17 top snow bargains!

With more snow set to fall, here are the cheapest places to get everything from Ugg boots to rock salt, de-icers, anti-freeze, shovels, sledges, slankets and energy tariffs.

There's only been one thing anybody has been talking about this past fortnight, and it's not Celebrity Big Brother - the seemingly never-ending cold snap that has brought about scenes we'd normally only see on a Xmas card.

With the forecasters warning of yet more snow next week - and let's be honest, this weather is something we are probably going to have to get used to in the coming years - it's time to get prepared!

I've put together a guide to the best value deals on anything snow related, from footwear which will ensure you minimise just how many times you end up on your backside on the walk to work, to warm clothing, your own grit and even the best energy tariffs to keep you warm once you're out of the cold.

Footwear

I'm not the sort of bloke that is prepared for all seasons, footwear wise. In fact I've been making do with wearing some running shoes that thankfully have a decent bit of grip to prevent too many falls.

But if you're after some decent boots for the next time the snow arrives, then you might like to check out Millets or Blacks (they are both part of the same group), which are offering certain walking shoes at up to 50% off! Walking boots at Millets start at £37.49.

For the ladies, you might prefer to invest in some Ugg boots - most of the women I know swear by them as they offer decent grip, but just as importantly, are very warm.

Whoogaboots.co.uk offers pretty good value, with Ugg Classic Tall boots available for £75, and the short version £69. Considering the same boots will set you back almost £200 at other stores like John Lewis, that looks like a cracking bargain to me!

However, if you prefer to go with wellington boots, then why not head over to gooutdoors.co.uk, where wellies start at just £9.99 for adults.

Salt

Salt has become a precious commodity over the last month, so it pays to have a little bit at home in reserve, just in case.

Staples is currently offering a web exclusive on rock salt. You can nab a 25kg bag for £9.99, though that drops to £8.99 per bag if you buy three or more packs.

However, if you really want to stock up then you can get an 850kg bulk bag from Decorative Aggregates for £150. Of course if you do buy such a lot of rock salt, then chances are you might need to invest in a Grit Bin, which is likely to set you back another £150 (again from Staples, this medium sized bin is £149.99 and is the cheapest version I've found).

Car stuff!

It's not been fun trying to get my car ready to roll every morning - I've been going through de-icer like it's been going out of fashion!

The cheapest de-icer I have been able to find is available from Nielsen CDG, and will set you back 69p for a 300ml aerosol. The product I personally tend to use, and can vouch that it's pretty good, is the Carplan Blue Star de-icer, though this will set you back 81p for a 300ml aerosol from eurocarparts.com.

Just as important of course is your anti-freeze. Head over to Camskill.com and you can get your hands on 1litre of Comma's Super Coldmaster Concentrate Antifreeze for just £2.99, which strikes me as ultra-cheap.

Shovels

My pathway has been an absolute menace since the turn of the year. If you are in the same boat, you need a decent shovel to get rid of the snow and ice that makes it so treacherous.

Head over to the LD Mountain Centre, and you can get this specialist Black Diamond Lynx Snow Shovel for £24.99.

However, if you're after a budget option you could always go for this builders shovel from MPTools.co.uk at £7.26.

Fun stuff!

Of course, while the snow has been a pain in the backside in terms of getting to work, it's not without its fun side too.

If you prefer to see the snow as an opportunity to get in some sledding practice, then you might want to snap up a new sled for the next bout.

One sledge that caught my eye is this sledge toboggan from Splash and Relax, which you can snap up for £10.99. What's clever is that it is suitable for both kids and adults!

For something even more professional, head over to Outdoortoy.co.uk where you can snap up a Snow Tiger sledge for £88.99.

Alternatively, if you want something a little more traditional, then you can get a wooden sledge for one adult and one child (or two children) from Notonthehighstreet.com. Be warned though - it will set you back an eye-watering £129.99.

Wrap up warm with a slanket!

For many years now I've longed for a fleece blanket with sleeves. Luckily for me, the slanket is now all the rage, and is a cracking way of staying warm at home in the current freezing conditions.

The cheapest place I can find to buy slankets is Redsave.com where they are £24.46 though they are currently all out of stock. For a few pennies extra, head over to Feelunique.com where they currently are in stock.

Of course it's not just slankets - there are all sorts of alternatives, from snuggies to snug rugs (and with little discernible difference from a slanket so far as I can see - there are all basically blankets with sleeves).

Breezily.co.uk has deluxe snuggies available for just £8.88, while Redsave.com leads the way with snug rugs (it even has them in stock!) with prices starting at £12.83.

Get a better energy deal!

The energy suppliers are likely to start increasing the cost of their tariffs in the coming weeks - EDF has already started sending letters out - so now is a pretty good time to review your energy situation.

My colleague Neil Faulkner has put together a brilliant guide on how fixed price deals compare to variable ones in Energy prices start to rise!, while lovemoney.com have our very own comparison tool which is well worth a look - the average user has saved £200!

Get help from lovemoney.com

If you've had enough of the snow, and are already turning your thoughts towards getting some sun, there's a host of ways lovemoney.com can help.

First, why not try some of the hints and tips in our goal: Have a cheap holiday

Next, have a look at this video: The best way to get your holiday cash

And finally, if you have any holiday related queries that your fellow lovemoney.com users might be able to help with, why not try asking a question in our Q&A section.

More: The best tariffs for iPhones and Google Nexus One | How to pay for your summer holiday