Preparing for Winter

jamanda

You've got me started again now resurrecting this thread. Have bought thick lined curtains and got DH some cuddly sweatshirts and jumpers in the sales. Am going into loft now because I seem to think there is a roll of curtain lining up there (somewhere).

DdraigGoch

I too am grateful for this thread being resurrected. I'm working on my list [very long one!] right now.

An idea that might help someone with older/younger members of the family, rescue as many fleece jumpers/tops etc as possible and cut up into regular sized squares, then sew together as a knee rug/throw to keep them warm. It might end up being very colourful and a prized possession, and cost you very little. I suspect that buying secondhand fleeces would be more expensive than buying new fleece by the metre though

skintmumof3

just read the 2007 winter thread and thought maybe to start off a new thread for this year so it doesn`t get too long and maybe some fresh new ideas???
hope this is okay.
thanks
smo3

busy_mum_4

:T Hi, I have always got a good stock of christmas cards in the loft that are purchased in the January sales, so when October gets here and the children are on half term holiday I get them out and the Children start writing them, as they write about 60 each (must just send the whole yeargroup I think). I find if we leave it until nearer christmas they just get bored with writing them a few a night.;)

We also learnt how to make little gift boxes out of last years received christmas cards so may make some of them.

zarazara

bubble wrap is great for insulation. I put this up at the window in the spare bedroom and some of the other windows too.
Draught proofing and a door curtain helps too.
i have an Emergency store cupbiard with food and cleaning products in it as well as pet food.
A wind up light or torch is a good idea in case of power cuts.

jessgotmuscles

Xmas turkey coming in October lol ......

mardatha

Can anything draught proofing or insulating be done with empty carrier bags ? I must have a million Asda bags here !

Beccatje

I am looking into putting a wood burner into the house. it's got central heating now but years ago these houses were heated by coal fires. So we do have a chimney although the whole in the living room ceiling is closed up.

Gas prices are going up further again this year (in Holland anyways) and I can get wood much cheaper than Gas. Plus I've always loved and wanted a wood fire in the house...

Anyway to make a long story short, we need the chimney checked out. It's not been used in many years and we need to make sure it's not leaking anywhere. I've had a quote from a company who'll go in it with a camera but that is an awful lot of money... (almost 200 quid!) So I'm looking to see if there is a cheaper way without compromising on the safety.

Any idea's?

For the rest... I'm going to knit!!
Nearly finished a jumper for DD3 and after that I'm gonna knit a cosy blanket for on the couch I think.... Also on the lookout for cheap (seconhand) hot water bottles.

Becca

newlywed

OH has finally fitted the front door draft excluder strip, so that's sorted ready for winter.

I have bought blackout linings for our bedroom curtains and hope that will make them a bit more insulated maybe

The boys have curtains instead of a thin roller blind now and hope to get thermal linings for them later on.

Got a thermos flask for cups of tea on days out in the winter.
Already have lots of candles and not many power cuts.

Need:
extra blankets/throws (nice ones - but cheap ) for the beds
hot water bottles (or microwave ones)
thermal linings for boys room
energy saving bulbs (but we have lots of spot lights and dimmer switches :rolleyes:)

Also plan to start saving up some spare cash in a separate account for the gas meter (prepaid unfortunately).

CRANKY40

Beccatje wrote: »

I
Anyway to make a long story short, we need the chimney checked out. It's not been used in many years and we need to make sure it's not leaking anywhere. I've had a quote from a company who'll go in it with a camera but that is an awful lot of money... (almost 200 quid!) So I'm looking to see if there is a cheaper way without compromising on the safety.

Any idea's?

Yes actually. We need our chimneys checking and our builder will let off a smoke bomb made for this purpose. Any leaks of smoke and we will know that we need a flue liner, which we will probably have anyway. No idea of the cost, but it won't be £200.