2014 Frugal Living Challenge

quidsy

The weather isn't cold enough YET for me to justify heating going on but it is cold in the morning for showering so was wondering, would it be more cost effective to use a plug in radiator at the top of the stairs/outside bathroom to generate some warmth in the morning or to switch the heating timer back on but turn off all but the bathroom radiator?

Becky_2

Frugaldom wrote: »

Apples are being wrapped in paper and stored in cardboard boxes and surplus berries frozen for future use. Today is a soup making day to use up courgettes and patty pan squash, this will also get frozen.

Hi Frugaldom,

I am curious, we have loads of apples in our garden. Please explain why it is good to wrap apples in paper.

Thanks

Becky

Becky_2

Flutterby83, hope all goes well with your son and that he has a speedy recovery after his next operation.

cw18 hope you wrist gets back to normal soon.

I also need to do a freezer stock check. Hoping to bake muffins tomorrow. Still not spending much but could spend more time on finding a better current account & savings account. I am currently struggling to find the energy to do everything I want to do (due to working full time) but try to celebrate the small achievements I manage to do.

Good luck to all with your frugal challenge.

Frugaldom

Becky, the apples need to be kept cool and dark without touching one another and I don't have ant apple boxes or damp free storage, so this is the next best thing. I will gradually stew my way through them for freezing, but no space in freezer just yet.

Quidsy, if you have central heating, it is always cheaper to run that than it is to use plug in radiators to heat a room. Do you have a fan heater with thermostat? That could be sufficient for a blast of quick iwarmth.

On the topics of pubs and clubs... sheer luxury, Invite pals to house and tell them to bring their own refreshments. Providing nibbles n snacks much cheaper than paying pub prices. Just take turns at who hosts the weekend social.

Just_be_2

I'm not even contemplating putting the gas central heating on yet- we luckily live in a very well insulated new build and if I remember back to last winter, I think putting the heating on for an hour in the morning and again in the evening we were just (only just) alright, as the heat stayed in. However, I am still keen to improve this further. Somebody mentioned something down the back of radiators? Any other tips like this?

Becky_2

Just_be,

You will find loads of useful information on this thread (preparing for winter) https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4202003

[Deleted User]

I must admit back in late August we did have the heating on for a short time as it was really cold. However September has been much warmer here so not had the heating on at all this month. I have found it a bit cold when I get out of the shower in the mornings but I am getting used to that now.

I do like to have a hot water bottle during the winter an the one I have been using for the past several years is now leaking so I will need to get a new one. Its my birthday in November so I will ask my sis or mum to get me that my gift.

I need to spend time today getting organised. I have so much on just now that I really need to pull back on a few things, so this afternoon I will look at the diary for the next week/month and make those decisions.

Frugaldom

Just_be, many just use tin foil down the back of radiators mounted on external walls. I used cardboard with the tin foil attached shiny side out, makes it easier to slip down the back to help reflect heat that would otherwise be drawn by the cold walls.

Soon be time to look out the winter fleece curtain linings and get them hungup, too. I have already switched to winterweight duvets, have electric blankets on beds and knitted several big blankets. Even the cat got fleece liner for her cardboard house and I crocheted her a little blanket from the leftover scrap wool.

Time for herbal infusions - oils, shampoos, shower gels and bubble baths - if you make these for gifts. I started off my first batch yesterday using lavender, rosemary and sweet gale in 20p supermarket shampoo.

mrsinvisible

Frugaldom, l never thought of doing herbal infusions on bathy things, what a good idea, must try it.
I haven't had the heating on yet, either, one good thing about being 'a certain age' is that l have my own microclimate, and don't feel the cold, and as it is a well insulated and non draughty house l hope l won't need it much this year.
I am still harvesting tomatoes and green beans and peppers, but the courgettes are few and far between now, so loads of healthy salads, (l always have salad leaves growing so tend not to count them) and healthy purse, l hope.
House insurance was renewed last week, it didn't go up even tho l had made a claim this year, surprising eh? but when l did comparisons they all came out higher so l stayed put.

Flutterby83

Thank you Becky 2 for the link to the preparing for winter thread, I had a read through last night and have just finished putting liners in the curtains in my children's rooms (I used curtains gifted to me by my mother to line them so it's cost me a big fat zero in money, just the time to do it!) we all had fleece blankets last year but we used them over the duvets rather than under so I'll be correcting that this afternoon and crocheting blankets for over hope everyone is having a good weekend x