Preparing for winter III

tugrin

Hi readyfor change - welcome to the best party in town! I have noticed a few other new names I think and would like to welcome you too. Its great here - someone ALWAYS has a suggestion and its like being part of a real community like wot they 'ad in the old days - (Im a lonely old soul:()
I always thought I was a practical person but I had absolutely NO IDEA of how to really prepare the house and car let alone be ready for the powercuts and being snowed in. This board is a lifesaver and support to me and all the others here so double welcome!!!:beer:

Rainy-Days

Cheapskate wrote: »

Bet we all ache tomorrow, though.

Yes, I bet we flipping well will . I ached for days after doing the shed and all the other bits and bobs in August, my shoulder was terrible for a few days. Stiil armed with the paintbrush this afternoon, I painted the hanging basket brackets, the bolt on the shed door, the metal bird stands and the dispensers and some fat ball hangers as well. It all looks so really good and I am very pleased.

DH cut the lawns and he has took the mower blade off because it needs sharpening so I am going to find someone locally who can do that. I shall probably have to have a good cut back next week in the garden but our garden waste bin is bang full so I shall get that done when it gets emptied next. Everywhere is very dry here, almost dust bowl like - it is pretty bad we need rain desperately. It seems to be banking over the wrong places who no longer need it!!!

Noted the weather warning for it turning colder third week of October - thank you. I shall have to get a wriggle on and get the final stock ups done either during the week to come or by the latest next week!!

Uniscots97

readyforchange wrote: »

Great topic. I have some Poundstretcher hot water bottles from last year and they do the job. Stocking up on powdered milk & have supplies of baking stuff to make my own bread. I find these are the two staples I most run out of in winter. Have a stock of porridge oats, tinned meats, beans, toilet roll etc too. I really wish I'd have gotten the chance to grow my own stuff this year but have been ill most of 2011.

A couple of years ago a horrible landlord left me & the baby without central heating for two weeks. This was over Xmas during heavy snow. Luckily I had quite a few packs of tealights (good old Poundland again). You'd be surprised how much heat they can give out (always be vigilant with them though).

I managed to buy heavy dressing gowns early in the year for just a few pounds in te charity shops and am stocking up on socks (Poundland again, we should buy shares ).

This year is going to be particularly bad as our household has just been hit with a £36pw pay cut.

Hugs to you for the pay cut. Can you supplement this with clicks/surveys and also look at how you can cut back? How old is your little one? I remember in the early eighties for us when money was tight, all the lights would be turned off and we'd be in one room reading or playing board games (and usually eating jam sanchwiches), although I realise now this was money saving at the time I just thought it was great fun!

[Deleted User]

kittie wrote: »

oct 24 ish, far N to NE wintery blast due. No change re sea surge, all bets are still on. S mild and dry

arghh, I was writing in a hurry. Sorry not n to nw. The area is N to NE and down the east side to approx newcastle. It may change but I`ll post

[Deleted User]

moo uht is great, tastes good but is 99p a litre. It is the one we get all the time now

MaxSusie

Hi I'm a new one on here too although I have been reading all of your lovely supportive posts for about 4 months now. Thank you for all the advice & inspiration that you have all shared.

Both DH & I lost our jobs in late May (worked for the same company unfortunately) but with all the prepping & general advice on this particular thread I feel that we are at least well prepared for winter this year. I have crocheted myself, DH, DS1 & DS2 all a lovely warm blanket each, sorted hot water bottles out from the depths of the airing cupboard, stocked the food & non food cupboards up - I'm not in the Poker leagues yet though lol - made sure that we have no obvious draughts around any doors or windows and many of the other things that I have been reading. We had to let our car go so that's one less expense I suppose and the dogs enjoy the extra walks.

I am looking forward to getting to know you all.

rising_from_the_ashes

La-Cara wrote: »

can anyone recommend a good brand of UHT milk? Or any brands I should avoid? I'd like to get some in for the winter stores but no idea where to start!

Al*di do a pretty good one which we use at work - think it's around £6 for a box of 12 (sold individually but we just tend to pick up the box).

Personally, I find the skimmed fine but don't like semi or full versions even though I drink semi in fresh milk.

Not sure what I'm going to do this year as it's the first year since I've been diagnosed as Lactose intolerant .....:(



A huge welcome to Readyforchange and MaxSusie (apologies if I've missed anyone else, memory like a sieve and I read through and forget)


Well, the bad weather:mad: has had one positive outcome ....... drum roll.....

I've finished my knitted shoulder throw:j:j - it's huge (goes from my neck to below waist width wise and way down past my wrists) so hoping it'll do the trick (it's been in use this afternoon as it's pretty chilly here!).

Not sure what to knit next - I've got the bug!

I've got odd balls of wool in the loft etc so thinking it may be squares to put together to make a big throw/blanket for the bed. The only problem with that is the dog sneaks up on there when I go to work and a bit worried about him making "pulls" in it.....

Rainy-Days

Hello MaxSusie and welcome. I am glad that some of our tips and ideas have been of use for you and you have been able to implement some of them.

It's shocking to think that both of you lost your jobs in one go and it does seem almost cruel in allot of ways for that to happen - I hope you both find jobs soon.

If it is of any help to you, allot of what we have all done on here has been making do and mend. Either washing coats and scarves, or doing painting to protect what we already have, or sourcing allot of items from charity shops (CS) to make us and our homes warmer.

There was a list of jobs that you can do on the old closed thread called "Preparing for Winter" not sure if it is linked on this one but allot found it useful, some things you won't need to do such as if you don't have oil central heating or open fires, but other things you may find useful and as a memory jog to do. My cut off for jobs was actually the first week of October i.e. this week coming. There are some odds and bobs still lurking, which will get done but the biggest stuff has been dealt with. There is still plenty of time though to get through things on the list - if you need to - and don't be afraid to ask.

Good luck and welcome again from the lurking shadows

MaxSusie

Thank you Rainy Days & Rising from the Ashes for the lovely welcomes.

It was one hell of a thing for us both to lose our jobs. We worked in the Welfare to Work sector ironically helping people back into employment so at least we have brilliant CV's, great letter writing skills & our interview techniques should be great It was a private company whose contracts came from the government ............ cue lots of cuts & no jobs for loads of people.

I have seen the lists you mentioned and they are fantastic :T We are in a rented house (council) and fortunately have a brilliant combi boiler, double glazing and the rooves, gutterings & soffits have recently been replaced which I'm very thankful for. Makes the rent payments worthwhile. There was lots I hadn't thought of such as a box of candles, matches and torches all of which we had but not in one place and would have ended up in the shed in pitch darkness looking for things :rotfl:

Anything that can be washed has been this week to take advantage of the lovely sunshine which has gone today to be replaced with rain. I still have to find some living room curtains - we have the vertical blinds and when one of the dogs (Labrador, Susie) pulled the curtains off the rail in a fit of puppyish exuberance during the summer I just took the rail down and have left them. It doesn't look brilliant and won't keep the warmth in very well so I am scouring charity shops for some. My Mum has the measurements written down in her purse too just in case she sees anything suitable. I am also on the lookout for a couple of white/cream fleece throws to use to line them with. I can sew fortunately and have a basic sewing machine.

Sorry that this turned into such a long post

Purple_kitten

Hi MaxSusie,

Similar position here, we both lost our roles end of July / no pay off or redundancy.

MSE has become a bit of a way of life, mixing things we need into one drive rather than a few outings. Lots of marked down items from Mr T.

Charitys and boot fairs have been brilliant, but I'm even noticing prices rising there. Careful shopping in 99p and poundlands have also helped.