make do and mend for tougher times

fuddle

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

I can change the font size on mine, Fuddle - DS2 likes it on the biggest size with white print on a black page. Which is fine but it affects all books you're reading so I have to put it back when I got back to my books, then he puts it back when he reads his book... It's under 'view options' on my phone, when I press the little button that isn't home or back or search... I just asked DS1 and he found that he can change his font size too, but hadn't done it before.

Thank you, i'll have a look

Wooohooo pah pleased you're keeping an eye on us and thank you for letting us know pah is ok ginny.

Well, I have decided (amongst the feelings of can't be A) that I must swap clothes and pantry today. I'm a bit stumped at what to decorate that little bedroom like. I fancied a hotel room feel but have no idea how to recreate it on a budget other than I think I've seen wallpaper in The Range. It's that or a real pinky/white shabby chic feel but DH in't too keen on that suggestion :rotfl:

Hardup_Hester

Do be careful Fuddle, you will not be popular at work if you go to work dressed in packets & tins instead of clothes, lol, sorry I couldn't resist.
Hester

fuddle

Wehey! Boom Boom

We did an experiment yesterday. We kept the heating on low all day to see if it would work out cheaper at a constant as opposed to switching it on twice and getting up to temp from cold. It's a no go. We used £4 in gas yesterday, that equates to £120 per month and no doubt more as it gets colder.

Back to the other plan. i.e. not using it at all through the day and switching on for an hour on the morning and a couple of an evening.

mardatha

Maybe it does work in some kinds of houses fuddle, and not in others. I'm trying to motivate meself to get up and do something. Anything lol. Can't seem to get out of this chair. Inside my head I've already made soup and got dinner all sorted. Pity its just in my head and the dinner is in the freezer eh. Oh and also finished knitting slippers and done a soap order. I feel quite knackered now, all that thinking takes it out of you

[Deleted User]

Morning FUDDLE - We don't use the heating at all and the house gets a bit parky by mid afternoon when we light up the stove. The best way I've found of keeping a bit warmer is to have a couple of thinner layers, i.e T shirt and long sleeved T shirt topped with a Gilet/Body warmer which keeps body core temperature up but leaves your arms free for activities. A warm pair of socks and warm slippers help too, as well as being as active as possible , don't get too cold or your health will suffer! Cheers Lyn xxx.

greenbee

Fuddle - I used to work for an energy company and people used to go through this kind of thing all the time. You'll see lots of stuff on the gas/elec boards here about it too. Often people think it will cost the same but unless you do daily readings it is difficult to tell. Every day is different as the weather is the biggest influence!

As Lyn says, what you wear and do has the biggest impact. I work from home, and need the heating on during the day Mon-fri as i'm sitting still. At he weekends it is usually off except for first thing and early evening.

Pooky

Morning toughies - happy Sunday!

It's gloriously bright and sunny here this morning but brrrrrrrr. I love crisp autumnal days like this and will endeavour to get out for a walk along the cliffs and through the woods at some point. Just the logistics of getting everyone up and at 'em first. DD1 is working this morning, DD2 has a friend sleeping over.....will just finish my tea and go give them all a chivvy along - they've all been tea'd and toasted in bed (well you have to spoil them now and then)

DD2s sleep over guest requested my HM pizza for dinner last night, all her food comes out the freezer section of Iceland normally so I'm more than happy to oblige. Only needed to buy some pepperoni, had everything else in. Did HM spicy wedges too and she stuffed herself silly.

We've still not had our heating on, had two evening fires and lit the calor gas stove in the kitchen to see how quickly it warmed the room up, think we've been lucky with the weather down this way though, only one light frost so far.

Meal plan for the week is drawn up, trying to use up some more freezer stuff so I can get my turkey in. The butcher we use has some nice looking turkey crowns in, we had one last year and it was to die for but we ordered it in November and it was double the cost of the ones currently in his window so I want to fit one in the freezer next weekend.

Had a quick try of the wines we've got brewing, the elderberry and blackberry mix is ruddy lovely and I'd happily drink it now. It will be lovely with Christmas dinner. Need to get bottling this week, I've been begging bottles from everyone as I need 84 just to bottle what we've got ready, there's another 5 demijohns ready to finish next week. My garage looks like a bottle bank and smells rather boozy.

fuddle

We had a look in the garden centre yesterday and saw some small indoor stoves by La Hycienda I think it was, they were from £69 - £169 and ran on ethanol at £6.97 per bottle. We are seriously thinking about it as a way of keeping fuel costs down i.e heating, eating, sitting together, kids getting ready of an evening in, one room. We need to look into it and whether the running costs are worth it but it would fit nicely on the fake electric fireplace. Something to think about. If anyone knows anything about them, i'd really appreciate your knowledge and opinion.



that kind of thing

Pooky

That looks pretty Fuddle, no idea about ethanol but that sounds cheap per bottle, I'm assuming it wouldn't last long.

We went for a calor gas basic heater as it has the most cost effective running rate at around 115 hours running time on low for one 15kg bottle of gas (gas is £35 a bottle and the bottle was £32 deposit if you didn't have a bottle to trade - I got one on eBay for £13 so saved a bit there).

There are some calor gas pot belly style stoves that looked lovely online but were £300+ which I couldn't justify.

As with all inside gas appliances like that, they increase condensation if you're not well ventilated.

Edited - just read on amaz0n that they are more effect than heat and the ethanol gel runs out in around 20 mins.

[Deleted User]

FUDDLE - How much heat would they give out and are there emissions that would need venting, and how long would the bottle of fuel burn for? How long could you run your existing heating for for the £6.97p? We have just bought DD2 (who really suffers in the cold as she has psoriatic arthritis) a double size heated throw for £40 ish which she snuggles round her rather than put the heating on (they have a flat in a victorian building with big rooms and high ceilings, and are in a conservation zone so no double glazing) and that keeps her warm and active but, it is limited to the length of the electric cable - might that be a solution for you during the day and snuggling up en masse on the sofa in the evening. They are very cheap to run just pence for a whole evening. Hope that helps, Cheers Lyn xxx.