Preparing for Winter V

Primrose

The problem I foresee with gazebos over rotary driers if located in a lawn is that the patch underneath might get rather   bare or yellow if there is no rainfall, even in winter , as we in the drought hit south are already finding.  Also, gazebos can be moved around to prevent this but they need more than one  person, preferably one on each corner.

Primrose

sarahlouise1972 said:

Thank you all, will start stocking up and batch cooking. 

I think batch cooking is a real life saver.  It not only saves fuel but makes life easier when you're busy.  Our favourite is a basic spag bol sauce mixture which can be adapted to a chilli or a basic sort of curry by adding appropriate red kidney beans or some curry type spiices.

MrsCD

If you're stocking up on candles, don't forget matches or a lighter to light them!

Wednesday2000

I just sat down and caught up with this thread. The last time I read it was Dec 2021! Great ideas on here.:)

I have done some winter prep already as we now live in an old house rather than a more modern one.

I have bought a heated blanket and a heated airer. I have a number of thermal long sleeved tops for myself and my husband and have just ordered some thermal leggings and will I wear this combo in bed when it is cold as I find it much warmer than PJ's that ride up my leg at night.

I have also bought a couple of panda bear patterned fleecy blankets for our laps in the living room and I also got a huge, warm scarf from a charity shop that is more like a shawl for cold evenings. I have one hot water bottle here but have ordered a couple of extra ones.

I need to get the chimney swept and I need to stock up on tinned soups and buy some more boxes with lids for batch cooking soup/stews. My fridge is smaller than my old one so I will have to look at how I can better arrange it as I like to make a soup that lasts for at least a few days as lunches. I want to get hot chocolate/Horlicks/herbal tea too.

I did buy three LED candles as my husband gets home late sometimes so if I'm cold I get into bed and listen to music or podcasts and I switch off the lamps and just use the candles instead.

Oh yes, I need to sort out a door curtain, well maybe two, for the front and back doors. I might go out tomorrow and look for a few jumpers. I should have done that today as I stopped by a local charity shop, but it was so warm it didn't even cross my mind! looking at my wardrobes I am okay for coats and definitely okay for boots. I got some fleecy lined boots earlier in the year that I hope will be good in cold weather.

Jolaaled

The information and tips that are so generously shared on the Old Style Money Saving board, are simply invaluable and now, critical for lives and wellbeing.

Why, therefore, does MSE put this board in the 'Leisure and Hobbies' category?!!

I demand an upgrading!!

JinJinBlue

Primrose said:

sarahlouise1972 said:

Thank you all, will start stocking up and batch cooking. 

I think batch cooking is a real life saver.  It not only saves fuel but makes life easier when you're busy.  Our favourite is a basic spag bol sauce mixture which can be adapted to a chilli or a basic sort of curry by adding appropriate red kidney beans or some curry type spiices.

Thanks for the tip. I usually make separate dishes but that makes much more sense. On my shopping list now,  herbs and spice. The ones that I have in my cupboard won't last forever. BTW is anyone  concerned about water shortages. I went into L*dl and Al dees at the weekend and all of the still water had vanished. Plenty of sparkling but no still. I haven't heard anything from Welsh Water  apart from  advice to use water  wisely. Nothing about limiting supplies. 

TheBanker

Hi

I need a door curtain. I noticed last winter that the area around my front door gets a bit cold. Fortunately the old lady who lived here before me had installed a curtain rail over the door. It needs to be about twice the width of a door as I have a window next to the door which also needs covering.

Any ideas on where to find something relatively cheap? I did look in a couple of charity shops last weekend but they didn't have anything - I guess the MSE Old Stylers beat me to it!

SuzeQStan

TheBanker said:

Hi

I need a door curtain. I noticed last winter that the area around my front door gets a bit cold. Fortunately the old lady who lived here before me had installed a curtain rail over the door. It needs to be about twice the width of a door as I have a window next to the door which also needs covering.

Any ideas on where to find something relatively cheap? I did look in a couple of charity shops last weekend but they didn't have anything - I guess the MSE Old Stylers beat me to it!

Did the exact same thing you are after last year - there are bargains to be found in 2nd hand heavy/thermal curtains on a certain ‘online auction site’. We got a huge 8’ by 8’ heavy curtain for £10 plus the same in shipping. It paid for itself many times over last winter as we noted the average temperature in the hallway where it’s located rose by over 2 degrees with the addition of the door/window curtain. 

Primrose

We have a thick old fashioned velour curtain behind our front door which makes a huge difference in temperature in winter.   Also in summer, when the sun is on the front of the house all afternoon and the weather is hot, drawing it across the front door where the sun beats in through the glass helps to keep the temperature down too so a curtain works for all seasons. 

Wednesday2000

I have placed a delivery order and stocked up on tinned soup, tinned beans, herbal tea and Horlicks. I also got some boxes for batch cooking and some paracetamol for the medicine drawer. I looked and I need to get ibuprofen too but I will get that from Superdrug/local pharmacy.

Even though I normally just drink water I got two bottles of fruit squash as when I'm ill with a cold/flu/Covid (!) I fancy something sweet to drink. They will go away in a cupboard until they are needed.

I'm just looking at door curtains on e*ay now. I might bookmark any I like but then keep looking in chazzers in the next couple of months before I buy one.