Need to save money!

Mazzawa

Hey everyone!

New to the board, having migrated from the house buying board. The house we have bought is big and old and is going to bleed us dry of money to repair it, never mind the running costs! The house has no attic so cannot put in insulation without ripping the roof off so we need other ways to save money where we can. Property has an old boiler, cooker only Rayburn, three working open fireplaces and sanded floorboards - place just leaks heat!

Can you lovely people make some wise suggestions as to how we can save money on the cheap? Don't fancy a winter like last year and the associated bills!

Thanks in advance

hermanmunster_3

how about an ordinary cooker? At least for a period of time - or just the summer? rayburns are lovely but if it is cooker only it will not be adding to the heating in the kitchen and costing quite a bit to run

rachbc

Thick curtains ith thermal linings or fleece blankets. Draught proof as much as you can - doors, window, letter box, key holes, curtains at doors, get carpets down if poss, buy coal/ logs now at summer discounts and collect wood where you can. Consider stoves rather than open fires as the are more efficient. Make replacing your boiler a priority as this could save you loads

lushplus4

Off the top of my head you could try, thick lined curtains, lots of rugs on your floors, go around the whole house with silicone and fill all those gaps where the slightest draft can get in.

Big thick curtain across the front and back door and those sticky foam draft excluders around the doors and windows.

If your feeling handy perhaps you could make one of those long sausage things to go along the bottom of the door.

Also have a look at the warm front grants, if your heating system is old you could qualify for a replacement, its worth a look, as I got mine replace for nothing and my loft and walls insulated.

Good luck

elegant_elephant

rachbc wrote: »

Thick curtains ith thermal linings or fleece blankets. Draught proof as much as you can - doors, window, letter box, key holes, curtains at doors, get carpets down if poss, buy coal/ logs now at summer discounts and collect wood where you can. Consider stoves rather than open fires as the are more efficient. Make replacing your boiler a priority as this could save you loads

Do you know roughly how much cheaper coal is during the summer months? Is it worth stockpiling bags of the stuff?

lostinrates

re insulation (and from a previous migrant from housebuying boards to big, old wreck!)...

if there is no loft insulation because its used space then what about insulating floor below that, to at least keep the rooms below warmer? (and to sound insulate?)

In winter, if you can get one of those rooms warm and live in it through much of the time it will be more comfortable and cheaper than trying to use all the fireplaces all of the time I think. (I like a cold house and my mind has blocked out some of the horrow of last winter and we have no heating bar a dodgy woodburner atm and getting worried about this winter!..our old boiler gasped its last coping with last year and is irreparable!) When its really cold worth keeping something going all the time ..even if its the cooker-only rayburn for the sake of pipe work.

Buy fuel asap for cheapest prices and use it well, but be a little parsimonious.

BUT, if you are like us apart from when you are really cold the money should be going on improvement and future warmth and long term not short term stuff.

keeping the house dry and well aired is really important (getting mould is worse than getting cold). WARM pjs and house clothes. That layer. Socks...that layer. A couple of semi- glam clothes that are warm for when people come. That fit over pjs and layered socks.


Layers of clothes, electric blanket on bed and a sofa...lots of throws and cheap duvets, eating well for health and warmth (soups/stews)....and a huge sense of humour.

tesuhoha

I would advise if you can afford it putting in a high efficiency gas fire into at least one of the fireplaces. We have one in our living room and even on the coldest day on the lowest setting we have to turn it off after an hour or so. Sometimes we don't have the heating on but just have the fire on a mild winter day and shut the door. Our house is old and we were in a similar position. My husband changed the boiler and modified the central heating system. Also he used stuffed insulation material into draughty places and taped up others.

Mazzawa

Wow what a response!!! Thanks everyone so far! Excellent suggestions, especially like the insulating between the floors as I had never thought of doing that before (doh!). Keep 'em coming!!!

Lexxi

You don't mention if you have double glazing but I would assume not, you can get clear plastic sheeting from wickes that sticks around the window then you blast it with the hair dryer to form a second sheet, it's like double glazing but cheaper and I really felt the difference. I've been told bubble wrap works just as well but then you can't see out of the windows.
Insulation under the bath panel, keeps the bath water warmer so you don't have to keep topping it up, it's absolutely bitter when you step out though!
Our pound shop had square carpet that had glue on one side, I stuck these on the floor tiles just to stop the cold coming through.
Sealing any and all gaps between floorboards, walls, windows and doors

rachbc

elegant_elephant wrote: »

Do you know roughly how much cheaper coal is during the summer months? Is it worth stockpiling bags of the stuff?

My supplier offered 10%off last years prices - which is probably pretty good compared to what next years prices will be!

MrsRogers

Pop over to the 'Preparing For Winter 2011' loads of fantastic ideas and people say where and when they have found bargains eg flannelette sheets :j