Preparing for Winter V

fionaandphil

It was a cold morning here too, windows covered in condensation so used window vac. It was dry so I put the washing out, didn't completely dry but now hanging up inside to finish off. Very cold tonight though so we lit the fire to warm up the room. Door curtain went up last week to help keep the chill out. Winter is coming!

TracyS66

Hello all, i think this might be my 1st post!! We are in the middle of moving from Berkshire to Devon and taking my 93 year old father in law with my hubby and I, the house we have bought has a good epc rating, so we are hoping it won't be as cold as our current home.
Our current home is open plan and has cost a fortune to heat, the new house has doors to each room so that will help with keeping FIL warm.
Also treated myself to a heated blanket for the new house, even though neither of us really feel the cold.
I love reading all the posts and find some tips and ideas to help keep bills down.

helensbiggestfan

Yes, it's getting decidely autumnal now.  I have to confess I have succumbed a couple of times and had the heating on for a quick blast.  I moved this year, my new home has a "B" energy rating. My last one was an F - definitely a smart move. 😁.  This house is much cosier.  

Jellytotts

It was 12 degrees in our house this morning so we used it as the ideal time to check the heating was working and bleed the radiators. 

Positioning of the house means we don’t get a lot of direct light during the winter so it chills down very quickly.  Will start lighting an evening fire now just to keep the overnight temperature a bit more steady.

We had a new boiler fitted at the end of spring so I’m waiting to see what sort of cost advantage that gives us this winter.  Old one was 32 years old and oil fed, this new one is gas so much more efficient, we’ve had one of the showers removed and a bath put in too so more water heating to take into account.

Cheapskate

Thanks for the welcome back, lovely to see some familiar names still here, and thanks for the Olio and Too Good To Go reminders, not tried them for ages as it was slim pickings around here, but friends say they're better now.

Getting towards the end of a divorce and finances will be very tight (can't remember if I said that), so returning to better habits now!  The teens seem to be mostly on board, which is good, this weekend will be going through the finances with a fine toothed comb to see where's easiest to prune - thanks for so much free advice here, really missed MSE! 

A xo

fionaandphil

Welcome back Cheapskate and good luck for the future, always nice to have a good supportive MSE community 

Cheapskate

Random question as things have changed since I was here regularly:

how do I change my signature, or isn't it possible now?

fionaandphil

Click on your avatar and account settings and it shows up there under signature settings 

Cheapskate

Fab, thanks @fionaandphil !  

Fruball

Cheapskate said:

Thanks for the welcome back, lovely to see some familiar names still here, and thanks for the Olio and Too Good To Go reminders, not tried them for ages as it was slim pickings around here, but friends say they're better now.

Getting towards the end of a divorce and finances will be very tight (can't remember if I said that), so returning to better habits now!  The teens seem to be mostly on board, which is good, this weekend will be going through the finances with a fine toothed comb to see where's easiest to prune - thanks for so much free advice here, really missed MSE! 

A xo

Hi Cheapskate
I am a recent returner too and I remember you from before.  I hope life is treating you well.
This board used to be super busy so I hope it gains popularity again!]

I've made lentil soup in the PKP (Pressure King Pro) and it's delicious!  I love soup for breakfast in autumn/winter and this batch will keep me going for this week for either breakfast or lunches.

I have no central heating this year as there is an issue with the system that I can't afford to fix until March (very helpful!) so the soup may help keep me warm too! 

I have half price electricity through British Gas on Sundays 11am-4pm so I am batch cooking with the PKP, baking potatoes and anything else in the oven, doing laundry etc on Sundays now!  

I have also bought myself some real wool legwarmers and those are so cosy!  £23 from A.mazon but worth every penny.  I will get myself some cheap ones from Pirmark for when these are washed and see how they compare. I also have a real Oodie from a deal I saw on here a few years ago.  I've never been able to wear it as I got too hot but I suspect that will get some outings this year!  I have a couple of cheap ones from Pirmark too and they are very snug. 

I have bubble wrap on a cold outside window and the kitchen door which is single glazed.  It does make a huge difference.  I suspect I will do a few more windows.  

I have real wool from packaging in deliveries.  Anybody got any great ideas on how to use those please? 

Love to all xx