Help me not put my heating on yet!!

Toomuchdebt

It was so cold last night!! The wind didn't help either. I resisted but I had 2 duvets on my bed and a blanket and still felt a bit chilly. I don't want to start using the heating until October. So..what can I do? It's a rented house and the attic doesn't have any insulation so you really feel the cold especially at night when the temp drops. I am going to have to start using the dehumidifier again soon which does warm the room it's in a bit, but that's just because of the damp in that room.
I don't have any spare money for thicker curtains and quite honestly I think the curtain poles would come out of the walls if I tried.
I'm planning to dig the hot water bottles out soon. And put extra blankets on the beds. What else can I do?

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I'm too tight to have the heating on overnight. When I lived in an old drafty property I wore thermals under my pjs and a woolly hat in bed, plus hottie bottie. A fleece blanket (often on offer in camping shops) under the sheet helps too.

You must live up north I take it? Heatwave in the SE this week.

bossymoo

It's pretty warm ooopp north too this week, although I've noticed clearer skies make for a cooler evening this last night or two.

I'd wear layers. Close doors and use draught excluders. And drink lots of tea

WantToBeSE

You might find the 'preparing for winter' thread helpful. I'm not sure where it is, but hopefully someone can link to it for you.

My immediate ideas are:

-Wear layers, hats, gloves, slippers, thick socks etc
-Go to bed early and snuggle down under the duvet
-Hot water bottles
-After cooking, leave the oven door open so the residual heat warms up the kitchen a bit. then sit in the kitchen for a bit.
-Make sure any gaps under doors have draught excluders in front of them.
-Shut all doors to keep heat in
-Don't sit down too much, keep up and moving about (if possible).

I hope some of that helps.

spadoosh

Go for a run or a bike ride. A 30 minute bike ride in the morning mid winter with shorts and t shirt is enough to keep me warm all day.

suki1964

I've just stepped into the garden, and it's warmer outside then it is in

luckofthe_irish

Hot water bottles, fluffy jumpers and fluffy socks are my go-to in winter during the night. Plus I have flannel bedsheets which really do make a difference.

Also tight, legging-style pjs rather than loose pjs bottoms always seem to keep me cosier (plus they are super comfy)!

Serendipitious

I find my electric blanket is absolutely essential. It's fitted, fleecy and has an all night setting as well as a quick-heat function. I keep it on the bed all year round except when it's in the wash. Ask relatives and friends, they may have an unused/unwanted one, it's how I got mine. :money:

I also have a brushed cotton fitted sheet (Asda last year had them at £8 for a double) and that makes a big difference and will go on any time now.

I also have a fleecy jacket-length dressing gown, a bit like this but in fleecy fabric:

http://www.marksandspencer.com/quilted-belted-wrap-dressing-gown/p/p22450255

Worn over a top and trousers as an extra cuddly layer, it is my go-to item when I get home. I found mine in a charity shop, best £2 I ever spent.

Wrist-warmers make a huge difference in the winter evenings (just cut the toes off an old pair of socks if money is an issue) and bedsocks (ie any socks) are also an essential.

I'd also enquire about having the loft insulated :

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/free-cavity-loft-insulation

Pollycat

Toomuchdebt wrote: »

It was so cold last night!! The wind didn't help either. I resisted but I had 2 duvets on my bed and a blanket and still felt a bit chilly.

OMG! :eek:

We haven't even progressed to using our 4 tog duvet yet, we just have the empty duvet cover - so like 2 sheets - on our bed.

And no heating.
I'm in the house now wearing a sleeveless top & shorts.

Lots of good advice already.

System

Pollycat wrote: »

OMG! :eek:

We haven't even progressed to using our 4 tog duvet yet, we just have the empty duvet cover - so like 2 sheets - on our bed.

And no heating.
I'm in the house now wearing a sleeveless top & shorts.

Lots of good advice already.

Same here, still using the air con unit set at 18 degrees to cool us down day and night.

Pollycat

We're in similar parts of the country, Judi, so maybe we have a little micro-climate going on here.