Need to save money!

lostinrates

Lexxi wrote: »

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!

I've never thought of insulating the bath!

Bath just before bed is my tip for the bitter nights. You get a clear couple of minutes where you still have afterglow of heat from bath and till you can get into a heated bed (electric blanket).

lizzyb1812

Along the lines of what lostinrates posted earlier, can you limit your use of rooms to a bare minimum over winter and concentrate on keeping those warm. Which room is easiest/cheapest to keep warm? Could that be used as your living room? My warmest room is my second bedroom and if we have a really hard winter I'm going to take the bed out and put in a couple of chairs and the telly, computer, etc and use it as a living room.

Obviously I don't know your personal circumstances but shutting up any room that doesn't absolutely have to be used will definitely help.

oldtractor

defo bath insulation. it works. thick curtaons they can be lined with cheap fleece blankets. door curtain tape up the letter box. draught excluders. wear a hat anf hand warmers indoors and keep your feet warm. if theres no loft then board up the top of the room,ie make a false ceiling and stuff it with loads of insulation, and all the other good ideas on here too.

The_Thrilla

You should still be able to insulate your roof by attatching insulation board to the inside of your roof, and/or, as Lostinrates says, by insulating your top floor.

Rainy-Days

elegant_elephant wrote: »

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

Our neighbours have bought in over 30 odd sacks of coal last week and they have save £180.00 straight off. It depends on your coal merchant but anywhere from £3-to 6.00 per bag on summer prices is about right. So yes some serious savings and that also includes wood as well

monnagran

Sympathies Mazzawa. I lived in a house very similar to what you are describing for about 30 years, and with very little money. Warming one room to live in is definitely good, also if you can manage it, the kitchen and bathroom. If the bathroom is not too big a heated towel rail might be enough. We watched TV wrapped in old duvets and as we didn't have electric blankets found that a cheap duvet under the bottom sheet in bed, as well as the one (or two) on top, kept us toasty. On the plus side, the whole family was incredibly healthy. My eldest son was 13 before he caught his first cold, and none of the children ever picked up bugs going around at school, or suffered earaches or sore throats. Now they are grown up they are still fairly tough.
Mind you, if you had asked us at the time if we wanted to be healthy or warm, we probably would have opted for coughng and sneezing in comfort!

FrugalFriend

These are all great suggestions. I'd like to add something else. If you've just moved in don't spend a penny on major appliances, major repairs or refurb until AFTER your first winter in the property. Then you'll really know what needs doing. So then you can do those things that are the most cost effective and you know need to be done.

grumpybear_3

I'd add as well as insulating the house, think about insulating yourself - ie warm undies!

My rule of thumb is three layers first and then the heating! A set of long undies, your own clothes and then a fleece on top and a blanket on your legs and then turn up the heating - though if you have enough clothes on its hard to feel cold whatever you're doing - doesn't help getting out of the bath though!!

Lexxi

If any of your jobs include sanding you can use the sawdust mixed with pva glue to fil gaps rather than caulk

Lotus-eater

I would also pick one room to live in and heat that, that's what we do.

If it was me, I would get a stove put in that room you want to be warm and block off the other 2 fireplaces with temp stuff shoved up them.
Open fireplaces are a !!!!!! for losing heat out of and use much more fuel than a stove.