Preparing for Winter V

Wednesday2000

You just reminded me to wash my slippers.:)

I have stocked up on thermal tops. I didn't realise they were 2 for the price of 1 and so I have over 10 of them now! They will come in handy as I intend to wear them during the day and also under my pyjamas when it gets really cold. I bought a thermometer and my living room has been about 18-19 so not too bad at the moment.

I am going to go to the charity shops to look for some scarves too.

My husband noticed that our back gate has been falling down more and more since we moved here and so that will need to be fixed soon. Our usual guy is injured at the moment so we might see if we can find somebody more local to us around here to fix it.

London_1

I have a card on my mantlepiece in the sitting room, and today the  temperature has only just dropped from 27c to 24c since July, I get sun for most of the day and I have my walls insulated and live in a mid-terrace house.

I am hoping no heat needed until mid October maybe .Living in the south eatern area of the country it is fairly warm and sheltered where I live as well.

I just had my months duel fuel bill in and it was under £40 which I am quite happy about as I a pretty frugal when it comes to electricity, and use it only when needed

I cook with electric ,but use my Remoska and microwave mainly I recently bought an air fryer so that will help even more come the winter. I use my slow cooker quite a bit as well and my DD got me a 1 litre kettle so I only use enough for a cuppa at a time Or if I fill it up I use the residue in a flask for later.I try to be as zero waste as I can

JackieO xx

MrsCD

Yesterday I worked out our annual income and discovered we're 81p per week below the minimum standard income, but we're not entitled to any benefits. Our energy costs 19.8% of our income so we are in fuel poverty. However, we feel we're doing ok, we don't go without anything we need, don't feel deprived, and are prepping for the cold weather as much as we can. I've built up a decent cushion in the electricity account so it won't be so bad when we have to put the heating on...economy 7 storage heaters downstairs and plug ins upstairs. I think I must be doing something wrong!

sammy_kaye18

Afternoon all
I have been away from the boards for a little bit but I am back now. 
I have been focusing on decluttering the house a little and making sure I have things in place for the winter. 

I stocked up on 100 tea lights the other day and have found out an old protein powder tub of my sons to keep them in so they have a designated place now rather than being just in the cupboard. Also aware husband has candle making equipment in the cupboard under the stairs so going to did that out and see if I can make some multiple wick candles for the eveings to give off a bit of extra heat in the living room. 

I brought a lamp that is USB chargable but it holds its charge for a really long time. It also can be unplugged then and moved as needed. It has a poseable neck too so I can still craft with it and it has 3 light settings so I am happy with that. Now hoping to get two more so I can put one into each of the kids rooms so that will have a light source if power cuts come etc. 

Making sure all rechargable batteries are charged and ready as well. 
Looking into small solar packs to help us keep things like phones charged. 

Making a start on a car kit for husband since he works away a lot. 
Food box for christmas has been started - literally a box of stuffing but I will add to it and keep going. 

Found out curtains and netting wire so I can hang curtains in the doorways where there are no door to sandwich heat into rooms. 

Daughters clearout of her room yesterday found us two additional HWB with covers and she got rid of a load of onesies and fleece tops that no longer fit her so I have kept them aside to try and turn into lap blankets or at most jumpers for the dogs. 

Also kept some of her leggings because they fit just perfectly on my forearms so Im thinking if I sew a seam for the top of the arm I can use them as sleeves for when I am out in the garden or walking the dog and I just want minimal cover to keep the chill off. Also will work when Im working on the computer as well and I dont want a big jumper on. 

Found out an old duvet too that was in a bag in the attic - Im not sure why but Im trying to decide whether to make a sleep sack for the dogs to keep them warm over winter - or whether to cut it into smaller strips, roll up and turn into draught excluders for the main doors. 

Latest thing is making a list of medicines for the house since I want to make sure I have all winter ailments covered if possible. Also rehomed a treadmill the other day too to try and help lose weight so Im a bit healthier and therefore not as prone to colds etc when they arrive. 

Garden is still producing, and I have found some more tubs to start some winter growing so I plan to put a few things in soon to try and help us over winter - potatoes, carrots, brassics etc. glut of cucumbers are stored in the freezer and cupboards now and the plants are still producing, as well as my last few courgettes I suspect. Strawberry runners are all over the place so that no doubt will do well next year. Blackberries in freezer after some successful picking with the kiddiwinks. 

Also broke down an old parasol to use the metal poles as reinforcement bits for the greenhouse so I will focus on that soon as well. The cover has taken a hammering but the frame seems to be doing well - Im just trying to be prepared for the welsh weather that usually turns up at the end/beginning of the year! 

wort

@MrsCD how do you work out minimum standard income ? I earn £1000  a month so 12000 a year . I am a single adult household with no mortgage. I didn’t realize this was a thing? I get no benefits . But don’t think I would get them anyway. I am 8 years from retiring.

Van_Girl

wort said:

@MrsCD how do you work out minimum standard income ? I earn £1000  a month so 12000 a year . I am a single adult household with no mortgage. I didn’t realize this was a thing? I get no benefits . But don’t think I would get them anyway. I am 8 years from retiring.

Minimum Income Calculator

MrsCD

I just googled and found a calculator on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website, but I'm sure there are many out there!

Makingabobor2

First time on this thread, and seems to be very informative and interesting. 
 Do any of you have much experience of that polythene type stuff that you use to insulate windows?  We put some on last year, on the glass panels of the front door into the porch.  Over the summer, the sun has mad it go a bit crinkley.  Do you know if it can be re-heated with the hairdryer to make it taut again?  Or will we have to buy some more?  Or does it still work ok even if its not taut?    TIA

Si_Clist

MrsCD said:

... we are in fuel poverty. However, we feel we're doing ok ...

Same here: officially in relative poverty and in fuel poverty but we consider ourselves to be very well off compared to some.  Wasn't it in George Orwell's "Road to Wigan Pier" that he asks a miner how long he's been poor and the miner says something to the effect of "since you told us we are".

I saw a few months back where "Money Which" did a thing about the amount that a couple needed each year in order to have what they considered to be a minimum acceptable standard of living in retirement.  Can't remember what the number was, but it was just over twice what we live quite happily on. 

Obviously our expectations are far too modest and our sense of entitlement far too low ,,,

London_1

Si_Clist said:

MrsCD said:

... we are in fuel poverty. However, we feel we're doing ok ...

Same here: officially in relative poverty and in fuel poverty but we consider ourselves to be very well off compared to some.  Wasn't it in George Orwell's "Road to Wigan Pier" that he asks a miner how long he's been poor and the miner says something to the effect of "since you told us we are".

I saw a few months back where "Money Which" did a thing about the amount that a couple needed each year in order to have what they considered to be a minimum acceptable standard of living in retirement.  Can't remember what the number was, but it was just over twice what we live quite happily on. 

Obviously our expectations are far too modest and our sense of entitlement far too low ,,,

But you are happy which is the best thing to be. I am happy that I have a roof over my head which is watertight ,food in the cupboard to eat when I wish to, and a smashing family around me who love and care for my welfare, but also let me have my independance.I have many friends and lots of interests and am never bored. I want for nothing ,and am very happy with my lot.

I have never bothered doing the lottery as to me no amount of money would change my life that much. I have enough for my needs ,and my needs are very few. I never worry about anything I've had cancer twice and luckily survived, and been widowed once, all the bad things in life that could happen have already happened so I have nothing that stresses me out at all.I am a very lucky person, in fact to be at ease with yourself and your life is worth its weight in gold I find

JackieO xx