Working from home and heating costs

greenbee

Like @PollyWollyDoodle I'm a long-term home-based worker (I only sign remote contracts now). My office is small, but so is it's radiator. It is also North/West facing. I find a get cold sitting at my desk, particularly when I have 5 or 6 hours of back to back calls - but if I leave the room and come back it's actually quite warm! At one point I used to skimp on the heating when I was at home, but realised that I wearing thermals and fingerless gloves (and having a hot water bottle on my lap) meant I was too cold to work efficiently - if I can't type properly then I definitely can't think. So I keep the house warm while I'm at home during the day, wear thermals and have a cashmere wrap to put on over my (relatively) smart work tops (most days I don't bother to change out of my yoga leggings on the bottom!), and wear socks and slippers to make sure my feet are warm. I'm still contemplating putting an oil-filled radiator under the desk as that seems to be the coldest bit of the room. 

What I have realised is that I need to keep warm to make sure that I can work properly. And as work pays the mortgage as well as the heating bill, I've come to the conclusion that paying for the heating is part of the cost of doing work. For some people it has probably been offset by a reduction in commuting costs - but if you used to walk to work, it won't have been. 

elsien

Extra layers of thick socks! I have realised that if my feet are warm, the rest of me doesn’t feel so cold when I’m sitting at the desk for any length of time, 

-taff

if you have something you can use or make to make wrist warmers, these keep your hands much warmer than gloves and can be hidden under shirtsleeves. Ditto for socks and leg warmers.

baggins11

I didn't know that Taff. I will give wrist warmers a try. My husband has already complained about cold hands and its not practical to wear bulky gloves when using a computer. We both have raynaulds so suffer with cold hands.

I will also get him some heat holder socks as although they are expensive they are really warm. I get chillblains working outdoors in winter and having heat holders last year helped a bit. I also bought some aldi  knock off ones and they were OK but haven't lasted as well 

-taff

Layering is also a key to staying warmer. Thin socks under thicker socks will help, but make sure the ones you wear on top are not as tight as the inner pair or pairs.

I had to start wearing fit flops becuse I had plantar fasciitis and I noticed my feel never got as cold with them as with other shoes and I think it was the depth of sole on them. Something for him to rest his feet on off the carpet or floor with a cover of some sort will help keep his feet warmer too.

One of those stone bottles wrapped up maybe.

KxMx

I have long term health issues, feel the cold easily and am home alot.

Previously I have been very sparse with heating and worried about the cost. 

Decided a few years ago keeping warm and comfortable should be a priority and allocated more funds on my budget for heating October through to April. 

I'm much happier now!

Sky_

It's worth looking at the actual costs vs feeling comfortable.  We're finding that having the heating on all day costs only a fraction of our previous petrol (for commuting) costs, not to mention car wear and tear.

I've now become ill and I'm unlikely to be able to work again, but the extra heating is still less than DH's commuting costs.  We're not interested in alcohol/takeaways/smoking, all of which would cost more, but we love having a warm and cosy house during Winter. 

KxMx

Some other tips. 
Good quality and thick socks (I don't find basic cosy socks warm enough) plus a £2 pair of memory foam slippers from Primark (made from recycled textiles) keep my feet warm.
Close fitting trousers and shirts/jumpers with tight sleeves and cuffs, tucking shirt into trousers all stop the cold air getting in and body heat getting out. 
I don't drink any hot drinks so find the best way to help my hands is frequently washing them in a sink of hot water, soaking my hands for 30 seconds or so to let the warmth penetrate. 

Carrot007

What is he saving form not going to work?

I have worked from home (mostly ) for a few years. The savings in petrol alone mean I could heat the house 24/7 and still be up on the deal. (and that was with the nearly dead boiler I aquired with the house, I have now had it repalced and save even more).

So unless he wants if above 24 degrees I would say there is going to be no issue (unless he worked next door and had no costs).

villagelife

When I worked in an extremely cold office I found a thin scarf helped keep me warm.