Wow, is there that many of you? My advice to you is to get one of these placed on your Christmas list if you a like a frequent beer.

Sadly though, the Carlsberg Draught Master is in my opinion not the best kitchen gadget for lads, not because of poor functionality. Unfortunately, I don’t get to sample much Carlsberg Export during the week, so the Draughtmaster sits in a corner of my kitchen doing nothing other than collection dust, whereas my George Foreman Health Grill, my Juicer and my Steamer get used far more frequently (I’m getting to healthly in my old age).

That said, if you (or your partner) loves your lager, this is the gadget for you!

Well if you don’t, I know that I do!

But (and there is but) is there anything worse (well yes there is) than being cold at home in the winter? I know what I am like, as soon as the wife is in bed, I put the heating on to warm up and it typically stays on all night at 17 degrees which is a complete waste of money, and this from a man that managed to clock-up a gas bill of just £35 one winter.

Hot Water Bottles vs Central Heating

Is there an alternative to leaving the heating on all night to keep warm?

After all, once you are in bed can you not just pull the duvet over your head and keep warm? Well I am not sure about your house, but I might as well be living in the North Pole giving how cold it seems to get although it is fair to say we do need to plug a few leaks before the cold weather really kicks in this year.

However, for winter 2009/10, I am going to try something different. Instead of spending a pot of cash firing up the gas central heating system in the vain attempt to stay warm at night I am going ‘old skool’ and will be using a hot water bottle.

Kettle boil vs Heating on all night?

I don’t suppose anyone can tell me the cost of the heating on the thermostat against the cost of boiling the kettle? I would look at working it out, but I do not have the greatest mathematical brain. Common sense suggests the cost of boiling the kettle from October to March to fill my hot water bottle will be a lot cheaper than a thermostat kicking in and out throughout a cold winter night in a pointless effort of keeping the air warm.

Hot Water Bottles worked in the 70′s

Here’s the thing, when I was a wee lad and I used to stay at my Nan’s flat on the 5th floor of a windswept block of flats in Brighton I was always given a a hot water bottle and do you know what, I really do not remember being cold, well not once I was in bed anyway. So in an attempt to stay warm this winter I am going to go retro and invest in a good old fashioned hot water bottle. If it worked in the 70′s, surely it will work now?

There is a slight drawback with the use of a hot water bottle, and that is a complete lack of hair. Having no hair does not make my life any easier during the winter. There is no question that if you have a full thatch on your head you are already a lot warmer and less reliant on your boiler and British Gas. The fact that I have to wear a benny hat all throughout the winter does not make-up for the lack of hair especially as it really makes my forehead itch like mad.

Reduce heating costs

I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to work out it is cheaper to run a hot water bottle nightly than it is the central heating during the night, so in light of that, here are my three online stores where you can purchase a ‘money saving, keep you warm’ hot water bottle for the winter.

Paprika Shop – A fantastic hot water bottle selection

Amazon – Great ‘Hotties’ hot water bottles

Hot Water Bottles UK – UK Hot Water Bottle shop