Martin Lewis issues 'serious' warning to people with curtains in house

Martin Lewis has shared how to save HUNDREDS when buying a common household necessity on a budget and how to cut heating bills. The Money Saving Expert, who is an ITV and BBC star, told how you could save hundreds when buying a home essential.

On his latest podcast, Mr Lewis invited people who have worked in shops, or the retail sector to write in with any cost-cutting tips and tricks. One worker rang in and explained to Mr Lewis, who is the Money Saving Expert founder: "I used to work in fabrics and furnishings.

"My tips for buying curtains is that shops will often say you need to buy curtains two or three times the width of your window. Yes, they do look better with more gather but it's not actually needed, that's about aesthetics, that's great if you've got pots of money but actually one-and-a-half times is enough.

READ MORE HMRC breaks silence over new ISA rules after banks fail to roll out changes

"Plus, if you buy with a thermal or blackout lining, they will last longer, it also insulates your home better." Martin said: "That could save some serious amounts of money. Curtains are incredibly expensive." He went on: "Going for one-and-a-half times the width could have a material impact on your finances."

Curtains can cost up to £3,000 if they are made to measure and of a premium quality. Homehow explains in a guide on its website: "Depending on the complexity of the job, the average cost of fitting curtains is around £40-£400 per window.

"This includes the cost of the curtains, the hardware, and the installation." The site goes on to explain: "Simple nylon curtains will usually cost around £10-£40, whereas the price for professionally fitted custom-designed silk curtains on a large bay window is around £2000-£3000.

"The average cost for fitting a curtain pole or handrail is around £80-£150."