We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Preparing for Winter V
Options
Comments
-
It's all fun and games with animals nannyg! Wouldn't have life without them though.5
-
One of our dogs was just allowed to stray at night from a previous owner (who had numerous cats and dogs that were just turfed out now and then). Kept being found terrified under cars and in peoples porches in the middle of the night in the cold. The neighbours brought him back only to be told the owner didn't want him. He was neutered but not vaccinated. How some people are allowed to keep animals is beyond me.
He's living happily ever after now though - we took him in as an emergency thing for the night while we looked for a shelter - that was a year ago and he's still here!Anyhoo, heating has come on twice so far today, rather than just for 15 mins at 5am. Boo! On the plus side, it's sunny (if cold) so the washing can get hung out.Electric and Gas supplier (Pure Planet) have gone bust this week so looking forward to my lovely cheap fix until Sept 22 coming to an end any day now
10 -
Heating hasn't clicked in at all here as yet, and we're still using a sheet on the bed rather than the duvet. It's definitely getting cooler though, as my cooking has changed and I made a huge vat of soup yesterday and keep on thinking about making a fruit crumble. The other indicator of cooler weather is how long the washing takes to dry on the airers, it's now three days, rather than a day and a half. We've started pushing doors too of an evening now to stop any drafts, and the door to the spare room (which has the loft hatch) has been closed for now.Grocery budget in 2023 £2279.18/£2700Grocery budget in 2022 £2304.76/£2400Grocery budget in 2021 £2107.86/£2200Grocery budget in 2020 £2193.02/£2160Saving for Christmas 2023 #15 £ 90/ £3658
-
Boiler had its annual service this morning, so that's another thing ticked off the list. It's definitely Autumn now in this neck of the woods (Sussex). Time to get the allotment put to bed for the winter ...
We're all doomed10 -
Blimey, just a sheet? I've put the winter duvet on and I'm using the electric blanket!! Last two days I've also lit the fire. But heating is still off.
I'm with Pure Planet as well and I've got a big credit. They are also due to take a DD at the end of the month. I might cancel the DD as I'm in surplus because I would have to do a new DD mandate for the SOLR, they can't just take on the old DD. I've submitted a meter reading - did that before the announcement just in case because I wasn't sure if it would be possible in the aftermath. But I might submit another one tomorrow so that as much as possible is charged at the old rate. It looks as if the switch for the companies that failed recently happened within a week.
The energy board on MSE has been very helpful. It is almost impossible to find out what the new unit rates will be from what's in the press and Ofgem's website is hard to navigate. But someone on there clarified it for me. The standing charge is capped at 25p per day per fuel and the unit rates are capped at 21p per kWh electricity and 4p for gas - to the nearest penny ie it could be up to 21.49/4.49. The companies can tweak the mix between standing charge and unit rate as long as it doesn't exceed the total cap But if they charge a bit less on the standing charge and a bit more on the unit rates, then if you use more than the 'typical' amount they would make a tad more money.
I've worked out our usage and how much it will cost us. I'm ok with that because PP charged more in the winter and less in the summer so we were already in the expensive months. Going onto a new tariff now where they spread it evenly over the year will cushion the hit a little, we just won't get the reduction in DD over the summer months. In fact, if it had to happen, it's better at this time of year. Unless they try and put up the DD to reflect winter usage as if it is constant over the year - which they will, but I have good records and know how much we use over the yearIt doesn't matter if you are a glass half full or half empty sort of person. Keep it topped up! Cheers!12 -
@Toonie you are obviously in a warm part of the country, we've had the warm underblanket on for a few weeks now and duvet plus throw on the bed. Its been really cold in the mornings here so heating is on for 30 minutes to encourage us all out of bed, and at night we've got the fire on to heat the house, We are on oil and the price has gone up about 25 pence per litre since August so trying to keep it off as much as possible. Son went to school this morning with his gloves on7
-
I have to say that where I am, which is sort of West Midlands, its been quite mild all things considered. I've been able to have the heating off without feeling uncomfortable (maybe with a rug on my lap in the evenings). I put the eiderdown on my bed and had to take it off again as I ended up too hot! Although its far too cold for just a sheet, I do have to admitLive the good life where you have been planted.
Fashion on the Ration Challenge 2022 - 15 carried over. Fashion on the Ration Challenge 2023 - 6 carried over. Fashion on the Ration Challenge 2024 - oops! My Frugal, Thrifty Moneysaving Diary9 -
It's turned icy here so got my winter Teddy bear coat out I bought in the summer second hand for a few pound , its too big now I've lost a couple of stone , im not complaining though!
Actually my daughters coats I bought during summer too for less than 2 pound.
Nice to see animal supporters here x7 -
I have an electric blanket and thick winter duvet on my bed and they have been on for the last few weeks!!! But I haven't had the ch on yet. I did put it on for an hour the other day to make sure it's OK as I'm still saving up to get it serviced and it worked fine.
The winter curtains are all up and drawn every night to keep any heat in and door sausages are in use. The blankets for cuddling in have been put in a basket (all clean and smelling nice) in the front room and thicker fleeces put on the settees to make them warmer.
So I'm getting there, I've checked the medicine box, gloves, hats, scarves, boots etc as well and the only thing I'm missing is a waterproof jacket/kagoule, I have a shower proof jacket but I could do with something better. The freezer has three full shelves of home grown veg and fruit and the store cupboard is about fully stocked (there's only me) including toiletries so just a few treats for Xmas to get. I'm nearly there ....
Nannyg£1 a day 2025: £90.00/365 Xmas fund13
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.6K Spending & Discounts
- 244.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177K Life & Family
- 257.4K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards