Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

demented_2

Hay box cooking if your feeling adventurous.
Make HM bread using the timer if your on E7
If your freezer isn't full put blankets in large clean binliners to pad out your freezer. Use those saucepans that are half shaped and fit on
one burner to cook 2 different veg. There is also an old tip but you have to be careful when doing this. Get a piece of sheet metal and put on top of the 2 back burners of the gas/electric stove. only light one burner but put 2 saucepans on the metal sheet and the one lit burner will get hot enough to heat both saucepans. I have done this years ago and it works.

buxtonrabbitgreen

yeah come and live in my house. My OH wont let me have the central heating on unless the frost is on the inside of the windows. Stingy !!!!!!

Redrose

Been reading this topic with great intrest, so tonight when i was feeling a little bit cold, OH sugguested put the Central Heating on, I said NO, will just put a fleece on.

About 15 mins later, DS came down stairs (just in his boxers) and said its cold up stairs can i put the heating on, i siad NO, Put some clothes on and get under the duvet. OH came in from the pub and said its lovely and warm out side...... cant win...... but feeling good, about saying NO, to the Heating......

buxtonrabbitgreen

Jolaaled wrote:

I have an open fireplace in my front room, which gets used as supplementary heat in the winter ( mix of logs and coal).

I'm thinking of using it, this coming year, as the main heating source.

Does anyone know if this works out cheaper, or where i can find a cost comparison??

we have one too. If you are not in a smokless zone burning old wood is cheap, also you get quite warm chopping it up.

black-saturn

I just want to say though that it's important that no one gets too cold. It's easy to get hyperthermia in the winter so if you feel too cold put the heating on and don't worry about the cost.

MIRRY_2

we used to burn our own wood years ago.
Trouble is you need to store the wood in a dry place for a year to dry it out.
We found buying wood and coal quite expensive but you could go collecting in the woods for free.


make sure it doesnt spit over your carpet !

MIRRY_2

Because I have double glazed windows, is there any point lining my curtains ?

will it make any difference ?

Icemaiden

I'm sorry , but heating is something I will not compromise on, if I had to I'd rather give up other thing instead. We have an large old victoria house which still can be very drafty at times, it seems to creep up from the cellar. I do try and economize on electricity by only using the dryer if absolutely necessary and don't leave stuff on standby and turn lights off. I understand some people really don't have a choice but personally if I'm cold I'm flippin miserable.

jockettuk

Jolaaled wrote:

I have an open fireplace in my front room, which gets used as supplementary heat in the winter ( mix of logs and coal).

I'm thinking of using it, this coming year, as the main heating source.

Does anyone know if this works out cheaper, or where i can find a cost comparison??

got to be cheaper if you find the logs freely ..

Imelda

Great thread everyone!
I have economy 7 (my flat is electricity only) and storage heaters (which I find useless, and wasteful). My bill last winter was huge and wasn't too great for summer either. So this is my plan for this year:
1. WM is going to be used in E7 time only, I can't put it on a timer (it only puts it on standby annoyingly!) but there is a economy wash which takes 45 mins so I can do that while I get ready in the mornings.
2. Heating, not going to put hall heater on at all, going to make a sausage dog excluder instead! Bathroom heater- I don't need to use mine I just turn the shower on, wait for the steam to heat the place up and then get undressed. Dry and dress before leaving bathroom (steam usually gets the creases out of my clothes so no need for ironing). Use blanket and hot water bottle in lounge. Use timer for bedroom heater, hot water bottle too.
3. Oven, have one baking night per week, make all meals for rest of week in one go.
4. Stay at OH's as much a possible......