Cost effective aircon / room cooling options (with timer?)

[Scammedandembittered]

As summer is coming and it looks like we might have a blazing one I am now thinking about aircon (which is funny because it was only 6 weeks ago I was buying an oil filled heater it was so cold...).

Does anyone know of cost effective aircon options? I'm guessing plug in electric fans are very expensive. I'd also like one with a timer so it goes off after I have fallen asleep at night. Also the kids might leave the room and forget it's on etc.

If anyone has any specific recommendations that would be great.

Thanks in advance!!

DD has a tower fan from Argos which has a timer. Possibly a remote as well, I can't remember. Got it a couple of years ago; this is probably the closest https://www.argos.co.uk/product/4543604?clickSR=slp:term:tower%20fan:1:48:1

It partly depends on the aspect of the rooms but DS's south-east facing bedroom gets absolutely baked on sunny days and we have had good results with UV film on his windows. We also have blackout blinds which we keep closed all day to block out as much heat from the sun as possible.

Plug-in fans aren't especially expensive to buy or run if you mean electric fans rather than portable air-conditioning units? Tower fans are often the most economical compared to blades but you need to check the wattage.

A fan doesn't actually cool a room, it just circulates the air (and potentially makes it warmer?!) so whilst it's nice to have one pointed at you, there's little point if you are not in the room. As @LudicrouslyCapaciousBag mentions, UV film/blinds etc could be a better and more cost effective investment.

thank you!

Best to install an aircon machine, first thing i did when i moved into my property

I have a Vornado fan. It's fantastic. No timer but you could use a plug in one.

What's your idea of cost effective OP? If handy with DIY you can fit a wall mounted AC unit from about £500