Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

linni

I too am wrapped up like the 'mitchelin man'. Trouble is, when I go into a shop, or somehwhere where they have heating, I am too flippin hot!

alice-mary

I live by myself and am used to wrapping up and putting on extra layersrather than switching on but when my sister comes to visit, she normally comments on how warm or cold she thinks my house is! Normally it is too cold for her but just before Christmas I finally got round to putting curtains up at the front and back doors and she said that she really noticed the difference when passing the back door to go to the bathroom (if it has her seal of approval then I would definitely recommend others do the same!!). My last electricity bill (Oct to Dec) was actually cheaper than the Autumn one just before which was also pleasing as I've been making sure I switch all plugs off at the socket, rather than just on the appliance AND I stopped using my tumble drier! Little things really can make a huge difference and I'm hoping to keep up the good work throughout 2009! Happy New Year to everyone out there and Good Luck with keeping warm as cheaply as possible!

Alice-Mary

mardatha

I've had to buy a dehumidifier, fedup with puddles on windowsills and at the back door. Is funny, but in over 20 years in this house, the condensation never bothered me so much before now.. So that will no doubt use more elect, just when I got it down !

Gigervamp

I'm glad we got the insulation done last year. It has definitely made a difference, however, I'm bundled up like the michelin man with vest, polo neck, woolly cardi and fleece cardi and I'm still having to keep the heating on during the day.
Problem is, if my hands get too cold, it seeps up the bones in my arms and then I just cannot get warm.
Tried wearing gloves, but I keep having to take them off to do things, so I only put them on if I'm going to be sitting down for a while.
Roll on summer!

pagangirl

Hi folks - had the dreaded flu bug so my gas has been on lots - not worth saving when you're not well - feeling bit better today. Has anyone else noticed how warm it's been outside today - lovely to have all the windows open for a change, but its supposed to go cold again by the weekend. Been keeping check on elecy/gas (combined bill) works out to £100.78 from 25th Oct til now - only been heating living room, work full time so out all day and live in flat not house - does anyone know if this is good or not

halia

god I am sooooo cold - please help keep my resolve up! my current daytime wear is thermal long sleeved top, long sleeved jumper, thick fleecy jumper, trousers, knee length thick walking socks and an extra pair of DH socks on top, and I NEVER feel warm.

I have the central heating on from 6am - 8am, then from 4pm - 8pm for my toddler and OH. By 10am its approximatly 14 degrees in here if not colder.

I've got doubleglazing and door curtians and bubblewrapped french door - what else can I do?

Primrose

halia - I don't know what the insulation in your home is like but do you have the recommended amount of insulation in your roof or cavity wall insulation. I know this won't cure your immediate problems but longer term these measures do drastically reduce the amount of heat loss from your home. I've recently invested in a pair of Long Johns for the first time in my life. During last week's freeze, my legs were so much warmer. We also kept the curtains closed in the bedrooms during the day which also helped to stop cold air falling off our double glazing..

Catwoman_Kent

I've been having the heating on from 7am to 9am and again from 5pm to 9pm. Ok when I'm at work but chilly at weekends. Have put curtains against the doors in the lounge and made fire logs out of newspapers which I have been burning to keep the chill off and its really worked. Hopefully it will get easier now the thaw has set in.

alice-mary

I invested in a Thermal vest and some Thermal long-Johns from my local market this weekend as well as a fleecy body-warmer/waist-coat from a charity shop. None of it looks very attractive but as it will all be worn underneath other clothing (or in the case of the body-warmer, indoors or under a coat) it doesn't matter. All the items were reasonably cheap but as they meant I was able to leave the thermostat indoors on 14 only, I think they were a sound investment!

Primrose

With the current high cost of heating fuel, I've come to the conclusion that thermal underwear is a good financial investment for the comparatively low cost involved. You can spend hundreds of pounds on loft insulation, and thousands on double glazing and cavity wall insulation to keep yourself warm, yet a few pounds spent on insulating your body with thermal underwear can have roughly the same effect. (Not quite so pleasant as being in a warm room, I agree, but on a "value for value" case, I think it makes good economic sense).