Preparing for Winter

Olliebeak

Still managing to hold out here where the c/h is concerned - though last night I sat with a fleecey blanket around my shoulders while on the comp. OH is wandering around with his fleece hat on to cover his [strike]bald[/strike] thinning spot - awwwwww. Seriously considering putting the heating on with the temp set at 21 - that way if it does drop low, it should kick into action.

I know that 18-21 is supposed to be 'ideal' but why, oh why, does it still feel freezing when the room indicator is showing that? The only thing I can think of is that it has to do with the whole open-plan living room thing!

Last night we put the lamp on and the flame effect (on the electric fire) and the room DID feel distinctly warmer. All psychological of course - but it worked! Forgot, I also kept the kitchen warm yesterday by using the slow cooker (wonderful pan of 'scouse') and a baking session.

Good luck to everybody else who is trying for 1st Nov - but let's keep perspective girls. Any signs of illness, cold kiddies, and frail/elderly parents - just GET IT SWITCHED ON!

Don't forget that older people should be entitled to their Winter Fuel Payments:

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel/home.asp


- this is NOT the same as the Cold Weather Payment:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Inretirement/DG_10018668


For any older members of the forum, and those members who have older parents, please make sure that ALL possible benefits are claimed. If in doubt check with your local branch of Age Concern and Welfare Benefits Advice Centres. Some local authorities and housing associations also have their own Benefits Advisors who will visit people in their own homes where necessary. Our local Benefits Advisor has managed to get three couples in my sheltered scheme onto Attendance Allowance. You do not need to be having carers visiting to get this benefit - but you do have to be able to show a need to have some extra care and assistance.


Jackie O - do you know anybody who could pop into Lidl's for you to get a torch (or maybe even a couple for presents for other people).

larmy16

I went to Primark yesterday. Got myself two pairs of soft fleecy type jim jams, two pairs of fluffy soft bed socks and a lovely warm dressing gown all for the sum of £22.00 - cheap if it stops me from putting the CH on.

I could barely wait to get home from work to get all togged up in them. Curled up on settee in them, with fleece and the best warmer of all, cat in lap. I keep telling my OH that this is where he becomes worth all the food, insurance and vet bills!

Very crisp and sunny here this morning and I have all the windows open, in the hope that it will feel much warmer later when they get closed.

annieredhead

You can usually get kilner jars and screw top jars in charity shops, I then sterilise them with Milton tablets. Very cheap too!

Justamum

oliveoyl wrote: »

Update on the ear-muffs... I found some in Tescos teenager's clothing section, just plain black, £2.50, so I got a pair and wore them yesterday and... well, I don't think I've ever felt so silly! I'd be far happier if there were other people wearing them too... I got totally paranoid that everyone was looking at me/laughing at me kept my ears toastie warm though.

Well your ears were warm which is the main thing! You'll probably find other people wearing them as the weather gets colder - and anyway who cares what people think? I'm going to get mine out today as it's bitterly cold.

mackidee

Thanks to everyone on this and the the 'save gas & electric' thread for all the ideas.My house now looks like a fleece fetishists wildest fantasy and I look like I've wandered in from the North pole but its worth it - even though its been hailstoning here I haven't got the heating on yet & I've halved my energy consumption - I wont be adding so much to British Gas' obscene profits this winter!

housebug

No c/h on here yet, but we are using the gas fire for a few hours. My husband does a lot of work from home. If he's busting his butt, I'm not going to tell him he has to be cold at the same time. We've cut back everywhere else so the bills will be what they be. Wet, windy and chilly here today. I'm going to find another double size fleece blanket for the front room to help keep things cosy. Should be able to source one for under £20.

frugalswan

I've got a question on candle-making - I hope here'll be a good place to ask it. We've kept all the stubby, unusable ends and bits of cut off candle (from where it hasn't melted evenly all the way through larger candles) with the intent of melting them down to make a new one. I had thought of pouring it into a coffee jar and putting a wick in it, and then when it melts down to re-do it. Would that work?

Barneysmom

I'm a bit chuffed with my attempts after last night. Mom had given me a spare king size quilt. I cut it down the middle lengthways and stitched the edges on the machine, then I cut a duvet cover in half lengthways and stitched that too. Now we have mini duvets to put over us to watch telly :cool:
Mush much warmer than the fleeces, though I didn't want to go upstairs to bed :rotfl:

I put the heating on for a hour last night, when I got up this morning the windows were soaking wet so had to run round the house drying them out with rags Oh dear, the house was so wet.

moneysavingfamilycomp

iv had to put heating on today it was hail stones yesterday and today is wet and windy thermometer in living room was still only reading 12c at 11am and i still have washing from wednesday hanging around wet (school uniforms etc. )we have both also started with a cough so that was the final straw. dont want to risk cheast infections :eek: so ch is on only set at 16c for most of the day. its quite an advanced control i can set it to change temp up to 6 times a day using the digital clock weekdays and then 6 times a day at different times on a weekend. so iv set it at 16 for most of the time 12 during the weekdays when no ones in and 10 overnight iv turned it up to 18 at min to get washing dry but it will drop back to 16 later.
im still determined to use it as little as possible and bedroom radiators have individual controls so i can turn them right down.
on the plus side iv finally got an appointment for surveyor to come and sort out for loft insulation :T he is coming next friday so hopefully wont be too long till we can get that done rest of house is pretty well insulated new double glazing cavity wall etc iv checked round and we dont have any draughts from windows or doors. so just need to get foil for bedroom radiators (done downstairs already ) and we will be about as efficient as we can be.

Barneysmom

Tsk I keep forgetting the rad foil!
moneysavingfamilycomp, we got our loft insulated, it is good. Over time, a bit at a time, we're buying loft boards and putting down as well. It might take a year to complete but it'll get done, and it means the Christmas tree/decorations and camping gear have somewhere tidy to live.

It is very cold, I'm thinking about instead of waiting for a certain date, to go by temperature instead. Sometimes December is warmer than it is today.
So I think I might just have the ch on on days when it's below about 15 degrees.