Preparing for Winter

cheerfulness4

Justamum wrote: »

I had thought of that. I'll have to price up which one would be cheapest - sand or polystyrene pellets.

think it would have to be sand that was the cheapest. I've been topping up the leather (look) slab that we bought last year with pellets and it's costing a fortune. Bought a bag the size of a swing bin liner full for 3.99 off the market and I reckon I'm going to need another 2 at least. They seem to go nowhere once you put them into the cover.

knithappens

can anyone help me, i want to make a door curtain, as i have an old kitchen extension leading off the dining room and it gets so draft and cold come winter, but i don't know where to start. What materials are best etc, how best to hang it, on a track? i really dont have a clue.

any help would be appreciated.

pigpen

Justamum wrote: »

One thing I do have to do before winter sets in - buy a new cat flap. When we moved into this house the cat flap was faulty, then the flap bit broke off completely so now we have a gaping hole in the back door!

I have one of those.. with a force 9 gale blowing through it at the moment

I have loads I need to do.. curtains, draught excluders sounds fun though.. I may use up some of my masses of fabric doing those!

rosieben

OK, I've made my food shopping 'plan' for Winter/Christmas - I start buying extras in September and so its a gradual spend. During September I'll be stocking up my store cupboard - which is a really good help with any post christmas cash-flow problem!

I've divided my list into 4 weeks -

cleaning and laundry supplies, toiletries
dried goods - rice, pasta, creals, dried milk, sugar
tea, coffee, jams, chutneys, tins
baking goods - flour, yeast, dried fruit, icing and castor sugar

I may not manage to get all of this, but I'll get as much as I can. I look out for offers too, so I dont always stick rigidly to the list above. And of course I'm aware of use by dates etc.

Anything I dont get is carried forward to the next week.

October will be my meat buying month (includng Christmas meat) plus the finishing off of store cupboard buying. And in November I will start with other Christmas extras.

I only have to cater for myself so I realise my situation is much simpler than most but just thought the idea might help someone wtih their own plan. I do have rellies for christmas meals though which is why I like to get that planned too.

I'm trying to get organised with a good store cupboard as last year we had lots of bad weather I couldnt get to a decent shop, plus I will be giving up my car soon so shopping habits will have to change

rosieben

lilmrsmullen wrote: »

can anyone help me, i want to make a door curtain, as i have an old kitchen extension leading off the dining room and it gets so draft and cold come winter, but i don't know where to start. What materials are best etc, how best to hang it, on a track? i really dont have a clue.
any help would be appreciated.

Best is a curtain that covers the door completely. I have my rails a few inches above the lintel and the curtain 'puddles' a little on the floor.

You can use fairly thin material for the curtain itself if you are lining it. I suggested to a previous poster that she use a cheap duvet for the lining, as you can get a cheapie for about £6 - much cheaper than using black out or thermal lining. I would just stitch the duvet to the curtain, top and sides only and it should hang ok.

Years ago I sewed large curtain rings several inches from the top of a heavy curtain and threaded the rings onto a (new) broom handle which sat in a hook either side of the door, need to make sure the hooks are big enough to take the pole diameter of course! (I didnt check this first time I did it )

Might be worth checking out the charity shops for curtains? might find a shorter pair that you can stitch together for the length of your door? Or you might consider using a sheet?

pigpen

• I have arranged quotes for a more efficient central heating boiler.. I may be less inclined to freeze everyone to death by refusing to put it on because it is so old it may fill DS1's room with unpleasant noxious fumes.. that will save us money long term.. I hope!!!! An expensive necessity I fear!
• I have sorted fabric and lining for curtains for middle room where we have huge french doors.. the doors are going to be nailed shut and sealed over the winter as they are so draughty they are to be replaced in spring so it won't matter that they don't open.
• I need some draught excluder tape for ALL the windows.. which is best? The foam strip or the plastic 'V' shaped one??
• we need filler/sealant for the gaps in the window frames.. hubby's job methinks.. might set him on that one next weekend before it gets too cold.
• Stock up on coal, we use very little but it is handy to have in.. saves on candles during power cuts when neither the lights nor the heating works!.. is it actually cheaper now that later in the year?
• I bought a new airer to I can dry more wihtout the aid of the tumble dryer.. I am going to try to cope with just the 1 this winter *gulp* 2 adults, 8 children and only 1 dryer.. that's scary!!, I've had 2 dryers for the last 5 years so got pretty reliant on them.
• I'm buying jars for pickles etc this week when hubby gets paid.. where is best for buying pickling vinegar? (just ordinary malt vinegar isn't it?)
• I'm baking christmas cakes next week once the children are back at school.. on a freezing day so the oven keeps me warm!!

Should keep me occupied for a while!

Topher

pigpen wrote: »

• I need some draught excluder tape for ALL the windows.. which is best? The foam strip or the plastic 'V' shaped one??

Found the plastic "v" better of the two, lasted longer and was more efficient, but the best advice I had for door draughts, was from an old countryman friend of my Ma's. He told me to look out in old hardware shops for a copper "V" on side was nailed to the door frame with small tacks, the other was nipped by the door allowing it to open and shut. Apart from the kazoo effect during the strongest storms, the draft excluding effect was the best I've ever had, and trust me I've spend years fending off winter before I could afford to double glaze.
T

rosieben

pigpen wrote: »

[*]I'm buying jars for pickles etc this week when hubby gets paid.. where is best for buying pickling vinegar? (just ordinary malt vinegar isn't it?)

No, pickling vinegar (spiced) isnt the same as ordinary malt vinegar. Most supermarkets will have large glass jars or a gallon plastic container of spiced vinegar at this time of year, as its the pickling season!

My dad used ordinary malt and boiled it up with pickling spices, but it used to stink the house out and is a bit of a faff. Sometmies he put a few pickling spices in the jar with his onions - they looked quite pretty but it was a bit of a shock if you bit into one of them by mistake! :eek:

pigpen

I have now ordered pickling jars and vinegar.. Thanks to everyone who helped!!! Just got to decide what to pickle.. onions goes without saying..

I've dug out fabric, sewing machine and can make a start on the draught excluders and curtains asap..

I have also arranged times for quotes for new central heating boilers that HAVE to be more efficient that our 15 year old ones!!

I just have to finish buying school stuff and I'm sorted until christmas shopping frenzy begins!!!!

rosieben

pigpen wrote: »

I just have to finish buying school stuff and I'm sorted until christmas shopping frenzy begins!!!!

Christmas is Coming - a great thread, lots of useful ideas
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=421179