

These products are designed to trap layers of air that help reduce heat loss, limiting the transfer of warmth through windows.

The insulating properties relate to convection, conduction and radiation, the three main mechanisms through which heat escapes.

Fleece linings work by creating additional air pockets, operating in a similar way to winter clothing that helps retain body heat.

The curtain advice forms part of a broader set of energy-saving measures frequently highlighted by MoneySavingExpert.

Other suggestions include using reflective panels behind radiators to direct heat back into the room and sealing draughts around doors and windows.

Mr Lewis also often references his long-standing principle of heating people directly rather than warming entire properties.

Describing this idea during previous broadcasts, he has said that personal heating solutions can sometimes be more cost-effective when individuals spend extended time in a single room.

The 4pm curtain routine represents only one part of these measures, but it has gained renewed attention as temperatures fall and daylight hours shorten across the UK.

Energy analysts say the approach can provide an immediate, no-cost action for households seeking to limit heat loss.

The ongoing rise in living costs has prompted a resurgence of interest in low-cost or no-cost energy-saving techniques shared by consumer specialists.

MoneySavingExpert continues to receive high traffic to its heating guidance pages during colder months as households search for ways to control spending.

With energy bills remaining elevated into the winter period, experts say small behavioural changes can contribute to managing overall costs.

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