Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

[Deleted User]

campmania sell gelert solar showers for £4 http://campmania.co.uk/Item-4-37-cat-0-brand-499-Gelert_Solar_Shower.aspx and they are the same ones selling elsewhere for double that. They still have them and yesterday, I ordered one each for my children (grown up). They will be put into their christmas boxes as we in our family have a max challenge of £10. I know they will be appreciated

I think I`ll go back to sewing today as layers are going to be the order of the day this winter. I have hundreds (its true, roll after roll stacked behind my door) of yards of top quality cottons and some are thick, brushed cottons.I will be making the simple A line skirts that I am so happy with. I love wearing them on the long side and they will be great with a slip and some thick tights

The upside of energy economising is starting to appear ie I feel very healthy and fitter and more energetic. Really not bad at all for 60. It`s down to cycling and winding up the radio and more bean meals

ceridwen come-on now, chest up shoulders out, deep breaths :grouphug:

Its being out of control that is going to make folk angry and depressed. Running to stand still. This winter is going to be a living nightmare for many

mama67

My coalman has just popped round to tell me that the price of a 50kg bag of large is going up to £14 after the weekend and that medium coal in the same size bag will be £12 in Sept.

He says its all to do with importing from Poland.

We usually use the open coal fire throughout the winter as our heat and just have the oil central heating for our hot water and occasional radiator boosts in very cold weather (boys bedrooms & bathroom) or if loads of wet washing (do not own a TD).

I've ordered a retractable washing line which DH is going to put up in the bathroom over the length of the bath so I can dry socks and undies and even light t/shirts during the day in the warmth of the house.

I also need to get the freezers sorted and de-frosted so that I know exactly what is in them and it will make them more efficient to run.

lauren_1

If you pop a duvet UNDER your bed sheet then pop the usual duvet/bedspread on top you get a 1/3 extra heat.

Now is the time to be scouting ebay for winter coats, ski jackets and waterproofs. They dont sell too well over the summer but many are having clearouts.

Old tights filled with stuffing from defunct pillows or old clothed make better and cheaper draught excluders.

sammy_kaye18

Ive been scouting ebay for clothes at the minute and looking through sales in places like ethol austin.

Ive already got 2 draught excluders - cost me £2 in shaws and are heavy and look like caterpillars.

fleece blankets - i have 3 - one white, one black and one bob the builder for littlies bed.

i have 3 big bedcovers - they are thick and heavy but wamr to snuggle in/under/into so one will be going on each chair in living room (dont have a sofa just two single large chairs) so there will be one each on these to snuggle into. may put the other one on our bed, but also have a native american handwoven one from native american reservation which is for a single bed. MUST BUY ONE MORE FLEECE FOR STEP SONS BED.

need to get the windows cellophaned.

must buy a rug for the living room floor - its laminate and gets quite chilly.

Belt-tightener_2

I have instructions for a draught excluder that you do not need to bend down to put back in position each time you open the door.

you need two lengths of pipe lagging and a piece of material as long as your door is wide and about 10" deep you stitch a tube of cloth and slip pipe lagging in at each end and slip the flat bit of cloth under the door it should look like O_O here is a link to one you can buy http://www.betterware.co.uk/searchlist.aspx?txt=draught+excluder&language=en-GB

Mappygirl

I love reading this thread - it actually gives me a bit of hope that we'll cope over the winter!

I've just brought some new curtains and they need to be lined. how much should I expect to pay for lining and is there a cheaper alternative lol

TIA

Primrose

I think one of the issues we're all going to have to consider going forward is analysing EXACTLY how our fuel usage breaks down, i.e. how much is used on cooking and baking, how much on home heating, how much on water heating, etc. One we understand this, it will be easier to come up with ways of hopefully reducing each component of energy usage.

Perhaps every household ought to have a "Fuel Economy Brainstorming" session, including the kids, over an enjoyable family meal to come up with ways of reducing domestic consumption. (Important to include the children - this energy/pricing problem is going to get worse in the years ahead as they grow up and it's good education to involve them and help them understand).

Once everybody in the family is involved, it will be easier to get cooperation in making fuel economies, especially if children have had an input into the ideas part of the process.

sb44

I saw this on the USA ebay site but I have seen them on our ebay.



They tend to get lots of bids in though as they seem quite hard to get hold of, wonder if it has anything to do with our current price rises?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wonder-Wash-Portable-Tabletop-Washer-Washing-Machine_W0QQitemZ120287260716QQihZ002QQcategoryZ159906QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Has anyone got one of these?

I know you can wash your clothes by hand to save some money but these must get them cleaner.

kayjay1809

Sorry if this question is in the wrong place, but I've just been listening to the Radio 5 phone in and someone said they had a gadget which you can plug into the socket of each appliance and it tells you how much electricity you use. It was scary the amount being used overnight with appliances turned 'off' :eek:

Does anyone know where I can buy one of these from and what they are called?

Thanks :beer:

Shelly1977

Kayjay. I have seen this one mentioned on another thread http://www.theowl.com/