Preparing for Winter

LearningToSave.

primark in broadmead in bristol had the ladies fleecy pj's earlier this week when i went in! i resisted buying some as im inbetween sizes at the mo and 12-14 too small but 14-16 too big.....i did however buy myself a few of the lovely fleece throws they have in preparation!!

DdraigGoch

Now, maybe you can find somewhere that still does those paper carrier bags one used to get sooooooo many years ago in Safeway - then you'd be safe to use them as "loaders" for the fire, other than that, put down 3 pieces of [broadsheet sized] newspaper, bung the coal on top, fold it over and, voilà, one coal packet with no sooty fingers. I do this with small packets of scraps of wood to get the fire started, or re-started if I've forgotten it :whistle: ......

Hope that helps
DG

ps if you don't have any suitably sized newspapers, nip down to the recycling site and beg a copy every other day! I'm sure they'd be happy to oblige - they're interested in recycling, after all ...

jamanda

Primark were setting out the new stock this morning - had fleecy dressing gowns but had to go to work so couldn't wait to check on pjs. Now have to go and check the throws now they have been mentioned,

annie123

Its no good, I'm just going to have to go to primark in croydon on my day off (friday this week) to see if that have any pj's in yet.

Last years fleece dressing gown still snuggly..is that a word? but pjs lost some of their warmth from the year before.

I do find that some sizes sell out quickly so dont want to miss them:D

Kadeeae

annie123 wrote: »

I do find that some sizes sell out quickly so dont want to miss them:D

I've always thought this funny . . . . seems as though it's always the same sizes (usually larger) that sell out first - all the time. You'd think they would get more of those sizes in, wouldn't you? They would sell more product, right?:D

lauren_1

Yes i know its only (nearly august) july but a good time to start preparing.

I dont think its been predicted to be a cold winter but due to the first of energy price rises many of us could be feeling the cold (and the pinch) more than others.

We are luckiy in a terraced house and can pinch heat from both sides, one house is empty but should have a occupier by then i hope and we are 100% double glazed but have young children so i'm going to have to make this winter fun whilst still cutting back.

We have, so far...

Around 10 blankets varying from fleece to a large crochet baby blanket.

A few pairs of old tight to make draught excluders from.

A plug in heater (we used this last year to blast the smallest bedroom when the kids were getting dressed from their showers)

Some rather fetching wooly tights for me (got them a pound a pair in asda, im quite greatful i can fit in to some kids sizes)

Some equally fetching and not girly in the slightest blue/black and grey tights for baby ds from freecycle.

Picked up 5 or 6 pairs of fleecy stretchy slipper socks for 50p each in the primark sales and 2 dressing gowns each for a quid! (I got the kids a size or two bigger on the basis that i reckon they will shrink when i wash them)

We got 4 sleeping bags off of ebay, not the mummy bags but decorated kids style ones and a green one that dd wants to customise in to a catapillar, we dont intend on going camping when its cold but the kids go to breakfast clubs and get picked up last from after school club.....its just a comfort thing so the ones that have booster seats can zip them selves in....saves me petrol too as by the time we get to school the heaters have just about kicked in :rotfl: the littlest one has a cosy toes that can be fitted to his car seat.

An abundance of hats, scarves and gloves

An extra duvet per bed, goes on top of the matress and under the sheet, an instant 20%-30% more heat, safer than a leccy blanket. Got them in asda for 4 pounds each.

We are probably going to switch the GCH on around november (didnt get too cold until then last year, 20 miles south of bristol) for an hour in the morning then on around 6pm until 8pm weekdays, not sure about weekends yet but probably add an hour at lunch time if all goes well but even the last quarters bill nearly crippled me and that was spring/summer!!

Penelope_Penguin

Hello there :beer: We already have a preparing for winter thread, so I'll add this one to it.

The Board Guides have taken the view that we'd prefer one thread, rather than a new one every year - see this post

Penny. x

lauren_1

Can we not have a new thread for this year?

sammy_kaye18

I love threads like this

i agree that this year i think financiallhy is going to be more harsh than last year so im glad there is this new thread and hoep it doesnt get added to the previous preparing for winter thread.

So far this year i have

• gotten 3 old bedcovers off my mother - one will go on our bed, the other two will go on the living room chairs (we dont have a sofa jsut two big chairs) so they can be snuggled into/onto and under.
• duvets for both boys beds to go under the botom sheets
• 3 spare fleece blankets and a range of smaller blankets form littlest when he was a baby that he can still use as lap blankets.
• 2 heavy draft excluders for in the living room as this is where we tend to stay most.
• stock cupboard started at least
• curtains put up in the bedroom - now jsut need to line them as we have no heating in our bedroom.
• small electric heater to blast bedroom with if need be reduced in a sale in argos.
• plenty of material to make rice bags
• plenty of hot water bottles for snuggling with
• plenty of candles in case of power cuts and for the cosy atmosphere.
• candle stove awaiting making again incase of power cuts

need to still do

1. get dressing gowns for all
2. get vests for boys
3. get pyjamams for me and bf
4. dig out winter coats and freshen
5. get scarf, hats and mittens for me and little one
6. get cellophane to effectively double glaze windows with
7. line curtains in ours and bens room (or get blind in his room)

Beccatje

I am so inspired by all of you!

We are working on putting a wood burner in the house. And I am scowling around internet and everywhere to see where I can get the cheepest wood to burn.

Am knitting a cozy blanket to snuggle under but couldn't resist picking up a lovely fleece at IKEA last week.
Will keep an eye on this thread however and will definately share any tips that I think of as well.

Becca