Winter "Wake & up save the pennies"

Primrose

For those of us at home all day, either retired or unable to work and on benefits , can we share tips to save some pennies during those cold. Winter days when it's hard to venture out.

A few thoughts:

1. If you have Central heating radiators, put your clothes on them overnight so you start the day with warm clothing.
2. Don't forget an extra layer of thermals can make a real difference.
3. Set the timer to do a few warm up exercises during the day. Good for health and helping to keep the circulation going.
4. Save your breakfast teabag for a second use if you use a beaker for your cuppa !
5. Experiment with porridge variations. A little fruit goes a long way
6. If you have a local library, use it! The heating is is free and it,s a good source of local information and books.and free magazines to read.
7. Make a meal which will last two days to reduce fuel costs and the effort of cooking.
6. If you like cheese dishes, using cheaper non matured cheddar can be mitigated by using a generous addition of liquid mustard or mustard powder to add a flavour "kick"
7. On sunny days, keep your curtains open if the sunshine will help to warm the room. If cold and windy, keep the curtains drawn in rooms not used to retain what heat exists.

Am sure others can add to the list.

YorksLass

A few more for the list, Primrose:

When I make our first cuppa of the day I fill the kettle up and pour the unused boiled water into a thermos flask and use that for coffee or a herbal tea during the day instead of putting the kettle on again. A hot drink and a saving on the leccy.

In the colder months I make a large pan of hm soup every week, enough for a couple of lunches for two and usually a little left over for the freezer. I currently have about 5 portions of different ones in there. I use bits & bobs of veggies from the fridge and also look out for seasonal or ys ones to save a few pennies. Something hot for midday, cheap and nutritious too.

Have a good stock of store cupboard items in case the weather is bad and you can't or don't want to go out. Tinned goods like tomatoes, veg, potatoes, beans, rice, pasta, stock cubes etc can provide a hot meal at very little cost. I always add one or two extra to my usual shopping list in the run up to winter to build up a stock and look out for promotions to help with the pennies.

[Deleted User]

If you have a woodstove /multi fuel burner put washing on a clothes horse in front of it as you go to bed and it will be ironing dry in the morning.

Bed socks make an awful lot of difference to a good night's sleep.

Dried milk powder makes a very good custard/sauce rather than using expensive fresh milk.

Pull the curtains in rooms you use as it gets dark and keep what warmth you've generated in the day in as it cools outside.

Put a throw on the back of your armchair and snuggle in it if you cool off sitting still.

caronc

If you are using the oven - leave the door open once you've finished cooking.

Shropshirelass

I've been confined to bedroom/house for the last few days with rotten cold and sore throat. At the end of last week we spent 2 days in hospital clinics, on routine appts, but meaning my regular shopping did not happen.
As I've had a few health problems lately I thought I should take the cold seriously, and DH has been in charge of the kitchen, especially as he is hoping to avoid catching it himself. Due to his poor mobility (knee and back problems), we have relied on what we had in, as he can't get round a supermarket, and is also v.deaf so doesn't like engaging with e.g. the butcher.

We used a surprising amount of our preps in only 4 days, to restock we will need: Paracetamol, eggs, bread, tomato soup, lemons, honey, paper hankies, bananas, ready made custard, tinned salmon, a couple of frozen meals, re-stock of homemade frozen soup and Bolognese type mince. This is after only 3 days of me out of action, and has given me a real jolt prepping-wise as I thought I was well prepared. After checking I see we will also need Imodium, as ours is past it's use by date.

I thought this might be useful to others, there are only two of us, so I didn't expect a) that I would be out of action and b) we would run out of some things so quickly. Because I felt poorly, the preps we used were mainly comfort food, so not really expensive. Luckily stock of UHT milk, breakfast cereal, eggs and bread have lasted, also DH 's stash of choccie biccs, which he thought I didn't know about. But they might not last another few days.

pS The cold/throat has come courtesy of a friend, who has just come home from a holiday in Hawaii and US. One of the most unpleasant bugs I've experienced.

maman

caronc wrote: »

If you are using the oven - leave the door open once you've finished cooking.

It works just the same leaving the door closed, just lasts longer. I suppose it depends on whether you just want to be extra warm while you're still in the kitchen or let the heat spread out slowly.

Primrose

Shropshirelass. I once did an Internet check about using over the counter medicines after expiry dates which was quite a revelation.as I had some Imodium which was two years out of date. It was all I had at the time so I took it in desperation and it still worked perfectly well. Many of these items are in sealed packs and don,t quickly deteriorate so have a longer life than the packet expiry date might lead you to suggest.

Edit: oops, think somebody mentioning only having out of date Imodium was mentioned on a different thread. Sorry. Got confused!

[Deleted User]

I cook a chicken in my slow cooker overnight I prep it ready and switch it on low before I go to bed and in the morning not only is my chicken cooked and the amount of meat that comes off it is amazing but the slight heat takes the chill of the air in the kitchen,smells lovely as well once the chicken is removed a I strain all the liquid left and leave to cool and once the fat is skimmed off the remaining stock makes a lovely base for HM soup.If its set to a jelly and I want to save it I can decant it straight into a soup bag for freezing for another day.I close all my doors before I go to bed and keep the heat in YorksLass I too save leftover boiled water for a cuppa during the day.a cooling low oven will make great meringues as well which store well in shell form in a lock'n'lock box for use when you have spare cream.

AndyCF

The oven door is a good one, I used to do that on occasion more in cold weather, I'd leave it open though after to allow the heat to spread into the kitchen a bit more quickly. Goes without saying this is after it has been turned off. Its not an economical way to heat a kitchen (on+door open) plus you can get some odd effects like the heat travelling up and effecting the controls.

The 'store cupboard' items again is excellent and common sense. I try to keep a couple of days worth of things in. Even if you would prefer 'fresh' veggies and the like, please do not be too against their tinned companions even if its just for emergencies, plus they will last a long long time!

I'm afraid I do not have anything terrible useful to add though at this moment in time to this otherwise excellent topic.

lessonlearned

Great thread. I shall be picking everyone's brains. :rotfl:

One thing I do find useful is having an energy monitor. It tells me exactly how much energy I'm using. When you see those number being clocked up, it does help you focus on ways to reduce your energy usage.

In my old house I also had Tado installed. I am going to get it here shortly. Again it helps me stay in control.

AndyCF

This is a slightly odd one but please bear with me.

If you are buying a fan heater, try to avoid (at all costs) a 3KW one. There are plenty of 2KW ones around, just look closely. 3 vs 2 = more plus its not really that much warmer. 2 is enough to warm up relatively quickly.

Do not be too fooled if it offers three 'heat' settings if its a 3KW model, it may not be 1KW/2KW/3KW . With a 2KW model you are reasonably sure it will be at a max of 2KW when its on "full blast" and anything between 0.8KW (800w) and 1.2KW (1200w) when its on "1"

Two other tips, the last one I got did not have a thermostat so when it was on it was on! Ensure it does have thermostatic control.

I would say ensure if its something that could be knocked over make sure its got a safety cut out but if its been made in teh last few years and its not from an unknown "bargain shop random import" source, it will be OK in this regard, usually it will say its got this feature 'on the box' anyway as well as overheat protection.

Final tip: With your 2KW (not 3!) heater, do not do what I did and think by having it on 1 instead of 2 you're saving money, you're not always because it can take so long to warm up and switch itself off at 1 that you end up using more than twice as much as if you had it on 2. I guess all I mean here is 10 minutes on 2 is cheaper than 30 minutes on 1.

Sorry if the above is slightly confusing!

PS, not directly related but now is the best time (honest) to buy a regular desk cool air fan as its going to be "out of season" and cheaper! Same as a new fan heater = cheaper in summer when not wanted.