Preparing for winter II

Confuzzled

the weather has been very autumnal here today, def a wee nip in the wind.

i took my daughter around the charity shops today and got very lucky to find one of those 1 piece zip up fleece pjs from primark that fits her beautifully. i had a moment of panic as i realised it had no price tag on it and worried they'd come out with 'oh it's £6 (knowing they're only £8 new!) and she'd already fallen in love with it but much to my delight it was only £2! i also spent another £2 and got her 3 pairs of the fuzzy warm socks.

after being shocked at how smart price toilet paper had gone from £1.20 to £1.60 in less than a months time i also stocked up at lidl today, it's £1.39 there so already a savings but i figured with things jumping up so quickly (sooo many items) i may as well stock up as they won't go off and we will def use it so i bought five 12 packs and i'll buy a few more each time i go if it keeps rising in price. i think the people in the queue thought i was ill, or maybe thought i was worried about a cholera outbreak or something :rotfl:

i also bought yet another tin of corned beef, some tomato soup, and chicken meatballs for the emergency stash.

i bought a silicone loaf pan (just £2.49 from poundstretchers!) for making yummy baked goods this autumn. one strategy i use to combat cold wet autumn days is to have my daughter help me bake, this takes the edge off the cold house without needing to turn heat on (plus we have storage heaters so no instant heat for us anyway) and it keeps her from going stir crazy when it's too wet to play outside. i also managed to buy a large heavy duty mixing bowl at a charity shop for £1.50 so that will help with the baking days too.

i also got one of those ginormous sieves so i can make rosehip and wild cherry jam. we have two wild cherry trees that we weren't able to make full use of last year. this year i plan to def make jam, cordial and fruit leathers. i'm also very seriously considering the chest freezer idea for three reasons. one being that there are plenty of free cherries, apples and rosehips to be had here that as i mentioned i couldn't fully take advantage of last year but could if i had a freezer. second i could start taking advantage of once a month cooking if i had another freezer (and save money AND time) and three because i wouldn't have an excuse anymore to order takeaways because i'd already have quick healthier food that takes less time to warm up than to wait on the food delivery. i really need to lose weight and honestly i think a freezer would pay for itself in about 4 months just on money not spent on takeaways because i worked late and was too tired to cook!

i have some winter hiking boots coming hopefully tomorrow for myself which is pretty much the last thing i personally need for winter. i also grabbed some of the £2.99 jog bottoms from h&m for my daughter, she can wear these over leggings in winter to keep her extra toasty warm (well if i can get her out of those new pjs!).

i need to dig into my approved food stores in my bedroom and take stock of what i have and start figuring out what i still need (and don't need anymore of!) i also need to see if i can find a cheaper place to buy chai tea, only thing i can find so far is twinnings and at £2-3 a 50 bag box it's pricey. if anyone else knows where i can get chai cheaper please share!

i know we're fine for clothes and coats/boots, mostly fine for stores for food etc but i just want to be certain... i do think winters coming a bit early this year, i can just kinda feel it, my battening down the hatches urge is strong already.

nataz

Hi everyone, I've not posted on here before, been silently lurking tho I've recently started being a bit more thrifty and this cold spell certainly makes you want to stock up. Freezer is bulging with all the meals. Did just about resist the temptation for heating tday, tho northumberland pretty darn cold... brrr.

Pips_Mum

Alisonpennypincher wrote: »

Is Northampton the capital of winter prep?!! :snow_laug

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Justamum wrote: »

I didn't know The Doctor was from Northampton. He's fantastic in the part. I didn't think I would watch again after David Tennant left. Now I ask myself "David who?" :rotfl:

It's back in less than 3 weeks!!!!! :j:j:j (can you tell I'm a Doctor Who fan? )

I felt the same, thought there would never be a better Doctor than Tennant but really, really love Matt Smith

Alice-Mary I am also 5 mins from town so know what you mean, it came to a standstill!

MrsRogers

cathy2702 wrote: »

It's an A rating, i hope this link works http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/norfrost-c2aew-b-chest-freezer-white-05270812-pdt.html
.

Thank you for this. Just need to talk MrRogers into buying one now :eek:

Another question for you ladies. I need to get a door curtain for our back door and Roman Blinds for the hall. Anyone have any ideas where to buy at not so expensive cost. I did think about making them but to be honest I think I may struggle for time with having a new job.

Rainy-Days

Hi Nataz, welcome to the winter section We are looking to move permanently to Northumberland at some future point! My fave place in the whole world!

You are all right it is chilly today with an autumnal chill in the air. I went out to the bin just now and thought it was cool. The sky is heavy and dark. I am even thinking about a Horlicks before bed tonight!

Clothing wise we are tickety boo. The Next Autumn and winter catalogues arrived today so thats it even the shops and firms are in winter mode!

My right arm is sore from the sanding and painting that I have done on Saturday but it will recover - hopefully.

All that is left to buy now is:-
Throat lozengers (we did have a decent stash but OH has recently had an infection and depleted supplies)
Benylin
Two sacks of potatoes
New slippers for me
Fleece socks form Primark
1 bag of compost for garden
1 more set of flannelette sheets
2 x 15kg scaks of Pedigree dried dog food
1 tin of gloss black paint to finish off the side wraught iron gates!

To do:-
Re silicone shower
Wash door mats
clean out freezer
go to butchers for stock up
Service on the boiler
Clean and polish both cars and fluid levels
Repoint some small areas under the kitchen window with mortar
Clean kitchen rug with Vax
Wash OH's dressing gown
Wash new flannelette sheets
Deep clean house right through
Clean brass, polish blinds clean windows inside and out, sweep out garage, get all fallen leaves up
Put garden furniture and hose pipe away in shed
Wash throws
Darin outside tap and put it's cover on
Clean guttering and fascias boards.
Wash horse rugs and dog jackets
October big clean of windows and doors
Cut back in garden

Done and completed:-
Shed cleaned out
Bird table sanded down and restained
Rose arbour sanded down and restained
shed sanded down and restained.
Garage cleaned out and tidied including full stock check of supplies
Screen wash bought and stored
Soup, beans and general long life bits and bobs bought in.
All jackets/coats scarves hats and gloves washed. dried and put away.
Shoes and boots reheeled and polished
Suede gloves and boots retreated with specialist protector
Jumpers and fleeces sorted through/stock checked.
All dusters and cleaning cloths put on a hot 95 degree wash and dried.
Washing line pegs all washed and dried, including container.
Bathroom cabinet tided out and stock checked.
Covers put over outside bathroom and kitchen drains to stop leaves
Two pairs of jeans dyed using Dylon.
Bought in extra dog food tins
All handbags sorted through and cleaned/leather treated and stored
Checked roofline on house for loose tiles
Washed all light units and glass shades in the house
Bought draught excluder for the front door
Painted the big wrought iron gates - just the small ones to do now!
Once the leaves start falling it will be a daily job getting them up.

Think thats it for now - still loads to do and I am now into my own imposed 14 week countdown to complete this all! Sucker for punishment aint I

Pips_Mum

Awesome list Rainy-Days!! Where in our fair Shire did you say you were?

Rainy-Days

North of the county in one of the villages on from Great Brington.

pigpen

Winter prep list for Pigpen

I need to..

*make door curtains for front and back door
*Draft tape ALL the doors and the remaining 4 non-DG windows.. tape purchased!!!
*get blinds cut to size and put up in the kitchen
*Boots for DD3.. just found some size 4 in my stash.. saved some £s and DGS 8.5/9F
*make draught snakes for back, front and french doors... I have a pattern finally
*make linings for boys room curtains and put up their blind

Have already.

*wash and sorted everyones winter coats
* sorted shoes for everyone and boots for most.
*Washed windows
*put up back room curtains
*Get guttering replaced back and front
*Get quotes for DD2's bedroom window and back room bay window so I can save up for them to be replaced in the new year... these are now being replaced in August along with the girls bedroom window and the boys room window!
*get new locks for front and back door and get the back door one in the french doors
*get curtains back up at the french doors.. they blew a hooley through there last winter!
*get girls room plastered..
*make sure everyone has hats, scarves, gloves & vests..

jjef

Having spent the evening reading through this thread I realise that I have quite a bit to do to be prepared, so will start a list -
Winter check list
* sort through coats check what fits and ebay what doesnt
* gloves hats check who has and who doesnt
* waterproof trousers for DD1 and DH
* storecupboard take stock and make a list of what is needed and add a couple of bits to weekly shop
* freezer defrost
* once defrosted bulk cook to restock
* car box - whats needed
* check wellies
* curtains for front door make/buy?
* line DD1 curtains
* boiler service
* buy wind up light
* batteries for torch for downstair
* candles check what I have
* check medicine and restock
* clear guttering
* replace outside bulb
* stock up on lightbulbs


Will add to as and when I think of things, I have a chest freezer which i will aim to empty over the next two weeks - money saved will go towards stock piling for winter - once defrosted will aim to refill with bulk cooking and offers from supermarkets etc

Pips_Mum

Rainy-Days wrote: »

North of the county in one of the villages on from Great Brington.

I drive home from Leicester that way at least once a week, I'll wave at you next time!! :rotfl: