Is your heating ON or OFF?

dogstarheaven

generally, it's been an October time for me, but after reading much inspiration and support on here, I"m gonna hang in there for a while yet. as a chilblains-sufferer (fingers and toes!:mad:), I'm kinda worried as my hands has started to feel cold in the past week or so. Lately, I've been finding ways to conscientiously cut down our costs as we're on a low income, and finally giving up our TV! way-hey!!:D). Ideally, it'd be great if the CH didn't come on at all, and my OH and myself would just wear our thermals, fleeces, bedsocks and dressing gowns all evening.. The groundfloor to the house is uncarpeted. The living room and the utility room are the most draughty rooms in the house. Yes, since a year ago, I had bought curtain material to make door curtains but never got round to it (not that confident on the machine!). The living room leads straight from the front door (not UPVC, like all the windows in the house) so that brings a lot of draught in. There's only one rug from this door to trap dirt. I don't think another one in the room would be nice as it's not as aesthetically-pleasing as I quite like my wooden floorboards...

All the windows in the house are with wooden blinds (no curtains for us), so that's another way for the warmth to leak out... i know, it's not good to live like this... to be frugal living... to also, to be in a nice, uncluttered, dust-free house too... anyone wiht this dilemma at all?

irishwexford

We had the gas fire on one evening (we had just returned from Turkey) but otherwise no heat. Although we are having lots of rain its not cold, a cardie in the evenings is enough and its warm enough in the mornings. I will hang out for as long as I can.

narabanekeater

we must be very lucky as ive been walking around with no coat on outside. I was boiling in bed last night as well. Yes the weather is wet but its still very warm in Leicestershire.

SugarSpun

Ours is off and will remain so until there's no arguing it. The baby and I are naturally warm people and are wearing regular clothing for the time of year, my husband's a lizard in disguise and was last seen sporting a thermal shirt, thick pants and a tshirt over the top.

We live over a doctor's office, though, and their horrendous overheating habit wafts upwards. Keeps us toasty.

alec_eiffel

dogstarheaven wrote: »

generally, it's been an October time for me, but after reading much inspiration and support on here, I"m gonna hang in there for a while yet. as a chilblains-sufferer (fingers and toes!:mad:), I'm kinda worried as my hands has started to feel cold in the past week or so. Lately, I've been finding ways to conscientiously cut down our costs as we're on a low income, and finally giving up our TV! way-hey!!:D). Ideally, it'd be great if the CH didn't come on at all, and my OH and myself would just wear our thermals, fleeces, bedsocks and dressing gowns all evening.. The groundfloor to the house is uncarpeted. The living room and the utility room are the most draughty rooms in the house. Yes, since a year ago, I had bought curtain material to make door curtains but never got round to it (not that confident on the machine!). The living room leads straight from the front door (not UPVC, like all the windows in the house) so that brings a lot of draught in. There's only one rug from this door to trap dirt. I don't think another one in the room would be nice as it's not as aesthetically-pleasing as I quite like my wooden floorboards...

All the windows in the house are with wooden blinds (no curtains for us), so that's another way for the warmth to leak out... i know, it's not good to live like this... to be frugal living... to also, to be in a nice, uncluttered, dust-free house too... anyone wiht this dilemma at all?

For me it's all about priorities, would I rather spend the money on big heating bills or would I rather alter the look of the house a bit and spend the money on things to warm things up and keep the bills low?

I loved the wooden floors in my old house, but when the very cold weather came it was more important to me to be warm. not spend a fortune on heating and to be cosy. So we had a rug, could still see lots of floor but the rug did the trick.

The house we live in now is very different, it's decorated in a mid century modern style, very sleek, white, uncluttered and clean looking. So again I have the choice to keep the look the same or to adapt for the winter. So I have curtains for the bedrooms and lounge, they'll be going up soon and I take them down for the summer and we'll just have blinds. I have draught excluders at the doors but they're covered in cool fabric to fit the look of the house. We have blankets but again, not just a plain fleece, just really nice things that suit our design. If you get things to co-ordinate and enhance the look of the room it's good..

caseystar

I've been putting the heating on for half an hour, before the children go to bed in an evening. But i don't use it during the day as yet.

SugarSpun

alec_eiffel wrote: »

The house we live in now is very different, it's decorated in a mid century modern style, very sleek, white, uncluttered and clean looking. So again I have the choice to keep the look the same or to adapt for the winter.

I also find that if the room looks warm I feel warmer. Our living room furniture is cool blue and light wood - I'm adding bright red cushions and sofa blankets for the cold weather so people think they're warmer than they are.

mazinmouse

moozie wrote: »

Still off down here

Wrapped up in dressing gown and blanket as I am typing this but that's fine, I like being snuggly.

The only difficult bit is drying clothes. I did three loads over the weekend and they are still no where near dry I am sure they will dry eventually.....

We haven't turned the heating on full time. We did have it on one really chilly evening to check it was working okay but otherwise we will wait until really need it. We put on an extra layer if we get chilly.

Re drying clothes I recently bought a really good electric airer (initial outlay quite costly) but cheap to run - and the added bonus is that it takes the chill off a room quite nicely. Excellent at finishing off clothes that have been on line but not dried fully.

I layer the clothes and they do dry a lot quicker than when just left to hang. (I also keep the trickle vent on the window open when drying indoors)

alec_eiffel

SugarSpun wrote: »

I also find that if the room looks warm I feel warmer. Our living room furniture is cool blue and light wood - I'm adding bright red cushions and sofa blankets for the cold weather so people think they're warmer than they are.

That's what I do, year round we have a red "impossible chair" for a punch of colour but I have some throws and cushions with bits of red in for extra cosiness. We have a Philips LivingColours light too which is great for creating a bit of warmth and atmosphere.

And just to keep things on topic, the heating is off, I have all the windows open to air the place out and am wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

mazinmouse

SugarSpun wrote: »

I also find that if the room looks warm I feel warmer. Our living room furniture is cool blue and light wood - I'm adding bright red cushions and sofa blankets for the cold weather so people think they're warmer than they are.

We have a heavy interlined door curtain which we put up and which makes us feel warmer and which is also v effective. I prefer heavy curtains in the winter months too. I have been looking at getting window quilts but this would be possibly overkill as we've just had our windows replaced so expect to feel the benefit of those too.