Preparing for Winter V

Laura_Elsewhere

One of the things we're trying to do over the next couple of warmer months is to get our top-floor rented flat's windows really overhauled - they are excellent (if elderly) double-glazed units, but the hinges and external seals get cobwebs and old leaf-fragments and so on built up, so we will tackle them one by one, with a good stiff brush just to get all the bits of gunk and grit out before it damages the seals. We want to be able to close them easily and completely, come the colder weather!
We also hope to persuade the management company that do maintenance for the entire block to clear the gutters over the summer too. 

Elisheba

I have bought a pair of ski pants, or salopettes as I always knew them as, in the MW sale for £12.99 plus postage, reduced from £59.99.  They only had big sizes left which would normally be a bit big for me, but over clothes I think this will be ideal for winter.  Last winter I had the heating off as much as possible, and goodness it was cold at times, and with the best of intentions, sleeping bags and hot water bottles only work when you are sitting down.  Hopefully these will help keep me cosy when doing things - they are insulated and apparently good for up to -20 degrees, so fingers crossed. 

Primrose

The ski pants sound a good idea and probably more practical for mobility than a blanket and a hot water bottle.  At £13 you'll probably soon recoup your fuel costs when prices rise in the autumn again. 

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
I just thought I’d check in to report that I’ve half a scarf knitted and a pile of my scruffier T-shirts at the bottom of a drawer ready to go under cardigans and jumpers.
I’m getting used to not using the tumble drier and putting 14 minute quick small loads through rather than washing everything every day. It means I’m drying less in one go and they don’t go musty. We’ve plenty of clothes so as long as OH has a clean work T-shirt everything else can wait. We live in a flat with no window but an electric fan in the bathroom but if I open both flat windows and leave the bathroom door open it dries out quite quickly. I’m working on any electricity I don’t use now will mean we’ve a few more pounds towards winter when we will need to use the fans and heat as well.
We go on hol next month so I’m using a lot of my stocks up to release money for spends and then when we come back I’ll start restocking ready for winter.
OH is on board about just enough heat and a cuddly throw for winter so I’m topping up my knitted blanket collection. In the past he’s been a man who would sit in a T-shirt and the heat on high but with the price of electric he knows we can’t  afford it. 

I still need to keep a look out for a nice warm winter coat and some snuggly boots but have had to put that on hold because I need shorts and t shirts so they will have to come first.
Anyway enough for now
Enjoy the summer 😎

Doveling

Just ordered another pallet of kiln dried logs to take advantage of summer prices.
Woollen throws were washed and dried in the heatwave ready for putting on the sofas in a couple of months 
Looking out for a pair of sheepskin slippers. I like the Celtic Co ones but not the price! Any recommendations?

fionaandphil

We're like you and ordering now to save on prices later. Coal has gone up £5 per bag and he was predicting that the price was just about to rise again, he is very busy.  We've not been able to get the chimney sweep booked in yet though as he has gone off to do a driving job, waiting for his replacement to arrive ... Oil is still scarily expensive right now and I'm keeping a good eye on it in the hope it drops suddenly and I can fill the tank, but I suspect that it may not go down much more and we will have to bite the bullet.  We also washed all blankets, coats etc while we've had the nice weather, great minds think alike!

London_1

I'm just stashing extra tinned goods when ever I go to the shops and see them, I emptied a bookcase in my study upstairs and have started to stash the spare tinned goods in there as my kitchen cupboards are full.

Mainly essential long dated stuff that will help to streetch the budget come the winter as food prices will carry on increasing I think the longer the fuel crisis is around.

Chickpeas
Tinned tomatoes ,
Potatoes 
Beans
corned beef, 
Sardines or Pilchards.
pasta
Rice
Several bags of granulated suger I don't tke sugar in tea ,but its good to whiz up in my blender for caster sugar
apart from anything else it means if we have a hard winter with snow ice etc i can shop from my bookcase
I have topped up my herbs and spices already 

JackieO xx

Tink_04

I did a stock up shop on some long life products that were still reasonably priced.

Tins 
washing powder 
oil
cereal
rice 
pasta 
cleaning products 

hoping we can afford to make it through this winter!

Primrose

London_1 said:

I'm just stashing extra tinned goods when ever I go to the shops and see them, I emptied a bookcase in my study upstairs and have started to stash the spare tinned goods in there as my kitchen cupboards are full.

Mainly essential long dated stuff that will help to streetch the budget come the winter as food prices will carry on increasing I think the longer the fuel crisis is around.

Chickpeas
Tinned tomatoes ,
Potatoes 
Beans
corned beef, 
Sardines or Pilchards.
pasta
Rice
Several bags of granulated suger I don't tke sugar in tea ,but its good to whiz up in my blender for caster sugar
apart from anything else it means if we have a hard winter with snow ice etc i can shop from my bookcase
I have topped up my herbs and spices already 

JackieO xx

Love the idea of shopping from your bookcase when winter weather  makes it inadvisable to venture out!    I think milk may be the one think we,d risk running out of so if you don,t have it delivered, a couple of emergency long Life  cartons might be worth adding to your shelves. (But even these need to have their  Use By dates monitored.)
My life would be very annoying if i didn,t have an emergency  jar of Bovril handy for my toast or a hot buttered crumpet!

A selection of different types of  tinned beans are so useful.  You can make up all kinds  of easy mixed salad mixtures with them and they're great too for bulking out soups and stews. As they,re already processed, they,re low fuel consumers too, which is this  high cost energy environment is an added benefit. And if all else fails you can eat baked beans straight from the tin with a spoon if there,s a total energy blackout! 

Primrose

We have a supply of bulk rice but also have a number of packets of Tilda type 'one minute'  rice.  I know they're  perhaps a price luxury item but given the current hike in cooking fuel prices Im wondering if the there is now less of a price differential between the two rice versions.  Certainly in this ageing household , easy short-cut culinary convenience options are proving a boon.