Preparing for winter II

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

don't forget that candles last longer if you keep them in the freezer...

candie_gill

Been to Mr T today, picked up a really thick winter coat for my LO, a autumn Mac for him and a raincoat. I searched everywhere and it was only tesco that had anything arghhh. Picked up a Mac for myself for winter too, still need a thick winter coat but september time im sure to find one

415SanFran

When my children were very young one of them used to wake up with the sparrows! I was in the USA at the time with my military husband, we were in North Carolina, BOILING in the summer FREEZING in the winter.
An older lady introduced me to "window quilts" they are super easy to make and can be held up with velco stitched to the fabric and stuck to the window taken down at any point.
They keep the sun out in the summer and the cold out in the winter.
In fact I have made one for the house that I live in now as a Artic breeze comes though my bathroom window, to the point of me feeling the draft when I am in the bath.
Her is what I am talking about, http://notdabblinginnormal.wordpress.com/2008/12/07/quilting-for-windows/

bramble1

Morrisons value pasta is so much cheaper than everyone else! Have stocked up on a bit more of it today.

merlin68

I'm as prepared as I can be. I can only afford £10 a week in the gas meter, which I am trying to build up in the summer for the winter.
But we all have thermal everything, hot water bottles and sleeping bags.
How much heat can you get for £10 a week dose anyone know.

Rainy-Days

You will find that one coat(s) because not only will the autumn winter collections be arriving but moreover the charity shops also rotate their things as well to seasonal stuff - not sure if you know this but it's worth bearing in mind!

I did not know about freezing candles - tights yes - candles no!

I think we have made as many contingency plans for winter as we have done. Boiler is booked for service and notes have been added to the calendar to get the sacks of potatoes in. The freezer is due to be done end of September and hopefully come November provided we are not snowed in, the note is there to have a whip round the gutters for leaves. I will sink a six litre milk flaggon into the freezer - it sounds allot I know but if it comes really cold we will have a few horlicks and hot chocolates before bed!

Can I just say - despite previous comments - it hasn't actually cost us that much. Yes, we have to pay out in advance for our meat, which is upfront, but it will last us for four months at least. Other than that what we have done is little things such as washing the coats and scarves, cleaning out guttering and making sure we have screen wash, the garage is cleaned out and the cars are tickety boo. It's the little things but they really add up at the end of it when you realise that actually we haven't got to go out to make that extra journey. To us living in a village those extra trips could mean us skidding off the road into a ditch - God forbid that it did happen - but that is what it comes down to. It's not just about us either it's about all of us. How many times have read in the newspaper that the people injured in car crashes were having to go out to get XX because they ran out and they needed it. My philosophy on it is simple - when the weather gets bad - if we haven't got it and the village shop is out of stock of it we will go without! It has stood us for the last two bad winters and we haven't ran out yet.

It's the littlest of things that will save the day! Planning ahead now also means that for those four weeks when the snow and conditions were really horrendous we actually ended up saving a stash load of money because we didn't venture out (other than to work). So actually in the long run it did pay back - and in dividends too.

merlin68

Managed to work it out from npowers chart about 2 hours a day, to have your heating on 24/7 is £73. But this is before the price increases obviously.

[Deleted User]

Rainy-Days wrote: »

You will find that one coat(s) because not only will the autumn winter collections be arriving but moreover the charity shops also rotate their things as well to seasonal stuff - not sure if you know this but it's worth bearing in mind!

I did not know about freezing candles - tights yes - candles no!

I think we have made as many contingency plans for winter as we have done. Boiler is booked for service and notes have been added to the calendar to get the sacks of potatoes in. The freezer is due to be done end of September and hopefully come November provided we are not snowed in, the note is there to have a whip round the gutters for leaves. I will sink a six litre milk flaggon into the freezer - it sounds allot I know but if it comes really cold we will have a few horlicks and hot chocolates before bed!

Can I just say - despite previous comments - it hasn't actually cost us that much. Yes, we have to pay out in advance for our meat, which is upfront, but it will last us for four months at least. Other than that what we have done is little things such as washing the coats and scarves, cleaning out guttering and making sure we have screen wash, the garage is cleaned out and the cars are tickety boo. It's the little things but they really add up at the end of it when you realise that actually we haven't got to go out to make that extra journey. To us living in a village those extra trips could mean us skidding off the road into a ditch - God forbid that it did happen - but that is what it comes down to. It's not just about us either it's about all of us. How many times have read in the newspaper that the people injured in car crashes were having to go out to get XX because they ran out and they needed it. My philosophy on it is simple - when the weather gets bad - if we haven't got it and the village shop is out of stock of it we will go without! It has stood us for the last two bad winters and we haven't ran out yet.

It's the littlest of things that will save the day! Planning ahead now also means that for those four weeks when the snow and conditions were really horrendous we actually ended up saving a stash load of money because we didn't venture out (other than to work). So actually in the long run it did pay back - and in dividends too.

Thank you for that, it make perfect sense, I am going to show friend who think I'm mad!!! My preps are going well, have spent all week shortening and fleece lining our bedroom curtains. Its safety pins (as previously advised on this thread for DS bedroom- winter will come and go otherwise!!).
Thanks for all your tips :T

muffin_man_7

merlin68 wrote: »

Managed to work it out from npowers chart about 2 hours a day, to have your heating on 24/7 is £73. But this is before the price increases obviously.

Hi merlin can you tell us how to work it out please i can do electric now it's gas i struggle with and i might end up on a payment meter before winter hoping to avoid this but just in case i would like to know in advance what will i need to put in the meter if that happens like you i can just about manage a tenner but they will take £3.50 for old bill so i will be left with £6.50 a week and last winter i only had heating on when we showered and at weekend if it was colder than 16c i had thermals on in the house and extra when i went out i do feel cold a lot of the time even now my hands are cold any help would be appreciated thanks mm7

merlin68

According to Npower 9 hours and 8 radiators is £3.93. So it's a very rough guide. Lucky I have a cleaning job where I will be able to warm up.