Preparing for winter III

readyforchange

unixgirluk wrote: »

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!

I'm looking into all the clicks and survey options as we speak. Have opened a separate e mail account for those. My boy is five so & he's in bed quite early so it's lights of from 8pm. Am lucky that he loves jam sandwiches too.

MaxSusie

Hi Purple Kitten.

Sorry that you are in the same position as us too. It's hard and feels unfair. I do get a strange sense of satisfaction at seeing how far I can make the pennies and everything else stretch out though. I love Poundland and go in at least once a week. I menu plan and only go grocery shopping fortnightly as another way of not spending anything. We managed on a low salary when the children (now aged 19, 17 & 13) were little so I'm positive we will again.

This board has already been such a huge help and it makes me feel more positive just reading everyones inspiring posts.

readyforchange

MaxSusie wrote: »

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

Just a suggestion. Seeing as you have writing skills have you checked out Fivesquids (or it's American equivalent Fiverr)? If you're good at writing CVs, letters and/or articles there may be a little something to be earned. I wrote two or three pieces for people a couple of weeks ago and made a tenner.

Also if you're good at sewing (which I'm not) some people make stuff to sell on Etsy.

Best of luck to you in these tough times. :beer:

NualaBuala

Hi all :wave:

I've just skimmed through so I've probably missed lots - just wanted to send hugs to those who've had income drops. job losses etc to cope with.

Rising - yay, you finished! :T Would love to see a piccie of it - bet it's gorgeous and cosy! I just saw your post so wasn't in time to answer your question about length. I wouldn't have been any help anyway as I don't know but I would have sent you over to The Knitters Thread to ask there.

I know most people here won't have their heating on yet but thought I'd share a tip I read on the Preparing thread last winter. People found it warmer if they moved their furniture out from the edges of the room towards the middle. I'm not sure if it was warmer because the radiators were able to throw out heat more effectively. I'm going to give it a try this year but am hoping to hold out till November before turning on the heating - will have to see how cold it is, there's only so warm you can feel by layering up and using hot water bottles and throws!

Another suggestion is to stock up on non-caffeinated hot drinks like herbal teas, hot choc, ovaltine etc. I drink a lot of hot drinks to help stay warm and I found if I drank regular tea I was getting way too much caffeine to sleep properly (and combined with the excitement of the snow I had pretty bad insomnia for a while!).

readyforchange

Ooh...almost forgot. Flasks!!! Saves boiling the kettle every 5 mins (I get through a lot of coffee). Also means I can take home made soup and rolls out for lunch too. That saves around £2.50 - £4 on buying from the deli or going to a cafe.

Not sure if this has been mentioned but radiator panels (basically tin foil wrapped around cardboard) to stop heat escaping through the outside walls. I have always done this as did my mum.

MaxSusie

Ready for Change I have just spent 20 minutes checking out the website you recommended. Some useful stuff there and some .... ahem interesting shall I say I'll give it a go though thank you.

I was thinking about Etsy and similar but don't think I'm quick enough with any crafting activities to sell any on. It's worth keeping in mind though if I can think of anything small and cute to make quickly!

I was reading about wrist warmers on here the other day and was wondering are they any good? And does anyone have a link to a crochet pattern. I can knit but find crochet quicker

With moving furniture we always have a sofa under the window in the summer but move it into a different spot when the heating needs to go on. It makes a massive difference.

Angel_Jenny

Need some welly boots - last year I borrowed my Mum's pair to walk to work in the snow but as she is a size smaller than me they were not comfy at all!

Tempted by a pair of Hunters but I'm not sure if they are worth the money. They are pretty though!

kmiller4

Readyforchange and MaxSusie -- Welcome to the boards. I am fairly new myself and everyone has been very nice and helpful.

I was able to leave work a little earlier today than planned so made a large pan of apple crisp (crumble?) in the new stoneware baking dish that my DD sent me. It is a burgandy red and DD had it personalized to read "Kathy's Kickasserole"! (I hope no one is offended-- it is meant to be humourous.)

Quite chilly here today with sporadic rain. Did up some laundry. OH managed to get the flannel sheets and down duvet on the bed as promised. Very cozy last night-- hated to get up at 4:30 am for work, but the extra money will come in handy.

Plan to stock up on instant oatmeal this week. Is this the same as porridge? It's on sale (offer) about 1/2 price and there is a coupon to use and another coupon to add that will double the value of the first coupon. That takes the price from $4 (2.5 quid) down to about $1.33 (about 75p) I'll probably get at least 20 boxes because OH eats it every morning and will not go bad (off) for a long while. I may even get 40 boxes:eek: We so love our oatmeal here:D

abwsco

Angel_Jenny wrote: »

Need some welly boots - last year I borrowed my Mum's pair to walk to work in the snow but as she is a size smaller than me they were not comfy at all!

Tempted by a pair of Hunters but I'm not sure if they are worth the money. They are pretty though!

Personally I don't think they are. I love my muck boots and have these http://www.totallywellies.co.uk/ProductDescription.asp?Product=Purple Muck Boot Tack Wellingtons They keep my feet warm and were fab in the snow although I notice they now do ones with a chunkier sole. They fit well and not "sloppily" like wellies do iykwim.

rising_from_the_ashes

NualaBuala wrote: »

Rising - yay, you finished! :T Would love to see a piccie of it - bet it's gorgeous and cosy! I just saw your post so wasn't in time to answer your question about length. I wouldn't have been any help anyway as I don't know but I would have sent you over to The Knitters Thread to ask there.

I know most people here won't have their heating on yet but thought I'd share a tip I read on the Preparing thread last winter. People found it warmer if they moved their furniture out from the edges of the room towards the middle. I'm not sure if it was warmer because the radiators were able to throw out heat more effectively. I'm going to give it a try this year but am hoping to hold out till November before turning on the heating - will have to see how cold it is, there's only so warm you can feel by layering up and using hot water bottles and throws!

Here goes.... just for you!

Sorry about the dog - he's settled in his evening snoozing place!:D

There's about another foot hanging over the back of the sofa....







Re moving your furniture - I tried this last year (radiator behind sofa) and it does make a difference. I hate having the sofa sitting in the middle of the room (feels like it anyway) but better than all the heat getting trapped.:) HTH