I can't afford to heat my home

kittyfreek

Take care with a bottled gas fire. They are handy but produce a lot of water which can exacerbate damp/mould etc. And the concerns about carbon monoxide are real too. As tempting as it is please don't cover windows with plastic sheeting etc. A friend I was staying with did this and used an old parafin heater in her daughter's bedroom (she was skint and the house was old, badly insulated and freezing.) A wellie boot fell against it. Luckily the fumes woke me up and everyone was ok but...well, yes. On a more positive note thick curtains are great, close them all as soon as it starts getting dimpsy, and remember that it is as important to have layers under you in bed, as it is on top. I always keep my old duvets as underlays and they are very cosy. If you can get them use flannette sheets/pillowcases (I found some in a sale recently.) Fluffy bedsocks are a godsend and not that expensive and remember we lose a lot of heat from our heads so hats are great! Dress for bed! There are some lovely warm and inexpensive fabrics about nowadays. I grew up during the 60's and 70's when manmade material first became popular ("So easy to wash and dry! And no ironing!") So flippin cold!!! Shivery memories of freezing nylon sheets, synthetic material nighties and huddling into a ball trying to warm the space under the blankets with my breath too scared to stretch my legs out. Brrr!
If it's too expensive to heat all 4 bedrooms during the next few months it makes sense to heat a couple of rooms well and all bundle in together. I've even made up beds and slept in the front room because it was the one room we'd kept warm all day. If needs must, why not? I'd turn it into a game rather than worry about it and early nights in the winter aren't such a bad idea. Next summer you can all enjoy the extra space again. Don't worry about making economies, you made the right move for all the right reasons.

kittyfreek

Twiglet, re: your "extravagant" adult offspring and partner, it is nice that they contribute by cooking and paying towards the rent. Obviously your youngest can't help at the moment but you have a house with 3 working adults. They may feel their contribution is fair. Is it in real terms? Could they live as comfortably in another accommodation on the same outgoings?
You could give them the fuel bills to pay - especially during a 'meltdown'!- but it's probably better to choose a time when you have some quiet time together and talk it through. If you get the eye rolling, 'Oh we're just going out' routine they're not really being adults. One of the hardest things is you're all going to have to step out of parent/child mode and into sit down as equals and solve this problem.
They sound reasonable people who are willing to make an effort both practically and financially. Sit down with them when everyone has the time and is in a calm mood. Say how much you appreciate their input then explain how worried you are and ask if they can offer any support. Present them with the facts. Maybe go through an Income/Outcome procedure. Show them how the fuel sums aren't adding up. Ask them if they have any solutions. Include your youngest in this situation (as someone less directly involved he/she may suggest practical, workable solutions the rest of you wouldn't have considered). The most important part is to remain as calm as possible and share the responsibility for this difficulty.
I know this all sounds a bit Mary Poppins but it is likely to have a better effect than (oh yes I've done it) getting all cross and saying "I suppose you think the electricity/gas/fuel pays for itself. You put the tumble dryer on for ONE SHIRT?!" and going round after them switching off appliances/lights all the while muttering under your breath "And who is expected to pay for all this?"etc etc. You could of course try the environmental factor, not only are you saving energy you're also saving the planet, but only you know them well enough to know if this will work. I don't know if this will be successful, but it's worth a try. Or you could 'innocently' remove the fuses/turn the hot water off/ reset the thermostat timer/take out the light bulbs - just for a day!!!!

PasturesNew

For beds, there are some great under-fleeces. They go on the mattress, under the sheet. http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=bed+fleece+under&meta=

Also, flannelette sheets are warmer than cotton/cotton-based ones:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=flannelette+sheets&meta=

We used to wear bedsocks in bed, ofen sleeping in our dressing gowns, at least having the dressing gown spread on top of the bed. It was sheets and blankets back then, much colder than duvets.

amtrakuk

I have a calor gas portable heater in the cellar. I used to use it when I lived in my old flat years ago. Don't you have to have the windows open or alike to vent the gas fumes away, I forgotten it was such a long time ago

nesssie1702

Yes, if you're using a calor gas heater, you've got to be careful that there's plenty of ventilation otherwise you run the risk or carbon monoxide poisoning and that can be FATAL!!!

louiser123

i can remember a few years ago when my boiler broke and was then condemned by the bg engineer and totally cut off!! it was november, my eldest daughter was in hospital just had new baby and she lived with us, i was devastasted due to the fact we had no heating. i had a gas fire in the living room only, i borrowed some electric portable radiators like central heating radiators, and put one in bathroom, and one in each bedroom. i can honestly say it was horrendous but the cost wasnt great not much more than it would have been running the central heating but the house was warm. not sure now if this would be cheaper this was 2001.

but i do have to vent a little anger here so sorry, but in this day and age when lets face it the flaming government were and still are the ones encouraging energy efficient heating, encouraging central heating ect. can jump in with billions to save the flamin banks due to thier fault but lovely familys all over uk with little ones cant even afford to put on thier heating and are living in misery isnt right. i expect though that all the big wigs whereever they are are sitting in a snug warm house, eating plenty and not worried in the slightest cos they arnt suffering, makes me so angry.
i just wish there was more help out there for them and let the banks struggle!! just my little vent of anger there!!

eilidh_s

We just put the central heating on for an hour in the morning to heat the water for showers etc and then again in the evening if we need it but during the day if anyone is in then the fire in the living room is lit and by the time we all go to bed a lovely cold bedroom is quite welcome after melting infront of the fire for a couple of hours, we leave the doors open so that the heat radiates through to the kitchen a bit.

Rabiddog_2

For all those worried about getting fresh air in vent-axia do a range of heAT-exchanger fresh air vents.. this could help with dampness and mould prevention also build up of CO2
link http://www.vent-axia.com/rams/default.asp
Look for the Hr25 or Hr100 .. I only found out about these as it was something I was looking into for myself... obviously others exist, fell free to tell me or post the link

200

ok heres a list:
thermal underware,
thick curtains,
thikc duvet,
woolen jumper,
window insulation film
wich is cheap to buy/install and is effective.