Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

ShelleyC_2

I live in a rented flat with a very smart looking metal front door but its bloooming freezing to the touch even in height of summer :eek:

Not allowed to put up a curtain rail. Any ideas on how I could easily & with no DIY skills(!) create some form of insulation. Especially important as I have a rubbish electric underfloor heating system that seems to create little heat.

Magentasue

I'm afraid wine, proper coffee and central heating are the last things I want to give up. We can afford all three so heating is on. If you have gas CH, an hour of heating is much cheaper than a packet of cigarettes or a takeaway! It's a case of living within your means but choosing your battles - cutting waste is one thing, making yourself cold and miserable another.

morganb

Magentasue wrote: »

I'm afraid wine, proper coffee and central heating are the last things I want to give up. We can afford all three so heating is on. If you have gas CH, an hour of heating is much cheaper than a packet of cigarettes or a takeaway! It's a case of living within your means but choosing your battles - cutting waste is one thing, making yourself cold and miserable another.

I agree, but I am going for the 1st November because I just know that in previous years I've put the heating on far too early in the year and that I CAN be more inventive this year. Hey, if it means I have to go to bed earlier then that has got to be a good thing!!

In a small way I also want to make a stand against the ridiculously high prices we are paying which are producing ridiculously high profits for the energy companies. I know one person can't make a difference but I want to at least try to make some kind of protest.

And, as I've said previously, please DON't avoid putting on the heating if it is going to make you uncomfortable or put you at risk in any way

mardatha

I think we are all about not using unecessary elect/gas, and if it gets really cold, dont worry. People only have so much willpower - the heating will go on ! We found here that the big coal stove uses less fuel if its left on all the time but turned to 0, than if we put it on every night It takes a ton of coal to get going... So its been on all year, we just dont turn it up . I've done my saving on my electricity instead.But this will do us all good --make us and our kids healthier in the long run . In moderation.

victotoro

For Shelley, post number 2273 - is there space in the door frame to hang curtains using an extending shower curtain rail? These won't mark the walls if you're careful with them, and you can hang quite heavy curtains from them.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

morganb wrote: »

I agree, but I am going for the 1st November because I just know that in previous years I've put the heating on far too early in the year and that I CAN be more inventive this year. Hey, if it means I have to go to bed earlier then that has got to be a good thing!!

In a small way I also want to make a stand against the ridiculously high prices we are paying which are producing ridiculously high profits for the energy companies. I know one person can't make a difference but I want to at least try to make some kind of protest.

And, as I've said previously, please DON't avoid putting on the heating if it is going to make you uncomfortable or put you at risk in any way

I'm feeling exactly the same.I think we've been far too easy before flicking the switch on in other years.
I'm also one for making a stand.I just don't want to give my money away so easily and if the energy companies see a big drop in people's energy consumption than at least they'll see that people just are'nt willing to pay out willy nilly.At the moment I think they seem to think they can charge us what they like as we have no other choice.Well we have,we can cut down and not let them get paid so much.It's not like we're suffering I've lived through much worse.

newlywed

Last night OH complained it was cold so I said put the heating on for half an hour - no he said that costs money

We are fit and mostly healthy and it isn't that cold (just we'd been at friends who have the heating full on and then wear t-shirts. We got the fleece blanket out for the bed instead.

We have the kids 3 nights a week though (they aren't that young so not that vulnerable) but think OH will probably give in when they are here, if they are cold

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

OMG,I've just been putting in my meter readings,happy to say I'm in credit,but I got such a shock.I found that for everytime my gas meter goes up one I'm charged £1.37.Last year over winter I used 4 of these units a day.If I was to do the same this winter, my winter quarter for gas alone is going to cost me £504, no way can I afford this.I've just realised that It's not a matter of choice anymore.It's going to be e very cold winter indeed.
This is with Scottish power,on th cheapest option as well.

cw18

Just done my gas calculations -- and for 1 'unit' on the meter I get charged a maximum of 52p+vat (that's if I'm on the higher rate units)

I'm also Scottish Power -- dual fuel and internet discounts though I've not factored these in -- on the no standing charge fixed price until September 2009 tariff. But the units the meter measures in makes a difference..... mine's relatively new (under 7 years old) so measures in cubic metres. (And there are regional differences as well, but I didn't think they'd make that much of an impact )

morganb

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

OMG,I've just been putting in my meter readings,happy to say I'm in credit,but I got such a shock.I found that for everytime my gas meter goes up one I'm charged £1.37.Last year over winter I used 4 of these units a day.If I was to do the same this winter, my winter quarter for gas alone is going to cost me £504, no way can I afford this.I've just realised that It's not a matter of choice anymore.It's going to be e very cold winter indeed.
This is with Scottish power,on th cheapest option as well.

Shocking isn't it, especially when probably at least 60% of that cost is profit. I cannot understand why these companies are allowed to make such huge profits, it is immoral.