How are MSE old stylers coping with the cold of winter?

good_advice

The weather is going through a very cold spell, so I thought I would ask how everyone is coping?
Got to be cold as we have has a small, few days of snow.

I have been reading on the energy page that some members are paying £100 a week for gas.
Use of gas fires, CH and a few gas cookers.

Our CH is on about 6 hours a day with this cold weather. No gas fire, wood burner or any other heating.
Ok some days, I have the oven on at dinner time.

I find having a base layer on is warm and cosy under jumper/trousers. Home all day.
Move around! do some choirs.Put the washing on the line :0)
Slipper boots are very warming and make happy feet.

First day of spring March 20th.

Goldiegirl

Our central heating comes on at 7am and goes off at 10pm. We have the thermostat set at 18C


I normally wear a cardigan, and am comfortable all day.


There's no way I'm going to freeze in my own house

Butterfly_Brain

We have a multifuel stove as well as CH and when I am home all day and it is really, really cold that is after I have put on extra jumpers and done the housework I light the stove which takes the chill off the whole house.

The heating only goes on at 6pm to 10pm and the house is still warm in the morning.

Evil_Olive

I cope with good, warm, soft, woolly clothing.

I always wear thick woolly knitted tights. I'm a medium but buy them in extra large as the less they are stretched the thicker and warmer they are (and more comfortable) I also wear thick socks and fur-lined slipper boots or knock-off ugg type boots around the house. That, with a soft, cosy long sleeved top under a tunic length woolly jumper, and I find I don't start feeling the chill until the thermometer goes below 15C - lower if I'm hoovering or something. I am a ginger though, I get all red, sweaty and irritable above 20C

Husband is the opposite - not an ounce of fat on him so no natural insulation and not a very OS attitude to heating - I'm constantly having to remind him that we can't afford to keep the heating at 25C just so that he can swan around in a T-shirt in the depths of an English winter

beluga

I'm relying on hot water bottles (not just for bed!), warm clothes, lots of hot drinks (squash, tea, coffee, whatever!) and trying to keep active. In the evening I'll go to bed early if I'm just watching TV, as it's easier to get warm. I have a fluffy blanket on the bed and one on the sofa. SOups, stews, casseroles etc for meals, and if I'm baking something I tend to stay in the kitchen as it gets nice and warm. I also find keeping doors shut and closing curtains in the evening can help a little. Candles can help a bit too, as well as looking pretty!

good_advice

I think alot of people get into bed earier in winter than summer. Read a book or watch bedroom tv.

I tend to stay upstairs in the evening. Have a shallow bath. PJ's on and dressing gown. Read or play on ipad , sometimes put music on.

Austin_Allegro

I think a lot of people feel cold because they don't wear enough. Granted some have health problems but a healthy person shouldn't feel cold if he or she wraps up warm. Our ancestors would laugh at people today sitting in cotton jeans and tee shirts in winter and cranking up the heating because they feel cold!

Heating in my place is on from 7-10 in the morning and 7-10 in the evening. I work from home, so it can get a bit chilly in the afternoon. Doesn't seem to go below about 15c/60f though. I wear:

1 or 2 pairs cotton socks
1 pair thick wool hiking socks
Slippers
Long thermal underwear
Flannelette shirt
Cotton scarf/muffler worn like a cravat
Royal Navy cold weather pullover
Army issue thermal fleece
Fingerless gloves

If I start feeling cold I usually make a cup of tea. I've only had to put on a little electric fire once or twice this winter.

PlutoinCapricorn

So far I have not used my halogen fire or new little oil-filled radiator. I would not make myself suffer, but I see heating as a luxury.

Many layers; hot water bottles; a slanket with woolly hat and fingerless gloves for the coldest days; staying in bed; hot baths... they all work.

Austin_Allegro

I've been reading another forum on this and one of the suggestions is a heated blanket for dog baskets. Humans can sit on it like a chair cushion. They cost about 10 pounds and draw about 300 watts.

115K

good_advice wrote: »

I think alot of people get into bed earier in winter than summer. Read a book or watch bedroom tv.

I tend to stay upstairs in the evening. Have a shallow bath. PJ's on and dressing gown. Read or play on ipad , sometimes put music on.

I do the same, it hasn't really been that cold here but I have gone upstairs and had a warm bath and then straight into bed with a hot water bottle to watch TV. It is fine downstairs during the day as we get a lot of sunshine (when it's cold and sunny) but after the sun goes down upstairs is much warmer.

Faux furry slipper boots are great during the day if I am feeling chilly. This might be weird but I sometimes only wear a dress with bare legs but slipper boots with it keeps me feeling warm.

Bathory

We have the heating on only in the evenings for 2 hours (maybe 3 hours if extremely cold), blankets, hot water bottles, good slippers and plenty of layers. Going to bed earlier helps and I have a thin duvet tucked under bottom sheet which is very cosy. Also, our 2 moggies act as useful weights on the bed. Nothing beats an open fire in my opinion but not allowed around here due to it being a smokeless zone.