[Our pick: rice cooker]
Perfect rice every time, and many keep it warm for hours. Non-negotiable.
Make a home abroad feel like home
Find out what your appliances really cost to run, tick off the jobs for your first UK home, then the finds that make a house warm, dry and a little bit Pinoy.
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Free tool
What does it cost to run?
Pick an appliance, or type your own, and see what it costs per use, per month and per year. Handy before you buy, and when the bill lands.
26.32p is the average UK price cap for October to December 2026. Your exact rate is on your bill or energy app.
Wattages are typical figures; the real one is on your appliance's label. Heating appliances often cycle on and off, so real costs can be lower. Nothing you type here leaves your device.
First home checklist
Moved in? Do these first
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Day one
First week
First month
If you have kids
Our picks
Kitchen
The things a Filipino kitchen abroad can't do without.
[Our pick: air fryer]
Crispy lumpia and pork belly without heating a whole oven. Check its running cost above.
[Our pick: wok or deep frying pan]
For pancit, adobo and stir-fries. Get one that works on your hob, especially if it's induction.
[Our pick: food storage containers]
Batch-cook on your day off and you're sorted for busy shift weeks.
Our picks
Laundry and damp
UK homes and grey weather mean drying clothes indoors. These keep it from turning into damp and mould.
[Our pick: heated clothes airer]
Dries washing indoors for a fraction of a tumble dryer's running cost.
[Our pick: dehumidifier]
Pulls water out of the air, dries clothes faster and helps stop mould. A laundry mode is worth having.
[Our pick: window vacuum]
Clears morning condensation off the windows in a minute, before it drips and turns into black mould.
[Our pick: moisture absorbers]
Small tubs for wardrobes and corners that trap damp where air doesn't move.
Our picks
Warm and cosy
Stay warm without the heating on all day.
[Our pick: oil-filled radiator]
Gentle, steady heat for one room, and stays warm after it switches off. Look for a thermostat and timer.
[Our pick: fan or ceramic heater]
Heats a small room fast. Choose one with tip-over and overheat cut-off, and never leave it on unattended.
[Our pick: heated throw or electric blanket]
Warms you, not the whole room, for pennies an hour.
[Our pick: draught excluders]
Seal the gaps under doors and around windows where the heat escapes.
[Our pick: thermal curtains]
Close them at dusk to keep the warmth in overnight.
[Our pick: hot water bottle]
The British classic. Choose one with a soft cover, and never use boiling water.
Our picks
Clean air and cleaning
Fresher air and floors that look after themselves.
[Our pick: air purifier]
A HEPA filter traps dust, pollen and pet hair. Good for hay fever season and stuffy bedrooms.
[Our pick: robot vacuum]
Runs while you're on shift, so you come home to clean floors. Handy with crumbs from little ones.
[Our pick: cordless stick vacuum]
For stairs, corners and quick tidies the robot can't reach.
[Our pick: steam mop]
Cleans hard floors with just water and heat, which is nice with crawling babies.
Our picks
Pinoy home comforts
The little things that make a UK house feel like home.
[Our pick: bidet sprayer or toilet bidet attachment]
Most UK bathrooms don't have one. Check it suits your toilet and plumbing, or ask your landlord first.
[Our pick: tabo]
The trusty dipper. Every Filipino household needs one, wherever it is.
[Our pick: rice dispenser]
Keeps a big bag of rice dry and pest-free, and pours out the right amount.
[Our pick: quiet electric fan]
UK homes are built to hold heat, so hot summer nights catch everyone out.
Our picks
Organising and safety
Less clutter, more space, and a safer home for little ones.
[Our pick: vacuum storage bags]
Squash winter coats and duvets flat in summer, and the other way round.
[Our pick: shoe rack for the door]
For a shoes-off home: one rack by the door and no muddy floors.
[Our pick: under-bed storage]
UK bedrooms are small. The space under the bed is free storage.
[Our pick: child safety kit]
Cupboard locks, corner guards and furniture straps for curious toddlers.
Home tips
What nobody tells you about UK homes
Damp and mould
- Open windows for a few minutes every day, even in winter
- Use the extractor fan when cooking and showering
- Wipe condensation off windows each morning
- Report damp or mould to your landlord in writing
Heating
- Set a timer to heat the house before you wake and before you get home
- Aim for around 18°C or more in rooms you use
- Heat the room you're in; close doors to keep it in
- Bleed radiators if the top stays cold
Bills
- Submit meter readings regularly, or get a smart meter
- Check if you can pay council tax over 12 months instead of 10
- Compare broadband when your contract ends
- Use the calculator above before buying big appliances
Living with neighbours
- Keep noise down late at night; walls can be thin
- Put bins out the night before collection
- Introduce yourself: neighbours look out for each other
- Ask before cooking anything very smoky with windows open
More free tools
Do the maths before the big decisions
UK take-home payWhat lands in your account after tax, NI, pension and student loan.Open →
NHS pay calculatorYour Agenda for Change pay, with enhancements and overtime.Open →
Mortgage calculatorMonthly payments, stamp duty and what you could borrow.Open →
Budget plannerSee where your money goes, weekly, monthly or yearly.Open →
Free checklist
Still planning the move? Get Before You Fly
My free 8-page checklist for the big move: documents, money, the first weeks abroad and what to pack.
General tips from our own home, not professional, legal or energy advice. Prices and rules change, so check with your supplier, landlord or council.