Is your heating ON or OFF?

Unity

julie_d wrote: »

Hiya all, still no CH on, but the coal fire is great. We have stocked up on logs to burn mostly to keep the coal bill down. We also boost the heat in the morning with an energy save 2p an hour electric heater. I think it is a good idea to put some throws around the sofa (see someones earlier post). The girls of the family have also got hot water bottles out. I have also bought Options hot chocolate. Any more usefull idea's? I should think we will put the heating on soon.

Our lovely neighbour just brought us a load of pallets from work - the thin stuff does as kindling and the blocks sawn up are as good as logs! I expected them to spark like mad - but they just burn nicely - longer than conventional logs tbh. It's a good bartering system as he's using our drive for the moment which keep his van safe .

Try placing an ad on http://www.freecycle.org/ for firewood to help spin out your coal supply. Someone advised me on another thread to do this and we got everything from dried out tree branches to a pine bed frame :T We now only use a shovel of coal to keep the stove on overnight - if it's necessary. We kept it on for about four nights when it was really cold - but last night let it go out. When we got up this morning our Eon free thermometer was showing 21 degrees with no heating whatsoever. For all it's an older house, DH made sure it was well insulated - but he did his thesis on that very subject so it would look very bad if it didn't work:rotfl:.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Just got back from my daughter's for the weekend,the house is'nt cold so still no heating.I'll put it on if and when I feel it necessary but I'm not going to be so soft this year and just put it on when needed and not on timer.
My house is'nt damp either as I open the windows as soon as I get up and what with the moisture crystals in every room and a new damp course we have'nt any problems with that.
I do realise we can't do without heating forever but I'm going to realy have to be strict with myself not for one-up-manship but because of lack of money like most others on here.
We'll just have to see what tomorrow brings.

natzini

I got back to mine last night and OH had the heater on. He said 'well it's November now and it's blinking freezing' so yeah.

ceridwen

bestpud wrote: »

Ceridwen - that's a good point but then I guess it is about priorities for most people.

There are definitely people struggling to get by and making choices between eating and being warm, but for most of us it is a case of having too many financial balls in the air and deciding which ones we prefer to drop imo.

We don't drink or smoke for example, but we do other things with our money that are not necessities and yet, they are things I am happy to swap a warm house for.

I'm not being very clear! I am trying to say it is all subjective, and I would say few on here are making life or death decisions when it comes to allocating their spending. However, there will be many more who are simply struggling with the rising costs, and yet cannot be called destitute nor reckless?

How would you class debt repayments for example? They have to be paid and yet it can be argued many stem from non-essential spending in the past. So, if someone has been forced to take a lower paid job and is now struggling, are they discretionary spenders, or truly hard up?

It would be an interesting thread though, I agree, and may inspire some of us to manage our money better, as well as highlight the desperate situation some people now find themselves in.

Yep.....I see what you mean about the debt repayments. I've been in debt myself before now....most of it was down to essential house maintenance not being able to wait any longer (when your house roof is leaking like a sieve there isnt much option but to take out a loan if you don't have the money to replace the roof otherwise). I guess that, if I'm honest, I don't think I ever absolutely HAD to get in debt - if I'd been prepared to forget about doing any discretionary spending at all until I'd finished revamping the house - then I think I might have managed to have the necessary house maintenance money to one side when it had to be spent. I guess we tend to have different reasons for getting in debt - mine was down to refusing to give up having any discretionary spending money for years. So - it could be said that my debt was my fault in effect.

One of the reasons I have made sure I'm clear of debt now is to get a very clear picture of my finances - of exactly how much I need to live on - and if there isnt enough at any point it will be crystal clear that its not my fault IYSWIM - I could point "the finger of blame" fair and square straight.....well...not at my head anyrate.:D (Government policies/greedy fuel companies/employers not paying enough to live on/etc - but it wouldnt be down to me if I couldnt manage).

I guess the people I am thinking about here are those on pensions (who could manage before - but the Price Rises are changing that)/those who have been forced onto lower income (through job losses)/those whose employers are giving inadequate cost of living rises or none at all ...that sort of thing. Not people whose financial problems have come about because of debt, having another child they couldnt afford (ie incurring extra expenses), CHOOSING to swop to a lower-paid job - ie stuff that is under their control.

I'm talking about people who are genuinely choosing between heating and eating - and its down to reasons that arent under their control.

[Deleted User]

I put my readings into i measure this morning and my heating has been on a week, not counting the two days when I had a leak. The graphs have gone vertically upwards :eek: Electricity because I used an electric heater and gas because the ch is on a bit in the morning and a few hours in the evening. So far I calculate an increase in gas cost of £2.50 a DAY and I expect much higher when the temperature plummets, as it does

I have just turned the boiler thermostat down again and reduced the time once more

When you see the actual cost then it is tangible and once gone there is nothing to show for it :rolleyes:

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Can't believe the weather today,it's warm compared to last week so I don't need any heating here yet and we're off out later so I should'nt need it then as we won't get back till late on.
I've got all the windows wide open and enjoying the fresh air.
Talking about heat or eat,I know a lot of people on low incomes who are working,never mind on pensions unable to do both.It clearly is a choice for some people which is forced upon them.
My daughter is single and lives alone and she's struggling realy hard even though she lives a generally frugal life style anyway and has no debt.The general cost of living is just crippling her.I know several people like this.Heating or eating realy is a choice beyond a lot of people's control,and that's a fact.

jackieb

I wish I lived near some of you with open fires. My dh cut down 3 trees and we tried to give the logs away, but no-one we know has a real fire. Next door took a whole tree for their chimnea. The wood from the other two lay out back for a couple of months. We had to pay £35 to hire a van to get rid of the stuff.

greenbee

Next time try offering the wood on Freecycle.

Olliebeak

Not exactly warm here this morning; there was frost on the ground and the lids of the wheelie bins - but the sun is shining once again. I don't want to say it too loudly - we've not had rain and/or wind for over a week!

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

kittie wrote: »

I put my readings into i measure this morning and my heating has been on a week, not counting the two days when I had a leak. The graphs have gone vertically upwards :eek: Electricity because I used an electric heater and gas because the ch is on a bit in the morning and a few hours in the evening. So far I calculate an increase in gas cost of £2.50 a DAY and I expect much higher when the temperature plummets, as it does

I have just turned the boiler thermostat down again and reduced the time once more

When you see the actual cost then it is tangible and once gone there is nothing to show for it :rolleyes:

I always like to check my meters weekly as it can put things in perspective.That £2.50 a day you calculate is even more scary if it's everyday for a quarter which would total around £230 and like you say more if the temperature drops.Very scary indeed.
At least monitoring usage can help to keep bills realistic for me anyway.