Beat the bills and the winter chills with Cwtchie

September 17, 2022

The nation watched with bated breath as the government announced the new energy capping statistics. With many households still recovering from pandemic fiscal depression, families are wondering what can be done to save vital pounds to keep them out of fuel poverty?

The all female Cwtchie team, based near Cardiff, have busy family lives and are always looking for savvy ways so save money whilst enjoying little touches of luxury. 

Founder, Anna, has swapped supermarkets, now doing her main weekly shopping at a local Aldi.

“The savings are astonishing, a very similar shop can be almost a quarter cheaper – that’s a huge saving across the year! I’ve learned which brands equate to the same quality and taste as the ones I’ve been buying for years and the children haven’t noticed the difference!”

But what about the quality of the fresh produce? 

“ My children love fruit and help themselves for snacks. Aldi’s fresh fruit and veg is excellent, as good as any other supermarket I’ve used – and their flowers are much cheaper than the competitors so I don’t feel guilty having a treat!”

Co founder, Paula has had a keen eye on the energy bills.

“ I’ve spent the past week researching how to cut our energy costs this winter, there is plenty of positive information on the internet. In the coming weeks I plan to buy an air fryer. We cook everything from scratch and it uses about a fifth of the electricity the oven consumes, with similar results. My research suggests you can cook anything in it from cake to chips, I’m looking forward to experimenting!”

The office agree that using their tumble driers will be prohibitively expensive after the price hikes.

“ I’m getting an old fashioned drying rack like my grandma – though I don’t plan on having it in the middle of the lounge in front of the fire! Not sure how the children would feel about watching their underwear dry when their friends come…”

The team also plan on taking advantage of their own products. Cwtchie hoodie blankets are a high end, cloud soft garment designed for cosiness.

Designed to fit up to a 6XL, the blanket with a hood are perfect to layer over both clothes and pyjamas. Anna even takes hers camping.

“ They really are very warm and comfortable – we always get compliments at campsites, loads of our custom comes from referrals. We get several reorders from families who are fed up of the rest of the household pinching theirs!”

This winter the team plan to turn the heating down and layer up in their Cwtchies. Better still, the blanket hoodies air-dry quickly, saving on energy costs. 

“ We designed them to be ‘a wearable hug’. The cut means you can tuck your legs up inside and the kangaroo pocket is perfect for toasty hands. They’re versatile too. Perfect for snuggling on the sofa, but also a handy extra layer for walking the dog or taking the kids to football.”

Cwtchie’s Trustpilot reviews speak of the quality of both the garment and service. Many refer to the beautiful fabric and the cosiness of the product.

“We couldn’t possible have known about the pandemic or the cost of living crisis when we started the company, but we’re really glad if what we do helps people find comfort when things are tough.”