Preparing for winter II

Chillout5892

Kitchenbunny wrote: »

Popped into my local QS (Formerly Bewise) today and they had pairs of lovely fleecy/toasty gripper socks in nice colours on half price. Picked up two pairs at 60p each

KB xx

For anyone with permanently cold feet, like me, I have to say I was disappointed with fleecy gripper socks, after they the first wash. They seemed to lose a lot of their insulating properties and if your have a latex allergy, like me, the elastic woven into the tops itched like hell unless turned over.

There is now a new product. Heater Socks. They are brushed thermal socks without latex in the tops. Most places sell them for £6 or more. Bought a pair last winter in Prim@rk and they are absolutely fabulous! (Feet Heaters) Best £3 I ever spent on thermal footware. If you see any about, grab them.

BTW, they are too thick to wear in boots or shoes, other than very roomy Ugg boots or moon boots.

pavlovs_dog

been reading allsorts of hair-raising things about the horrible winter forecast for this year. It will be our second winter in this house, and i'm starting to think about preparations to make it cosier and cheaper.

one area in particular that I want to address is bedding. we have a lovely high tog duvet that we actually use all year round - quite surprising really as OH is very warm blooded. So you can understand why i nearly fainted when he asked me to look into warmer bedding for next winter! I'm going to check the local drapers to see how much their flannelette sheets compare pricewise to those I've found online (never thought i'd be buying those)! I'm also looking into blanket options. OH got hold of a big fleecey blanket on offer in aldi last year, which we had under the duvet. I don't personally think it made a huge difference. I've just looked into the cost of wool blankets - the kind i had on my bed as a kid - and hearly had a heart attack at the cost :eek: :eek:

I know layering cheaper fleecey blankets would be an option for some, but OH hates feeling weighed down so i need to try and find optium warmth for minimum weight. Anyone got any thoughts/suggestions?

P.S. is it wrong that i'm looking forward to snuggly evenings by the flick of candlelight, and putting my christmas tree up?!

Chillout5892

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

been reading allsorts of hair-raising things about the horrible winter forecast for this year. It will be our second winter in this house, and i'm starting to think about preparations to make it cosier and cheaper.

one area in particular that I want to address is bedding.

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

Anyone got any thoughts/suggestions?

Last winter I had to address this. I had 2 double duvets, a winter one and a summer one and all the associated duvet covers. I bought 2 new duvets, a 16 tog kingsize winter duvet (£19) and a double kingsize duvet consisting of a 4 tog (summer) and 8 tog spring and autumn that both clip together to give a 12 tog normal winter duvet.(@£25 both from ebay) And of course I had to buy new duvet covers. This seemed really extravagant at the time, but I'm so glad I did. There were a few of nights last winter when I had the 16tog and 4 tog on the bed together and a couple when it was the 16 and 8 tog together! The old duvets and covers went to a charity shop.

All in all it's great not the get the drafts up the sides of the duvets I was plagued with when using a double duvet on a double bed. I'd always recommend using a bigger duvet than your bed, double on a single bed and king on a double. Some friends who share a king bed, have a double duvet each. I don't think there's anything worse than not being able to sleep because you are either too hot or too cold.:mad:

BTW when I have 2 duvets on the bed, I put the top one in a satin cover (Prim@rk) If it gets too hot, give it a tug and it slides off.

P.S. is it wrong that i'm looking forward to snuggly evenings by the flick of candlelight,

Nah, one of the better winter benefits.

and putting my christmas tree up?![/QUOTE]

Crimble's the other one.

Sorry, formatting is a bit strange.

sammy_kaye18

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

P.S. is it wrong that i'm looking forward to snuggly evenings by the flick of candlelight, and putting my christmas tree up?!

OMG No! I've already mentally rearranged my living room so I can fit my christmas tree in! I love christmas - come colder weather me and my boy used to snuggle up under a duvet and watch a film together with hot chocolate and other goodies - was completely in love when I came home early from work in the bad weather last year to find Benjie and his daddy curled up on the sofa sleeping together under a fleece watching the 'santa claus' :A:A

As for the extra warmth with minimum weight, could you not put a slightly lower tog duvet (cheap one) under the bottom sheet? It adds a bit extra softness to the mattress and gives you that cuddling in effect.

I just realised I binned my christmas tree too ah well can get a nice bit 7ft one now!

sammy_kaye18

I know this may possibly be a daft question but I wanted some views please people.

I am looking for a fridge freezer or ideally a second freezer for us to keep a stock that will help us out over the winter and Ive just come across this on ebay. Now I could house it in my dining room as I have a kitchen/diner and could cover it with a nice table clothe etc and make it look like a sideboard/cupboard if that makes sense and still get my table and chairs in when I eventually order them

Only thing slightly concerning me is the hole it mentions in the bottom, I get that it will add to my electricity usage but I'm also thinking I will be able to hold a bigger stock in the house, therefore reducing the amount of shopping trips I need to make - I usually spend between £70-£100 a shop and inevitably forget something, it costs me £2.05 for a single to town in the first place to get to Mr T and then £6 home in a taxi - so I'm talking £10 just to get back and forth and I do TWO monthly shops so thats £20!

Plus any whoopsies I'd be able to freeze easily whereas at the minute I'm limited to a tiny space with my current freezer as its a small box one on top of the fridge if you know what I mean.

Also I figure in winter I could do a shop, fill the small freezer I currently have with milk and use this big freezer for other items - ie frozen veg, bread, meat etc so I wouldn't have to venture out in the cold weather.

Wanted to get some opinions first.

Clarienne

I'm really enjoying the brilliant tips on this thread. Especially the one about gathering up all the hats, gloves and scarves now so as not to have to buy emergency ones AGAIN this year.

But is it just me who watches Game of Thrones/reads the Song of Ice and Fire books, and thinks this thread could be retitiled "Winter is Coming". (the motto of House Stark) :snow_laug

brownhandbag

Hi Sammy-kaye18,

Could be a good buy, but I would hesitate to put it in the dining room. Is garage or shed an option? Just (apart from the noise) it will use much more power in a warm room, trying to keep cold than it would in a cooler place. Covering with a cloth is not a good idea as you may get condensation on the outside and if you put stuff on the top it makes it more hassle to get stuff in and out. We have two cat beds on ours and that is enough trouble wouldn't worry about the hole for a 99p freezer if it's in an outhouse but on a good floor and a possible leaking problem?
just my thoughts

dom300186

i dont know much about the hole in the fridge but i say having something extra to store food in will save you in the loing run, we have intergrated ones in the house which were already here when we moved in.
so we kep our old ones in the shed which has electric down there, the amount of times the spare fridge and freezer has vcome in handy (christmas/parties/wedding/bbq's) as when i see reduced or whoopsies thats it im having it and i know its down in my shed freezer, and like yu say it saves you another trip to the shops, i drive but petrol is stupid at the moment.


so write a list down so you dont forget something x

candie_gill

i have a tatty old chest freezer in my shed, doesnt use much electricity as its a cold building and couldnt live without it. My freezer on fridge freezer only has three draws so useless really, at xmas both are stocked up. Come october time i use up whatever is left over in them ready for december xmas food.

Anyone on the look out for hats, scarfs and gloves- just bought more from sports direct online. They are all at rock bottom prices so couldnt resist

sammy_kaye18

Well just wanted to tlet you all know I looked online at freecycle and the first two posts were

- a 4 seater dining table - slightly worn out but in ok nick
and a 5ft freezer

so have emailed the people to see if they are still available! keeping my fingers crossed as it will save me a few quid and I can always make covers for the chairs and scrub down the freezer.