Preparing for winter II

NualaBuala

coco1980 wrote: »

hi I am new to this thread so sorry if it has already been asked but can someone tell me how to make cheap draught exluders please. ,y gas bill for July - September just arrived and it was 120pnd and am dreading the thought of our next one. we only moved into this house in May so have no idea what winters are like but the house is already draughty.

Thanks

I know other folks have done it so someone will advise I'm sure. I am making a rather Christmassy looking one out of old tartan pyjama bottoms. I've cut off the leg and sewn it closed at one end. The plan is to stuff it with old socks, and clothes from the rag bag that are beyond wearing. The leg is quite wide though and I guess I could either cut it in half and make two. Or maybe just put a couple of seams down the middle, and try to make one of those draught excluders that have a bit on each side of the door and a flat bit underneath like this

Margaret54

Hi everyone:) I have just finished sealing up some gaps in our windows with bubble wrap. I bought a hot water bottle yesterday in Boots and cough medicine and strepsils, and bought myself fleecy pjs in Primark which are wonderfully toasty and warm, love them. I also bought a fleecey dressing gown from M&S which buttons down the front, so have two very warm ones now. Had the other one a few years from Land's End in their sale, so cosy. I got the asda shopping delivered today and we are well stocked up freezer is full cupboards too, lots of drinking chocolate for nice hot milky drinks before bedtime. I have bought paracetamol too and stocked up my first aid kit, bought dh warm cosy socks and we still have our thermal vests from last year. Candles and matches in store, so all set. It is very cold and was wet earlier, so have all the washing today drying on the clothes horse. Loving this thread. Keep warm everyonex

diddly74

Calamity Jane is one of my all time fave films too. Along with 7 Brides for 7 Brothers! In fact I love lots of the musical films!!!

I've got an awful cold too - kindly donated from my loving husband (after I gave him it about a week ago) ONe day off work tomorrow and back to the grindstone Monday. Holiday from 3rd Nov, then I shall be hitting the housework bottle hard and getting the house ship shape and bristol fashion ready for the winter propper and ready to be Christmas-ized :santa2:

I have my MIL on the lookout for door curtains and such like - she is a fabulous secondhand shop searcher and comes home with some lovely stuff.

Money has dissappeared fast this month - there is far too much month left for the money in the bank. Oh well the freezer is full and the bills covered so I have to stay in! lol.



Oh and I forgot to say - I was in B&M in Lichfield today and they had covered hot water bottles for £2.99!

Broomstick

Thanks for the pic of the draft excluder - I think I'll make one of those for the porch door since it's an internal one.

The easiest and quickest draft excluder I made for an outside door was from an old velour scarf that had seen better days. I sewed it all the way down the long sides, rolled some rag-bag clothing in a sheet of bubble wrap, taped it up and fed it into the scarf tube. I then took a piece of ribbon and tied bows to fix the ends of the tube. It feels pretty heavy, looks tidy and is more or less waterproof inside so won't go disgustingly mouldy if rain comes under the door. Also, the whole lot could be dismantled, washed, dried and reassembled if it did become horrible. It hasn't yet.

B x

bluebag

diddly74 wrote: »

....

Money has dissappeared fast this month - there is far too much month left for the money in the bank. Oh well the freezer is full and the bills covered so I have to stay in! lol

Oh yes, a familiar situation here too. I started looking at frugal sites and whatnot many years ago as I though I was rubbish with money.

I thought everyone had exotic holidays, new cars, fancy clothes and all the lastest gadgets because they earned more than us. I didn't think it was all debt.

I got a right shock when a friend said she just shoved it all on the mortgage!! I wouldn't be able to sleep.

Justamum

NualaBuala wrote: »

I made one last year a bit like this - the outside is made from some spare curtaining, and the inside is stuffed with some old duvet which I cut off. I had to angle the bit near the opening of the door so that it closed properly!

coco1980

thanks for the tips i am def going to be trying them out, i have my hot water bottle ds got me for xmas last year and will soon be heading to Ikea to get some of the fleece blankets, our new house is no where near as cold as the last one we were in but its costing so much to rent etc we really need to cut back but I love winter so i am looking forward to it !!

lil_me

topgranny hope you get it sorted soon, I remember having no hot water for 48 hours and I was frustrated so goodness knows how you feel
julsifier keep an eye on Freegle and in adtrader.co.uk for a cooker, even ebay sometimes my friends cost her £30 and it's 7 months old (couple getting new kitchen)

GLOVES WITH STRINGS - Oh we loved ours, stand in the middle of the playground and spin round, see who you could smack with a mitt

My boys have also been told this year to expect less, to be fair they have a LOT, a lot more than most kids the same age. They got a lot less from us last year too as we asked what they wanted, a holiday in Spain in the October or more presents. I find even with Autism, give them the choice helps them decide. We do tend to buy them a little something at Easter time, that they are told is because their birthday and Christmas are close, they got DSiXLs, and guess what, DS1 has lost his already!

We're having a bit of an ongoing battle with the thermostat, I've got it down at 15 degrees (yes some nights it kicks in) but DSs and DP keep kicking it up to mid 20s which to me is cooking hot! I've just found 2 water bottles in the cupboard I got last year cheapish which haven't ever been used so we'll be using those when we return from our few days away in London

Grit salt, thanks for the reminder termie I must get some. The 'path' to my car is a road/ramp which the 12 garage users use, so getting to/from was awful last year, we were surrounded by ice!

Anyone got links to cheapish thermal/double layer socks that work as DPs on his moans again.....ta x

eco

Got my new flanelette sheets on the bed tonight, and they are amazing why didn't I buy them years ago, what wtih my flanelette PJ's I'm like toast.

I made my hot water bottle cover out of an old fleece jumper, neck end was the bit where the top of the bottle goes, used the scraps to help fill my draught excluder.

Loving the tips and knowing my heatings hardly on so hopefully by the end of winter my fuel bill is lower than last year.

wilsooon

Have to say that I've just finished (Friday) stitching together 2 bargain A$da fleeces - stitched down one long side and across the bottom, so 2 sides are fastened, 2 left open. Snuggled in the middle of it last night with a hot water bottle and my duvet on top, and was soooooooooo warm. As its Sunday tomorrow I may well refuse to come out!! :whistle: