Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

Daisymac_2

I am up for the 1st Nov challenge, but I am also worried about people mentioning that their houses are cold and damp, do they need to be careful if they are not putting the heating on as it will just get damper and damper and wouldnt that cause all sorts of health problems ?, esp if they have children in the house

cw18

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

I know we have the luxury of it now but we can do without it even though it's nice if you can afford it.It's all a matter of attitude as far as I'm concerned.

I think it's more of an issue in the more modern and 'renovated' houses, 'cos they're built to expect heating to be used to combat damp.

As Daisymac says, you do need to balance the cost of using the heating against the potential money you'll have to find to do house repairs if damp sets in :eek:

cheerfulness4

MRSTITTLEMOUSE - That was exactly how I remembered my childhood, too. I forgot about dad whipping a towel round us as mum lifted us out the bath and then him racing us into the lounge in front of the coal fire. It reminded me what a lovely cosy feeling I had as the towel was tightly wrapped around me and me squealing with laughter as dad rubadubbed us down.

I used to peel the nets off the ice from the window and I still love the smell of parafin as we had a 'lighthouse' looking heater on the landing. Never once did we dare touch it having been severely warned of the consequences - not being burned but the wrath of mum! :rolleyes:

I think you're right that it was fine because we all lived that way, no one to make us feeling we weren't having the best for us - it was a fact of life and I can honestly say that we rarely were off school with colds.
Having said all that, still love my CH when I do put it on.

I'm up for the November challenge, too. Made it till mid Dec last year. :eek:

Primrose

I think part of the secret to surviving without heating as long as possible is to start the day dressed warmly, rather than allowing yourself to become chilled and then putting on extra layers. Also regular exercise is important to keep the circulation going. If you're at work you're getting the benefit of your company's heating, but at home it's really important not to sit still for long periods of time but to get up, walk around and do a few arm swinging or other exercises. And if you're watching TV in the evenings, do it whenever the adverts come on. Fleecy jogging suits are great. I'm saving mine for the really chilly weather.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Primrose wrote: »

I think part of the secret to surviving without heating as long as possible is to start the day dressed warmly, rather than allowing yourself to become chilled and then putting on extra layers. Also regular exercise is important to keep the circulation going. If you're at work you're getting the benefit of your company's heating, but at home it's really important not to sit still for long periods of time but to get up, walk around and do a few arm swinging or other exercises. And if you're watching TV in the evenings, do it whenever the adverts come on. Fleecy jogging suits are great. I'm saving mine for the really chilly weather.[/quote

Exercise is the key to keeping warm.On a weekend when MrT is off he tends to complain from the minute he gets up about being chilly,and this is for most of the year not just in the colder days.I'm always rushing about and don't feel it whereas he'll be sitting around.I agree about fleecy stuff it's great and so warm and cosy.

furrypig

Hi all not been on this threAD FOR PROB A YEAr!

Whoops sorry about capitals!

Anyway, as usual this year the heating went off at the start of May and normally it goes on again 1st October (ie today!) but I've decided to try and keep it off for even longer! Kids (10 & 7) seem to be fine and in the evening we snuggle up on the sofa and later dh and i put on another layer. Going to make no sew blankets, was planning on doing them for christmas but might do them earlier to help with the cold!

Unfortunately got visitors this weekend (well I'vm looking forward to them but...) my mum always complains the house is cold so may have to put heating on! Also my tumble drier has broken and finding it difficult to get things dry so maqy have to pop it on sometime soon!

mardatha

This thread is magic, making me remember times when my kids were wee, and I sometimes put hats on them in bed, it was so cold. The youngest one was born later and we had heating in that house --he has asthma & I always thought there was a connection.

BrandNewDay

mardatha wrote: »

This thread is magic, making me remember times when my kids were wee, and I sometimes put hats on them in bed, it was so cold. The youngest one was born later and we had heating in that house --he has asthma & I always thought there was a connection.

Do you mean that you had no heat in your house? Or just a fireplace/kitchen stove, or what?

BrandNewDay

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

Primrose wrote: »

I think part of the secret to surviving without heating as long as possible is to start the day dressed warmly, rather than allowing yourself to become chilled and then putting on extra layers. Also regular exercise is important to keep the circulation going. If you're at work you're getting the benefit of your company's heating, but at home it's really important not to sit still for long periods of time but to get up, walk around and do a few arm swinging or other exercises. And if you're watching TV in the evenings, do it whenever the adverts come on. Fleecy jogging suits are great. I'm saving mine for the really chilly weather.[/quote

Exercise is the key to keeping warm.On a weekend when MrT is off he tends to complain from the minute he gets up about being chilly,and this is for most of the year not just in the colder days.I'm always rushing about and don't feel it whereas he'll be sitting around.I agree about fleecy stuff it's great and so warm and cosy.

Some people just have different metabolisms and feel the cold more than others. I'm pregnant, now, which really helps. And, I've put on a bit of weight, too.

Years ago, I used to be very, very thin. I worked in an office with several heavyset, menopausal women. They wanted the heat off and the windows open, all the time. This was in Ohio, mind you, where the temperature is below freezing for several months of the year. It could be truly col outside and they'd be fanning themselves, moaning that it was just too hot, oh, somebody call building maintenance and get the heat switched off! :rolleyes:

MrOrchard

When I started turning off all the electrical sockets in the house when not in use my electrickery bill went from £40 a month to £7 a month. We now pay a direct debit of £43 a month to EON, and we build up a lot of credit during the summer, which pays for the winter.