Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

carrottopsuk

ubercash wrote:

This thread is just going tooooo far... Why not set yourself on fire, the warmth is unbeatable. Or kill yourself, you'll never feel the cold again, and no bills to pay, beat that!

I know that you meant this as a joke and appreciate you are entitled to your own opinion but I think this post is a little uncalled for. People are generously offering suggestions which can be adopted if needed. Some people have very little to live on each month and lower bills may make all the difference.

I hope you don't mind me reading your other posts but (if I've read it correctly) I noticed that you've got a substantial amount of money to invest. This is none of my business but the point that I'm trying to make is that you may not be in the same financial situation as others on this thread. It may be that you save/make your money in other ways and don't need to 'resort' to ideas posted here.

Personally this is one of my favourite threads and although I may not be putting a magnet at the end of my bed ;-) I have picked up some very helpful tips.

No offence meant by the way!

moggins

I've picked up some fantastic tips too which I am very grateful for. My gas and electricity bills currently stand at £83 per month for gas and £72 per month for electric. Any help in reducing these are much appreciated.

Unfortunately our house gets very damp, even though it has a damp proof course and the central heating has already had to go on as getting into a damp bed every night is a truly unpleasant experience

katieowl_2

Sorry I can't find jo101's original post to quote from.....

But our house is cold too... (apparently!) My younger daughter who is now 16says that she has better health than any of her friends, has less colds, sniffles and general malaises than they do, and she puts it down to the temperature in our house. She says she just about dies of heat when she stays over at her mates places.....and can't wait to get back to an open window!

We don't have central heating, I had it disconnected to get my Aga installed, and we found with that as background heat, we don't need it. I use my lovely original fireplaces for heating (I burn the offcuts from my OH's workshop with a little smokeless) when we need a boost, and what is more cheerful than a real fire? All I got with central heating was a big bill - it still didn't warm the rooms like my real fires do!

Regards

Kate

sammy_kaye18

This thread is just going tooooo far... Why not set yourself on fire, the warmth is unbeatable. Or kill yourself, you'll never feel the cold again, and no bills to pay, beat that!

Ok im a young mum, me and my bf sturggle to make ends meet each month even with both of us working, so any helpful tips mean life is a bit more bearable in the winter months.
Have you ever had to go to bed knowing its goign to be like sleeping in a freezer because you purely cant afford the gas to run you central heating? Let me tell you its nto nice and the prospect of havign your child living liek that really isnt nice either - so any little tip is happily recieved here. nto that i use all of them but a few will definately save me money come winter.

Thanks all for the posts and lets keep it up cos its bloody freezing today - am off to do some baking with little one purely so we can warm up in the kitchen and have soem yummy treats fro tea time too!

in_my_wellies

In the late autumn and spring the heating is swithched off during the day.
When I get back I close all the curtains and switch the heating on then go and potter in the garden for 20 mins. Feels warm when i go in.

moggins

We have this problem with shift work too, Although I turn the thermostat right down when the kids go to school, DH often has nights where he has to stay up late so he can sleep the next day. Even though he's the one working to pay the bills he will often have the heating, computer and tv all running full blast

topgranny

Can anyone help me in deciding which is the cheaper of the 2 to use, electricity-wise: my small oven or the larger, fan-assisted, oven? You can use the fan oven at a slightly lower temperature (about 10 degrees, I think) but, of course, it's bigger so maybe that negates any saving. I do usually cook more than one thing at a time, although it's not always practical.

I've enjoyed reading this thread and picked up a few good tips and had some giggles!

By the way, I often use my steamer for cooking - veg. are really tasty as you need no salt so get the real flavour. You can use 2 steamers over one saucepan so can cook a whole meal on one gas/electric ring.

Hope you all keep warm this winter!

kal25

katieowl wrote:

We don't have central heating, I had it disconnected to get my Aga installed, and we found with that as background heat, we don't need it. I use my lovely original fireplaces for heating (I burn the offcuts from my OH's workshop with a little smokeless) when we need a boost, and what is more cheerful than a real fire? All I got with central heating was a big bill - it still didn't warm the rooms like my real fires do!

Hi,we had an open fire when first moved in but brought an electric fire(it only gets used if really freezing in living room).However, hubby has decided with the price rises may be more economical to have open fire back. Can anyone tell me where to get the bottom grates from? how much is smokless coal and how long approx. would it last? I do think open fires make it seem cosier when the long nights draw in.:rolleyes:

sammy_kaye18

Lol i sometimes think it would be cheaper to have an open fire but in a flat thats not very practical!! id love one though. If and when we move to a house htink i might ask bf to have an open fire as i love them.

Well ive just made 24 fairy cakes and attempted scottish tablet for the first time and its actually looking as though it might set!!! yey!!! Make a nice surprise for bf as he loves the stuff.

now just got to go do the dishes and then once little one is down for his nap (hes cuddled up in his blanket watchign fimbles at the minnute) im off ot put the door curtain rail (like a net curtain cord) up in the hallway and then sit and make a little curtain for it out of an old sheet i got today in a charity shop for 80p (colour matches my hallway) plus ive got some left over material from lining bens curtains so i can line it too to help pooch keep warm in winter. main reason its up in the first place is kids outside our back gate keep annoying the dog so he barks half the night - little bu**er so hoping it will cut out light so he wont see the shadows!

sammy_kaye18

Lol me again - i seem to be living on this page today!!

any ideas what i can stuff my draught excluders with - went to a charity shop today and all the clothes were reduced to 10p as they are swapping over to winter clohting but i didnt think about it then and now that im ready to make them have realised ive got nowt to stuff them with!!!!!!

was thinking carrier bags but not sure how well they'd work

any ideas please??