Preparing for winter IV

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Right better prep my freezers then..

also better our 4x4 taxed and on the road... as we will need that to go and feed the pigs...

Confuzzled

mardatha wrote: »

"The northern half is likely to experience the worst conditions."......Oh us again lol. I sort of think they said this last year and the year before that...no? Either way I've finished my first pair of socks and am starting the next pair today lol. With coal, porridge, and woolly socks I can survive anything!!

i agree mardatha, whilst i appreciate the heads up weather related articles some of these hmm how do i put it politely... headline grabbing sensationalist type newspapers really take the cake and i do take them with a grain of salt, especially when they use terms like northern half and southern half, half of what, the UK? the world? wow if they are vague enough they can always claim they were right!

but also i have no faith in this james madden guy at all. it's scaremongering at this point but if it gets people off their bums and gets them to try to take measures to make their homes snugger and keep a supply of extra food in at least that's good

to the posters of the weather related stories please don't take this as a personal jab, i still read the stories, i like to take a look at everything coming in, it's easier to form a wider picture when you check it all out and the posts are appreciated, thank you!


the fact we aren't hearing these stories from the broadsheets yet makes me think we're probably ok for the moment, when those start coming in thick and fast that's when i start to worry but that's just my opinion

mardatha

They canny get the weather right for tomorrow nevermind the winter!
lol

Rummer

I need to be extra prepared this year as I am due my second baby in January so I do not want to be caught off guard. we are reasonably well prepped due to years of following this thread so it is just food stocking and medicines that I really need to get organised. That and new slippers for us all.

It is the day to day practicalities that concern me like getting out and about and more importantly making it to the hospital for my multiple appointments (and labour :eek:) when the hospital is miles away.

What is also a bit of a worry is that in an area local to us they have had multiple power cuts so far and I am reluctant to fill up the freezer if the power is going to keep going on and off. I will also need to think of alternative food options and ways to keep warm.

mineallmine

R - dig out or buy some flasks to fill with hot water to make hot drinks at least. If you don't have a power cut you can just use them during the day anyway. Some people have resorted to using their charcoal or gas bbqs or a camping stove to cook food outside!

the_frugal_frog

I am so much more prepared this year than last!!!!

I have charity shop eiderdowns on the bed, very vintage looking

candles lamps and matches

snow boots and a decent warm winter jacket

hat scarf and gloves, warm slippers and the house is carpeted, it wasn't last year and it was FREEZING on the concrete floor.

I have a decent store of foods enough for about a month and I have means of simple cooking / heating water incase we get the powercuts again. oooh and I have water bottles
and a flask.

I feel really proud. this time last year I had been made redundant, signed on jsa for the first time in my life aged 30 and spent my life savings ( which wasn't a huge amount) on trying to survive and keep my head above water.

last winter was cold and miserable. This year I feel much more prepared.

I am still living alone and skint but I am not dreading seeing snow as much as I was last year !!

SunshineFace

This is my first year of following this thread and I am so pleased I have come across it! I am a single mum to an almost 2yr old and a dog and quite honestly it can be quite overwhelming trying to organise everything. This thread has really helped me to create a sense of structure in my preparations. I'm definitely not as prepared as most of you on here but today I went to £land and stocked up my medicine cabinet and bought batteries... I already feel more in control. I've treated our winter boots with water proofing/protective spray. DD has a winter coat and knits and I'm saving for a coat and will pay a visit to primarni for winter knits. I've pretty much sorted out the garden, just need to plant my winter pansies (they've been sat outside in their tray for over a week.... oops) and my daffodil bulbs. I really need to get a curtain for the front and back doors as you can see the outside world via cracks around them! I'm not sure how to do this cheaply... I have a very low budget! I also need to line my curtains with thermal lining or similar. Any tips on how to do this cheaply or is it just a cost I'll have to bare?

flubberyzing

Bought myself a new pair of slippers last weekend. The style that come up your ankles, with a sturdy, solid sole. They are very structured, so should last a good long time. My feet feel toasty warm in them!

I think they were £17 from M&S. More than I'd usually pay for slippers, but I had a £25 birthday gift card to spend.

kitschy

Hi everyone

After the last few years I've been trying to do a bit of prep all year. I have a lovely pair of moon boots in new condition from the CS, plenty of blankies and the car has four new tyres on, and just had it's winter once-over. Bought one of those collapsible crates from L!dl to keep blankie, water, de-icer, chocolate, torch and shovel in the boot. House is well insulated and I am a hot person so rarely use the heating. I have almost finished a patchwork quilt for my bed, which I'm super pleased about. No need for any clothes as an audit of the winter clothes showed only a couple of things needed darning/mending so that was a big relief.

Defrosted the freezer today and figure I have about 35 days of food in there. Still have washing powder (8 years worth at current usage!) and some toiletries left from the tesco DTD thing a few years ago. Want to get another ten bags of dried pasta in and am buying an extra 6 tins of cat food each week to put away.

I'm in the SE, so I know I have it relatively easy, and I'm in awe of you guys in colder climes! A few years ago I was pretty much b*ggered by that freak snowfall and this thread has made me a new girl! Bring it on!

I'm also prepping for attempting "The Compact" next year - really excited about doing it!

Thanks for all the ideas

Uniscots97

SunshineFace wrote: »

This is my first year of following this thread and I am so pleased I have come across it! I am a single mum to an almost 2yr old and a dog and quite honestly it can be quite overwhelming trying to organise everything. This thread has really helped me to create a sense of structure in my preparations. I'm definitely not as prepared as most of you on here but today I went to £land and stocked up my medicine cabinet and bought batteries... I already feel more in control. I've treated our winter boots with water proofing/protective spray. DD has a winter coat and knits and I'm saving for a coat and will pay a visit to primarni for winter knits. I've pretty much sorted out the garden, just need to plant my winter pansies (they've been sat outside in their tray for over a week.... oops) and my daffodil bulbs. I really need to get a curtain for the front and back doors as you can see the outside world via cracks around them! I'm not sure how to do this cheaply... I have a very low budget! I also need to line my curtains with thermal lining or similar. Any tips on how to do this cheaply or is it just a cost I'll have to bare?

Sunshineface, it doesn't need to be expensive. The foil type lining can be bought cheaply or try your local charity shop as they usually have some great heavy curtains (as well as nice warm jumpers/knits including for your little one).
Also try freecycle where you are for kids clothes as sometimes people will want to get rid of clothes their kids have grown out of.