Our cost figures, calculators and guides are only useful if you can trust the numbers. Here’s how we research and maintain them.
How we test and review products
For our trending-product guides, the goal is a clear, honest pick you can act on. Every guide follows the same process:
- We shortlist on real demand. We track UK search and retail signals — Google Trends, seasonal spikes and retailer best-sellers — and only cover products with genuine buyer intent and UK availability.
- We test hands-on where we can. When a product is something we can buy and use, we test it ourselves and show our working with notes and photos. When it isn’t practical to test a whole category first-hand, we say so on the page rather than implying we did.
- We cross-check everything else. For products we haven’t tested directly, we weigh manufacturer specifications, measured running costs and a wide read of verified owner reviews, discounting suspicious or incentivised ratings.
- We judge on what matters. Performance, value, running costs, noise, size and reliability, scored for different needs and budgets — and we say plainly when something isn’t worth buying.
Editorial independence
Look Into is owned and funded independently through Whito Ltd. No brand pays to be featured or to rank higher, and a commission never buys a better placement. We earn a small affiliate commission only when readers choose to buy through our links, at no extra cost to them. If a popular product isn’t good enough, we tell you.
Where our figures come from
We base costs and rates on authoritative public and industry sources rather than guesswork, and we cite them on the page. Depending on the topic, these include:
- Government: GOV.UK, Ofgem, the DWP benefit and pension rates, and local-authority charging guidance.
- Industry and trade bodies: e.g. the Homecare Association, MCS, and the Energy Saving Trust.
- Established market data: e.g. carehome.co.uk fee data and reputable consumer research.
How we keep them current
- Every figure is dated, and we note the year it applies to.
- We review key figures at least once a year, and sooner when rates change, for example the April benefit upratings or a new Ofgem price cap.
- Costs are presented as guides and averages; real prices vary by location, supplier and individual circumstances.
How our calculators work
Our calculators use the typical UK averages and assumptions stated on each tool. They’re built to give a realistic estimate to help you plan, not a quote. Always get written quotes for your specific situation.
Independence and corrections
Our research is produced independently of any commercial relationship, see our Editorial Policy and How we make money. If you spot something that looks out of date or wrong, please tell us and we’ll review and correct it.
Last reviewed June 2026.