Jen, I have an Addis zig-zag style air drier - not heated - cost about £20 from Home Bargains. It has about 20 hanging rails, so takes a good load, and the top section has pull out hooks to hang things like shirts / blouses on coat hangers. It folds flat when not in use and can fit down the side of my wardrobe.
I use it in front of the radiator in my dining room. The heating is on so I might as well make it do something useful.
Dunelm have them in.
I second the slow cooker use. Batch and freeze.
Keep fridge and freezer quite full, making and keeping "air" cold is expensive.
Do full wash loads not little ones.