House so cold

teacake1

Hi,
Just looked at temperatures in bedrooms and they are at 10 degrees C, living room is at 12 degrees. My hands are numbingly cold (likewise feet) and my mind is working slow, so apologies if this thread seems a little 'scatty'. Have not had the central heating on this winter as we are oil fired heating / cooking (live rurally and no gas option) and thanks to a crippling pay cut in 2011 (cut of over £500 per month), after all essential bills have been paid for and £25. per week for food/ clothing for two adults, we have just £4.00 per month to save towards replacing oil and coal used. My husband cannot take on other work (leaves at 5.30am back for 7.00pm) and I have tried to obtain work (anything considered) but is proving an uphill struggle. We have cut out of our budget all non essential insurances etc. and taken the car off the road. To scared to turn on heating as concerned about using the oil which cannot be replaced. We are literally at the heat or eat stage. Any ideas on what the recommended minimum room temperature should be? Any ideas on how to keep healthily warm appreciated (already wearing enough to look like a sumo wrestler!). Thanks is advance.

babyblooz

Have a look on the preparing for winter thread. There are lots of ideas on there about tying to keep warm, get rid of draughts etc. without spending money.

Eliza_2

Just to recommend as previously the preparing for winter thread. Not that it's much consolation but there's masses of other people on there in the same boat. I have half an inch of oil left and need to save that for when I have guests in a couple of weeks time then once it's gone it's gone (yes I know I should put by enough each month but other things like food and petrol to get to work are greater priorities) My thermometer says that up to 15 degrees is too cold, up to 21 is just right and above that is too hot. A joke actually, because you can get used to colder temperatures, your body does adjust. It reads 9 at the moment here in the kitchen and that's with a pot of stew simmering on the stove! With enough jumpers etc it's not too bad as long as you don't sit still for too long and aren't ill or overtired. Don't heat bedrooms, (and anyway presumably you only need one), close doors, live in the one room that's got the coal fire in etc etc - all common sense really.

So pop over to the other thread, you'll soon be warm as toast with all the great ideas!

Liz

highrisklowreturn

Go and sit in a public library if possible.

highrisklowreturn

Or spend all day collecting wood and twigs. You can burn this in the evening and it should pick the temperature up 6 or 7 degrees, even with fairly damp wood.

Ben84

If you have or can get an electric blanket, they're very cheap to use (similar to a lightbulb) and stop you being cold overnight when the temperature is usually lowest. I've survived quite a few old houses with no central heating by using one.

lynzpower

I take it you own the house?

Have you spoken to your local council many of whom will have a team who can advise or offer small grants for draughtproofing, help with doing it etc.

I know my local MP is working on a 'heating or eating' and we are collecting food for redistribution. Maybe yours is? If so get in there and grab yourself a little something to help. have you looked to see if there is a charitable food bank in your area who can help you out with a bit of food. I think this is not the coldest this winter will get!

Swipe

Use your heating on the colder days but less so when it's mild, there's no point freezing. It's due to go mild again from Wednesday. 10C is fine for bedrooms (I went to bed at 10C and woke up to 7C this morning and I wasn't cold at all) just make sure your living room is warm.

barneygumble

Does anyone have any experience of Thermo Quartz heaters?

I've been looking at getting one of the following for the garage as it's absolutely freezing

http://www.equiplogistics.com/store/rhino-tq3-infra-red-heater-230v.html

Anyone used one?

Absinthe_2

Think lighting a candle is supposed to help. There is a noticable difference in room temperature after lighting one. I turned my thermostat down to 15 c, and walk about wearing woolies, after seeing what my gas consumption was. Was at 30 c most of the winter. :D

smcqis

Swipe wrote: »

Use your heating on the colder days but less so when it's mild, there's no point freezing. It's due to go mild again from Wednesday. 10C is fine for bedrooms (I went to bed at 10C and woke up to 7C this morning and I wasn't cold at all) just make sure your living room is warm.

7 degrees not cold?! I sometimes wake up to 12 degrees and find it cold