Cold...Cold Winter Ahead!

blackclouds

Im going back to the old student days this year I think, wearing socks, tracksuit trousers, jumper and a hat to bed - quick showers at home (electric) and baths at the parents

Broken_hearted

Turn the heating on what choice do we have.

elle_gee

We already have soft fleecy blankets on the sofas - known as "blankets of doom" as they are so snug as soon as you cover yourself with one you fall asleep and the evening disappears! I think they were about £7 from Tesco.

gairlochgal

I have central heating and also two gas fires - one in kitchen and one in living room, where we spend lots of time, so am going to see if we can use them instead of the rads as much as possible. Our house is quite cold and we have the heating on for about 2 hrs in the morning in winter and still all want to rush down to the gas fire in the kitchen, so maybe we'll forget the heating and just go for that instead.

Plus I bought loads of cheap quilts for a kids' sleepover a while back, so will be dragging them all out.

chevalier

Whilst lots of blankets etc is a great idea. NOW is the time to be
1) checking that your hot water cylinder has lagging on it, and if not saving up to buy one/buy one. Also that the attic has the required depth of insulation in it. I think it is 7 inches depth, but am not sure now.

2) to check that any new appliances bought are a fuel efficient as you can afford. And keep an eye out on www.freecycle.org, for heaters etc now when people don't want to give them house room when decluttering etc.

3) If you are on some benefits or over a certain age, I believe you can get grants to insulate you house. Worth checking out and sorting now, before the rush comes.

And keep an eye out for 'winter' stuff that is on sale now as they want to shift it. No point paying top price for something in winter, if you can get it cheap now and store it for later. God makes me sound like a flippin squirrel!! I got 2 double blankets from the ex army and navy store for peanuts. Ok they are dark blue (so guess from the navy then:rolleyes: ), but they are really great as an extra layer under a sheet or over the top of the duvet.

NB it is worth checking out oil filled radiators rather than just electric ones as I think they are more fuel efficient. You can get good ones in Argos.

chev

Bismarck

tiredmum wrote: »

well ive ordered dd and ds a fleece all-in-one suit to wear around the house- they find them warmer than dressing gowns. laredoute sell them up to 12years for children- with or without feet.

so they don't do adult versions? Mrs Bismarck would look quite fetching as a rabbit

carrottopsuk

I remember reading an excellent thread on old style board on how to stop using so much gas & electricity. Loads of people had posted which may give you some ideas :-)

LouiseJ

Here is the link from the Old Style Board

Avoid using Gas and Electric this winter

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=247646

amtrakuk

interestingly I heard a human body gives out 1KWh of heat. Perhaps having a large number of people in the room? lol

Seriously I can't understand, when I was a kid in the winter came we wore a vest, t-shirt and jumper and I cant remember feeling cold. It really annoyed me when last year when we were going through weeks of sub zero temperatures I was doing a favour by putting someone up for a night each months as he was doing a course at Leeds university. It was about -2 outside, he came in sat down and in the front room and said it was cold in the room. I had to bite my lip and said "well it is -2 outside and it is 20 degrees in here, where's you're jumper?", his rebuttal was "I want to come into a nice warm house and ware what I want". No wonder why he is moaning at 120.00/month gas bills last time I spoke to him.

luxor4t

I am old enough to remember ice on the inside of the windows every morning and the only warm place in the house being right in front of the fire. We had quarrytiles throught the downstairs with a few rugs and a 'carpet square' in the front room. I can remember feeling cold even with three clothing layers (inc a woolly vest) and only hands and head uncovered indoors. Winter 1962 was the worst.

We still have a working fireplace so shall start collecting firewood & shall just use one room. We already have our own sofa blankets but need to check the insulation.
I have just bought a Remoska so we will be eating lots of warming casseroles etc.