Preparing for winter IV

amber03

Kitschy can I ask whats "The Compact". Is the details somewhere on this site.x

pinkmami

I'm reluctant to switch on the heating! I have a tank-full of LPG (1400L) which I hope will last until May 2014. I bought onsies for the kids in Primark last weekend and they have fleecy blankets already on their beds. DH is even converting as I told him I'd rather not line the pockets of Avanti gas!

I got a tree chopped down last weekend & waiting for a chap to come over to chop all the wood for us.

I've also been given about 3/4 tonne of bits of wood. I've already lit the fire for 4nights in a row but by 9pm I stop filling the stove.

I've started filling my little store cupboard with curry jars etc. I also need to start sorting my freezers out (I have 3!) so that can be done half term when I'm off.

I live on the side of a mountain side and it if snows, I'll probably get stuck!

bluebag

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?

Some of the girls on here have lined their curtains with cheap fleece blankets, just pinned them to the curtains with safety pins.
I think they had a pack of two for £5.99 in poundstretcher.


Charity shops are great for winter coats as is e-bay if your budget is tight. I got a superb winter coat for £12 including postage from e-bay.

bossymoo

amber03 wrote: »

Kitschy can I ask whats "The Compact". Is the details somewhere on this site.x

Is it that program where you don't buy anything for a year?

kitschy

amber03 wrote: »

Kitschy can I ask whats "The Compact". Is the details somewhere on this site.x

bossymoo wrote: »

Is it that program where you don't buy anything for a year?

Sort of! You commit to buying nothing new apart from a few exceptions. Started as a movement in California some years ago and a few of my favourite bloggers follow it. I am tweaking my very own rules, but my exceptions so far will be groceries (including bare necessity toiletries), underwear, medicine (am asthmatic), veterinary care for my cats and some craft items, although I am going to try crafting almost exclusively from scrap/recycled goods. I plan on blogging my progress, partly to spread the message but mostly to keep myself on check.

I don't know if anyone here is doing it (I have seen a few versions of it, such as people doing no spend days or weeks etc) but from what I have found in my googling it seems to be a mainly American movement.

Frith

Getting there!

Frith wrote: »

Time for a proper list! Green for those things done so far.

1) Double glazing the remaining windows.

2) Mend potholes in the alleyway.

3) Paint the porch.

4) Order 2 tonnes of logs. Delivered today!

5) Mend (stabilise) the neighbour's fence. Discussed with him today.

6) Check stock of candles and matches.

7) Buy a new torch.

8) Antifreeze in the car.

9) Check hats, scarves and gloves situation.

10) Fleece lining on the back of my bedroom curtains.

11) Curtain for little window at the foot of the stairs.

12) New lock to hold porch door shut.

13) Buy new, cheap phone to plug in during power cuts (cordless one doesn't work then).

14) Re pointing of top of chimney.

15) New, fleecy pyjamas for sons (traditionally a Christmas Eve present here).

16) New wellies where needed (NOT willies as the spell checker keeps correcting! Although you never know).

17) New sledge!

mineallmine

Must do this week:

Shopping:
Ariel, dw tablets, dw rinse aid, dw salt, sugar, UHT milk (Lidl), beans, tomatoes, hot dogs, stock cubes, loo roll (HB), soup (Co-op), pasta (w), long life rolls (Iceland)

Other:
collect prescription, drop off hubby's
buy a freezer

:j

Pitsypoolisa

Rummer wrote: »

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.

Hi Rummer. How stressful for you. My DD3 was born in Dec '10 when we had a really bad winter, it was a nightmare. I suffered PGP/SPD and was on crutches so when the snow fell, I was housebound. The kids missed a stupid amount of school, but I just couldn't get them there most days as we live in the side of a hill and the car wasn't going anywhere. Hubs got stuck at work overnight numerous times too. Then our worst nightmare, the handbrake snapped on the car, and silly stressed out DH had not left it in gear so it went crashing down our steep driveway into our garage. Not what you need at 38 weeks pregnant!

In the end, I had to move myself and the kids in with my Mum while work was being done to the house/garage and I was much nearer the hospital. I was actually admitted for monitoring before labour started, which was lucky as the snow was three feet deep that day and she arrived in 45 minutes!

All you can do is try to be as prepared as possible. Lots of food batch cooked and frozen is helpful. As mentioned by many already, a cheap corded phone that doesn't need an electricity supply is an essential for you more than most. Don't be afraid to call in favours, be it getting shopping or someone taking DC1 to school etc, I literally wouldn't have coped without my amazing friends and family. And the main thing use to put yourself first, stay safe and don't try to be Wonder Woman x

mardatha

And don't stress!! Remember that some places ( here lol) get deep snow every winter, and cope. It's just a question of being sensible and taking advice from people who know what they're talking about.

Confuzzled

flubberyzing wrote: »

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.

slipper boots are very warm and keep your ankles warm which is why i buy them, loads of times we sit down and the bottoms of our trousers let cold air in making us cold so slipper boots solve that. having the solid sole is less comfy than a soft one but you are right they will last much longer than the soft soled one, i've been buying and wearing out slipper boots for the last 5 years or so and that's what i've discovered

one thing i will say, as hard as it may be to resist it, don't wash your slippers til near the end of the cold season, they will go all wonky and whilst you can still wear them they will never be as warm or comfortable as they were before, again another lesson learned over the years

i use my old wonky washed ones for cold days outside of the winter period, i currently have 3 pairs in various stages of 'decay' :rotfl: and one brand new pair waiting (i couldn't resist they were £3 brand new in a closing down sale) keep your eye out throughout the year, particularly late spring and summer and you can get slipper boots for around £5 usually

hope they keep you toasty and warm, i know mine do and have helped me resist turning the heat on or up many many many times