Preparing for Winter V

ET22

My curtain pole is up along with lovely velvet curtains. I think they’ve definitely kept some of the cold out at nights 

Nelliegrace

I have had a letter confirming my £100 Winter Fuel Payment. I used the last one towards thermal underwear and extra blankets. I shall have a think about how to use this one wisely. We have budgeted for the energy bills.

The (smart) meters were read today, so I hope there are no nasty surprises. 

I have made a nice table, a week to a line, from 26th October 2025 to 29th March 2026 when we return to British Summer Time. In the cold, dark months all I want to do is curl up under a blanket with a good supply of books. I have set myself a challenge to do some exercise every day, a walk round the park, a swim, a gentle exercise class, or to row or cycle at the gym. There is a winter membership offer at our local school leisure centre. We have short mat bowls at the village hall this afternoon, a social event not a competition. 

YorksLass

I haven't posted much lately on here as my home is as ready as it can be for Winter with heavy lined curtains, tea lights, throws, torches etc.

There's a decent credit balance on my energy account to use as a cushion for the inevitable extra heating needed over the colder months.  I was one of the ones that missed out on the Winter Fuel Payment last winter but this year I'll get £200 (single occupant/low income/under age 80).  As per @Nelliegrace, I'll have a careful and considered think as to how to spend it - a pair of winter boots is on my wish list so some of it may go that way.

Thanks to now being in receipt of Pension Credit, my energy account has also been credited with £150 under the Warm Home Discount scheme plus I've been awarded a small cost of living payment by my council from the Household Support Fund.  I wasn't aware I was eligible for these and, as they came automatically without me having to apply for them, it was a very pleasant and welcome surprise.

Something I do every year is to build up a stock of long shelf life food items (tins, packets etc) in case I can't get to the shops or have a SM delivery because of bad weather.  One or two extra items each week makes for a good store cupboard.  Everything gets used either over winter or in the following months.

I do get out and about as much as possible but probably less so during the dreary colder months, so I've made sure I have plenty to occupy my time - books, cross stitch, knitting, jigsaws etc.  I'm also looking at resuming family research again after a lengthy break.  If all else fails, I have lots of box sets on my TV watch list!

luvchocolate

I also had a letter expecting £200 winter fuel allowance which I'm grateful for half will pay for my covid vaccination as I'm 73 no longer eligible for it free. 
I've got my fingers crossed for the £150 warm home discount as the eligibility has changed for that also and now brings housing benefit into play. 
I'm stocking up on tins etc and also long life milk which I'm surprised how nice it was 
Last winter we had 10 days when couldn't get out due to ice...I live in over 55s housing association property so we try to help the older ones if possible so I'm very fortunate 

Laura_Elsewhere

Between their great decision to get an electric fire and block up the chimney, and some work by my brilliant niece and a couple of trips up by us, my elderly parents are increasingly better prepared for winter- we've one more long weekend coming up, with a list including sorting out the back door so the handle is reliable (!) and the draught-gaps reduced; mending Dad's winter shoes; some sewing mending of warm cosy clothes; and various other things. We will also re-pin their cunning space-blanket- you know those foil blankets they wrap round marathon-runners? We got one for my parents to hang down the back of their sofa which is in front of a radiator, pulled out at an angle so the heat is reflected up into the room instead of being absorbed by the elderly sofa! 

We finally got our flat's windows cleaned and lubricated; our hall-curtain is ready inside the front door; the lined heavy curtains are closed now at dusk (although we still open the window wide all night ); it's a lovely feeling, going and drawing the curtains on a darkening world, and curling up with apple crumble and custard!

Primrose

I too am a great believer of having a good stock of tinned food, especially during the winter months if bad weather prevents you getting out to the shops, and if your home is all electric,  Some  food you can eat straight from the tinf like rice pudding or baked beans can be doubly beneficial. A packet of crackers or some kind of bread substitute is always worth having too.
if you have really warm clothing and emergency food supplies,(as well as adequate essential medication, a few days stranded indoors  can feel less daunting.

Floss

@Laura_Elsewhere do your parents have foil beind their radiators to reflect heat back in and to stop heating the wall? I've found that really effective particularly when I shifted my WFH desk to sit in front of the window & radiator.

Laura_Elsewhere

@Floss - oh yes! Dad was keen on saving the planet and reducing energy consumption and waste very early on- so we had silver foil behind the radiators back in the 1980s.

It is only because he adores my husband that we managed to convince him to buy new energy-efficient lightbulbs- he had bought lots many years ago and so half the rooms in the house have the sort where you switch on the light and then use a torch to find what you went in for, and by the time you leave the room the lightbulb is still only a very faint orange glow in the ceiling- those ancient ones take literally fifteen minutes to really work, and even then they're still feeble...!

my husband explained how much less electricity the modern LED ones use and managed to convert Dad  Mum was *so* grateful !!

MrsCD

Hubby has had his letter saying he'll get the Winter Allowance, but I haven't had anything, yet. I should be getting £100 as well. We'll see...
It's been a lot colder over the last few days, so he's now wearing his thick fleece cardi, and I've put all my t shirts away and dug the jumpers out. 

joedenise

I think they work through everyone depending on the end letter of the NI number.  I'm an A and have had my letter but DH is a B and hasn't had his yet but suspect it will be here fairly soon.