It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

sammy_kaye18

CKhalvashi said:

Mine in winter is generally at 16. The theromstat is close to the front door so generally the coldest part of the house.

Look at where yours is located as with a computer running the lounge is quite warm. In addition take a look at insulation, especially under floors with outside exposure, as this was one of the biggest heat losers for us before we sorted it.

Yes my radiator is right next to the front doo rbut we are in a council property so the underfloor heating is probably not an option for us at the minute so we are finding ways round it but I think if I put a door curtain up then draughts through letter box etc will be minimised and maybe it wont kick in as badly. We also have laminate floors downstairs so Im hoping to find a few rugs to make it warmer and cosier underfoot too. 

CKhalvashi

sammy_kaye18 said:

CKhalvashi said:

Mine in winter is generally at 16. The theromstat is close to the front door so generally the coldest part of the house.

Look at where yours is located as with a computer running the lounge is quite warm. In addition take a look at insulation, especially under floors with outside exposure, as this was one of the biggest heat losers for us before we sorted it.

Yes my radiator is right next to the front doo rbut we are in a council property so the underfloor heating is probably not an option for us at the minute so we are finding ways round it but I think if I put a door curtain up then draughts through letter box etc will be minimised and maybe it wont kick in as badly. We also have laminate floors downstairs so Im hoping to find a few rugs to make it warmer and cosier underfoot too. 

No underfloor heating, just the void above the front door has been insulated properly now, which has stopped a lot of heat loss.

sammy_kaye18

Sorry for the mass influx of posts from me - I catch up, see something I want to reply to and then get ahead of myself and you all get bombarded with me answering! Apologies!  

Well the news at early o'clock this morning with the headline of 'people will starve or freeze to death this winter' certainly was a wake up call! OH left for Plymouth at 5am this morning for 3 days so its just me and the kids for a few days. 

Well visited MIL today, helped FIL with his computer, have had a quiet day and have been busy making lists for myself to look out for things that I think will be good for the coming with to either help keep the house warmer or make us more comfortable. Things like a rug for the living room so its warmer underfoot, a teapot so I can make multiple cups of tea for me and the kids who like one too. Thermos mug for husband to take a hot drink on long car journeys or on the way to work. 

I have been productive though and 
- I have sat and tried to plan my garden for next year, I have brought a load of seeds and I want to really try and maximise my production after some veg worked better this year and others flopped badly. I have also included flower seeds too to try and encourage pollinators.
- Have looked through my wool stash and plan to try and knit a few bits and pieces to help keep us warm. Fingerless gloves, scarves, hats, tea cosies etc 
- signed up for some online surveys (thank you all - it will all help) 
- found a load of gift cards that have about £75 on in small increments (£10 - £15 each) so I'm going to see where I can spend them and if I can get some gifts for Christmas sorted or if I can use them for winter preps

More things to ponder.......

LittleGem

joedenise said:

LittleGem said:

I am a bit of a tea addict so I make my tea in the morning then I put the tea bag in a little metal teapot (like the ones you get in a caff) and top that up with more hot water ready for my 2nd cuppa. The water stays hot enough and the tea bag is reused. 

Why not just make the tea in the teapot and then top it up again as I do?  I put a cosy on it and it keeps hot enough for quite a long time.  DH and I get 2 cups each out of one teabag as we don't like it too strong.

Not quite sure why I do it like this! Always feels like I get a stronger cup of tea 2nd time around 🤣

wort

I like my tea strong, boiling hot,no sugar and a drop of milk, but I usually after using 2 teabags use them together to make the third. As this is later in the day a Tea pot is no good. If gson is here I make my tea first then the bag goes in his for his drink.

My thermostat is set for 18 in winter. It is a mobile one and kept in the warmest room , my living room in this chilly 20 year old house, it kicks in if it drops below the 18 setting but only for an hour in the evening. I tend to have it on in a morning if I’m at work early for and hour when the weather is really cold. Other than that if I’m showering in the morning I have a small fan heater which I click on as I get dressed, 5 to 10 min max.

I am someone who really feels the cold , my extremities can be freezing even in mild weather so I always have layers on, even though I am now having hot flushes they literally last a minute or 2 then I am freezing again.
I have insulated the loft double thickness and have cavity wall insulation.All doors are kept closed. Lights are kept off when watching tv at night, although I do have led fairy lights over my mantle piece which I like to put on in winter as it makes the room feel warmer as do tea lights/candles. I made draught excluders for the doors, and close curtains at dusk.
I am worried about the winter and heating bills as I feel I can’t do much else to cut down on usage, I tend to wrap in blankets at night even now! If I am reading or on the tablet my hands are frozen even with fingerless gloves on, I have microwave heat pads which I put on my body and feet.
I have been following lots of tips on these forums for years now and love to hear what you all do to live frugally. It has really helped over the years. Thank you.

London_1

Forward planning for this coming winter is a plus I think and vital if we are all going to get through it. I am  lucky that in as much as I live in the slightly warmer southern part of England (Kent) and live in a mid terraced small cottage.

 I have my water boiler on for two hours every morning for a tankful of hot water which is more than enough for me.I only wash up the dishes once a day and shower daily.The washing machine goes on 1-2 times a week if needed and usually only the short 30 minute cycle as beinr retired my clothes really only need a freshen up .I keep a set just to do housework in and they last a couple of days at least

 I layer up a bit more in the winter when its chilly, but will also go for a quick hobble around the local park just for some fresh air when its cold as I think one needs some fresh air to keep healthy no matter the weather ,although not when its icy underfoot as I use a stick to walk with and don't want or need to be cluttering up a hospital bed by falling over. 

Having built up a good supply of tinned and dried goods for this winter already, just in case its a bad one.
My little neighbour next door is a sweetie though, as she always knocks when the weather is bad to see if I need anything bless her. She's a dear soul, and on her own with two little girls and I usually like to bake the children some cakes or biscuits as I know she struggles sometimes.

I have found that not watching too much doom and gloom on TV is better as well, as whatever happens there is little I can do to change things , but by conserving stuff, and being zero wasteful with everything I can fingers crossed will help

The world will keep turning and we will one day look back on the difficult years following the pandemic and say Yes ,we did it ,we survived and are still here. Back in the 1970s we had high inflation, electricity cuts ,heat waves and unemployment and I had a new mortgage (16%) with my late husband that swallowed half his wages every month,I also had two underage little girls and thought "How will we get though this?" but we did and things did improve eventually thank goodness, so lets not panic or try not to stress if you can

JackieO xx 

poppy811

Jackie I have just been reading A 1950s childhood by Paul Feeney. Wondered if you have seen it? It was passed on to me by a friend but I expect you could get it via the library. Lovely photos and a really nostalgic read

dreamyd

mumtoomany said:

Whoever was asking about plastic free, cheap dishwasher tablets, sorry can't find your post, have you tried Lidl and Aldi? The "plastic" wrappers dissolve in the dishwasher and they come in cardboard boxes. Work out at less than 10p each HTH, mumtoomany.xx

Hi - delurking. 
We use Asda Smartprice dishwasher tablets (currently £1.34 for 30 -so about 4.5p each) They have a dissolvable film on them and  they work fine for us (in a v hard water area). I think that might make them even cheaper than Aldi, although you do have to hunt for them at times. (pic for reference)

London_1

poppy811 said:

Jackie I have just been reading A 1950s childhood by Paul Feeney. Wondered if you have seen it? It was passed on to me by a friend but I expect you could get it via the library. Lovely photos and a really nostalgic read

Hi there I just quickly went onto my library website, and ordered it plus his other one about the 1960s thank you for the heads up I look forward to reading about them as I am definitely of that generation ,in fact born in the 1940s it will no doubt remind me of many things 

JackieO xx

Onebrokelady

YorksLass said:

Lurpak Spreadable 500g on promo at the Co-op at £4 - but offer finishes tomorrow so hurry if you want some.

Conversation overheard today in Co-op between cashier and assistant:

Assistant: I wouldn't want to be on tonight's shift.
Cashier: Why?
Assistant: They will have to change every shelf edge price ticket to get ready for tomorrow's 20% price increase on everything.
Cashier: Why are they putting up prices by 20%?
Assistant: I've no idea.  Other SMs are doing their best to attract customers and what does the Co-op do?  Put up prices.

Does this mean 20% on Co-op products only or literally on everything they sell?  I'd love to know what is the rationale behind this.  Make of it what you will but I can see my meagre shopping there morph into nothing.

It's because they can and is yet another example of greedy companies ripping people off at the moment