How to live without heating - save £000s

Yorkshire_Pud

HertsLad said:

Lidl were selling some thermal base layers at a very low price - only £4.99 each rather than £7 or £8 at Sports Direct or somewhere in between at Decathlon. The quality seems high and they are rated x-warm. 

There are plenty left in my local branch. It suggests most people prefer to spend money on heating whilst wearing minimal clothes.

I tried to add a photo using my phone but couldn't get the gallery to appear to add the image.

Just been to Sports Direct and the Campri thermals are £10 each single garment or £16 for two. May have to traipse to Lidl!

Yorkshire_Pud

dealyboy said:

Yorkshire_Pud said:

HertsLad said:

Yorkshire_Pud said:

HertsLad said:

Yorkshire_Pud said:

HertsLad said:f

RavingMad said:

I'm always on the lookout for a warm winter jacket but most are 750 down, including the popular Rab microlight alpine.

There's a Montane nano alpine but it's £300 so will wait for it to come down in price 

I have never paid anywhere near those prices. Both the down jackets I am wearing as I type were bought on eBay a few weeks ago, used but in 'as new' condition. One was £32 and the other one £40. New, they would be around £300 each.

I bought a Peter Storm loch down 650 jacket 90/10 fill today from millets £40 (rrp £150)....No good in the rain apparently with a down filling but for keeping warm indoors probably fine.

Apart from that I am a great believer in warming the bed with a hot water bottle 

I am sure the Millets jacket is worth a try. I am currently wearing two down jackets (800 fill) with my normal two base layers underneath. That's at 7.5C, quite early in the morning. I expect the temperature to go up a bit later on. I agree about not wanting to get the down exposed to rain. So I wear a waterproof layer over the top if I go outside when it is raining. Are you wearing much on your legs? If not, I suggest you need to get as close as you can to wearing almost as much on your legs as on your top.

Last year, I used a hot water bottle but this year I can't be bothered. I found that the thermal shock of cold bedding comes from contact with bare skin. So I simply get into bed with my 2 x base layers and socks still on, and find it perfectly comfortable.

On my legs one pair of thermals and jeans with thick socks. I think I would benefit from down filled trousers although I’ve not knowingly seen any advertised. On top I wear a T shirt with thermal long sleeve vest over then two fleeces. Plus at the moment my Peter storm loch down jacket. 

My suggestion is to double up on the base thermals, top and bottom. Don't 'waste' a layer with anything short-sleeved, like I guess your T shirt probably is. You are correct that I doubt if there are any adverts for down-filled trousers, especially in the UK. Well, apart from specialist mountaineering shops where down filled trousers are probably sold for about £250 or more.They can be found on ali-express from sellers in China I paid about £18, including shipping and VAT. Or pick up low cost ski trousers, lined with polyester, like I am wearing now. Mine were only £17 from Lidl.  And be sure to wear a Thinsulate-lined hat, also. It may feel even more odd than wearing a jacket indoors but it's all state of mind.

I will try the double thermal trick my legs do get cold especially my knees in the cold weather, and indoors. And a thinsulate hat.

I am going to get a refund for my down jacket and look for a synthetic fill. Apart from darting my fleece with loads of little feathers/down I tried to find out about how the down is sourced and Peter Storm say nothing, just ‘Down’ so I can only assume it is obtained by live plucking (YouTube videos online peta and others) which is very cruel and done multiple times, every time it grows back, before the bird is killed for meat. Same for most firms using down whatever the ‘ethical’ spin that may be put on it. That’s just my feeling and what I feel comfortable with not preaching to others I hope.

Hi @Yorkshire_Pud ... similar winter clothes/layers to you ... I opted for the Millets Blisco II Hooded Jacket, just right for me over T-shirt, long-sleeved thermal and two fleece jackets (just like you), comes in several colours and 'only' £19 online.

Agree with your comments re. the sourcing of the down ... Happy Christmas mate.

I just returned the down jacket and bought the Blisco II for £19 comfy and when I got home and put it on I had to take it off as warmed up from excercise walking home. My branch of millets don’t stock the £39 Blast and if I order it it’s delivered to my home  (by evri which is hit and miss usually miss) so decided to try the cheaper one but seems warm enough so far. Cheers.

dealyboy

@Yorkshire_Pud said:

dealyboy said:

Yorkshire_Pud said:

HertsLad said:

Yorkshire_Pud said:

HertsLad said:

Yorkshire_Pud said:

HertsLad said:f

RavingMad said:

I'm always on the lookout for a warm winter jacket but most are 750 down, including the popular Rab microlight alpine.

There's a Montane nano alpine but it's £300 so will wait for it to come down in price 

I have never paid anywhere near those prices. Both the down jackets I am wearing as I type were bought on eBay a few weeks ago, used but in 'as new' condition. One was £32 and the other one £40. New, they would be around £300 each.

I bought a Peter Storm loch down 650 jacket 90/10 fill today from millets £40 (rrp £150)....No good in the rain apparently with a down filling but for keeping warm indoors probably fine.

Apart from that I am a great believer in warming the bed with a hot water bottle 

I am sure the Millets jacket is worth a try. I am currently wearing two down jackets (800 fill) with my normal two base layers underneath. That's at 7.5C, quite early in the morning. I expect the temperature to go up a bit later on. I agree about not wanting to get the down exposed to rain. So I wear a waterproof layer over the top if I go outside when it is raining. Are you wearing much on your legs? If not, I suggest you need to get as close as you can to wearing almost as much on your legs as on your top.

Last year, I used a hot water bottle but this year I can't be bothered. I found that the thermal shock of cold bedding comes from contact with bare skin. So I simply get into bed with my 2 x base layers and socks still on, and find it perfectly comfortable.

On my legs one pair of thermals and jeans with thick socks. I think I would benefit from down filled trousers although I’ve not knowingly seen any advertised. On top I wear a T shirt with thermal long sleeve vest over then two fleeces. Plus at the moment my Peter storm loch down jacket. 

My suggestion is to double up on the base thermals, top and bottom. Don't 'waste' a layer with anything short-sleeved, like I guess your T shirt probably is. You are correct that I doubt if there are any adverts for down-filled trousers, especially in the UK. Well, apart from specialist mountaineering shops where down filled trousers are probably sold for about £250 or more.They can be found on ali-express from sellers in China I paid about £18, including shipping and VAT. Or pick up low cost ski trousers, lined with polyester, like I am wearing now. Mine were only £17 from Lidl.  And be sure to wear a Thinsulate-lined hat, also. It may feel even more odd than wearing a jacket indoors but it's all state of mind.

I will try the double thermal trick my legs do get cold especially my knees in the cold weather, and indoors. And a thinsulate hat.

I am going to get a refund for my down jacket and look for a synthetic fill. Apart from darting my fleece with loads of little feathers/down I tried to find out about how the down is sourced and Peter Storm say nothing, just ‘Down’ so I can only assume it is obtained by live plucking (YouTube videos online peta and others) which is very cruel and done multiple times, every time it grows back, before the bird is killed for meat. Same for most firms using down whatever the ‘ethical’ spin that may be put on it. That’s just my feeling and what I feel comfortable with not preaching to others I hope.

Hi @Yorkshire_Pud ... similar winter clothes/layers to you ... I opted for the Millets Blisco II Hooded Jacket, just right for me over T-shirt, long-sleeved thermal and two fleece jackets (just like you), comes in several colours and 'only' £19 online.

Agree with your comments re. the sourcing of the down ... Happy Christmas mate.

I just returned the down jacket and bought the Blisco II for £19 comfy and when I got home and put it on I had to take it off as warmed up from excercise walking home. My branch of millets don’t stock the £39 Blast and if I order it it’s delivered to my home  (by evri which is hit and miss usually miss) so decided to try the cheaper one but seems warm enough so far. Cheers.

I looked up the Blast and it looks like an excellent coat/jacket if I were to go out on the moors ... but I'm not a Yorkshire Pudding ... so I have an overcoat which I bought at Tesco which fits well over the Blisco if it decides to go below zero in the barmy south  .

HertsLad

Yorkshire_Pud said:

HertsLad said:

Lidl were selling some thermal base layers at a very low price - only £4.99 each rather than £7 or £8 at Sports Direct or somewhere in between at Decathlon. The quality seems high and they are rated x-warm. 

There are plenty left in my local branch. It suggests most people prefer to spend money on heating whilst wearing minimal clothes.

I tried to add a photo using my phone but couldn't get the gallery to appear to add the image.

Just been to Sports Direct and the Campri thermals are £10 each single garment or £16 for two. May have to traipse to Lidl!

Do you accept the foundation of my approach, which is to wear two layers of base garments? The Sports Direct deal is convenient if you buy two of everything. Start with two as a trial, perhaps, then add a further two to allow washing and rotation. You'll be lucky if Lidl has much left. In my branch they had a few long johns in size XXL as at yesterday. The Lidl garments, and Decahlon ones, seem thicker than Campri from Sports Direct and are both lower cost so I think they are probably better.

Scot_39

Anyone tried the one level up fleece lined base layers - such as decathlon 500 rated at c£30 a set or the ones at Primark for £20.?

Suspect might be overkill indoors at my 16C in lving room, 14 elsewhere levels.

I use the looser light vest and long john style cheap ones from primark £12 a set as a base layer - and sportier stretch ones from lidl last year c£16-20  set iirc whilst cycling in winter - but don't find as comfortable / good for all day use

HertsLad

Scot_39 said:

Anyone tried the one level up fleece lined base layers - such as decathlon 500 rated at c£30 a set or the ones at Primark for £20.?

Suspect might be overkill indoors at my 16C in lving room, 14 elsewhere levels.

I use the looser light vest and long john style cheap ones from primark £12 a set as a base layer - and sportier stretch ones from lidl last year c£16-20  set iirc whilst cycling in winter - but don't find as comfortable / good for all day use

Many thanks for flagging up the Decahlon fleece lined base layers. I will look out for them in my local store with a view to trying out a pair. As they are just over twice the price of the standard base layers, I'm interested to see how they compare to my approach of wearing two layers of the lower cost product. I assume you mean:

Wedze Men’s Warm and Breathable Ski Base Layer Top, BL500 £14.99

"Do you like skiing, but not the cold? Its brushed fleece fabric creates a thermal barrier to insulate you from the cold. Its classic cut adapts to all body shapes."

What stops you from letting the temperature go below 14-16C?  It is currently 9C in my house.

Yorkshire_Pud

HertsLad said:

Yorkshire_Pud said:

HertsLad said:

Lidl were selling some thermal base layers at a very low price - only £4.99 each rather than £7 or £8 at Sports Direct or somewhere in between at Decathlon. The quality seems high and they are rated x-warm. 

There are plenty left in my local branch. It suggests most people prefer to spend money on heating whilst wearing minimal clothes.

I tried to add a photo using my phone but couldn't get the gallery to appear to add the image.

Just been to Sports Direct and the Campri thermals are £10 each single garment or £16 for two. May have to traipse to Lidl!

Do you accept the foundation of my approach, which is to wear two layers of base garments? The Sports Direct deal is convenient if you buy two of everything. Start with two as a trial, perhaps, then add a further two to allow washing and rotation. You'll be lucky if Lidl has much left. In my branch they had a few long johns in size XXL as at yesterday. The Lidl garments, and Decahlon ones, seem thicker than Campri from Sports Direct and are both lower cost so I think they are probably better.

Yes I’ve recently added a second pair of thermal leggings to my usual one pair, mixture of Tesco, Sainsbury and very old M&S. Two thermal base layers on upper makes me feel stewed like my skin can’t breathe, I.e. sweaty, from past experience but maybe I could get used to it/try a different brand.
 

Scot_39

Yes that brand even does an even higher but over double that price 900 set too. 


It was more the lack of availability of the thinner primark ones that made me wonder if could use others or would be too hot.



The 14s more of anti damp mould thing.

I grew up on council estates where it was a common problem  in houses. 

And too soft these days to live with colder temps to go the full ventillation route alternative.

Tried to lower living room to same.

Mainly hands and sometimes feet -  started to get mild pain across back of hands and felt tight - even a bit of color change occassionally (*) - when tried 14 in living room after few hours exposed on keyboard.

Fingerless gloves helped back of hands.

(*) Maybe mild Reynauds type discolouration levels in toes but a worrying sign never the less

15 for a while - 16 for hours on end is comfortable with 2 layers bottom (light thermal long johns, jeans or jogging bottoms), 3 layers top (light thermal vest, shirt, cardi or jogger top). 17 feels too warm. 18 I'm almost sweating

But in end decided if having an impact on health i can notice it was a step too far.

And my bills are like many a lot higher than used to be but manageable at those temps, despite being all electric.


It's just my balance.

And one that will change as get nearer then beyond state pension age (with luck) I suspect.

bob2302

HertsLad said:

Yorkshire_Pud said:

I am going to get a refund for my down jacket and look for a synthetic fill. Apart from darting my fleece with loads of little feathers/down I tried to find out about how the down is sourced and Peter Storm say nothing, just ‘Down’ so I can only assume it is obtained by live plucking.

I must admit I turn a blind eye to the sourcing of down. I trust the authorities would ban the imports if it was very cruel. 

If something comes directly from China, I doubt there is anything they could do.

HertsLad

Scot_39 said:

. 
Tried to lower living room to same.

Mainly hands and sometimes feet -  started to get mild pain across back of hands and felt tight - even a bit of color change occassionally (*) - when tried 14 in living room after few hours exposed on keyboard.

Fingerless gloves helped back of hands.

(*) Maybe mild Reynauds type discolouration levels in toes but a worrying sign never the less

15 for a while - 16 for hours on end is comfortable with 2 layers bottom (light thermal long johns, jeans or jogging bottoms), 3 layers top (light thermal vest, shirt, cardi or jogger top). 17 feels too warm. 18 I'm almost sweating

But in end decided if having an impact on health i can notice it was a step too far.

I would urge you to take care if you notice adverse health effects. No GP or health professional would support what I succeed in doing. But I think I know better, of course. i.e. for as long as I don't notice any problems with my health at all.

Recently, someone suggested Social Services might insist a local lady in her mid-70s move out of a very cluttered home, which she owns. Is that possible, under the law, if the house contents are not causing problems for neighbours? He said they could then send the home owner a bill for the alternative accommodation, for contractors to clear the contents, and for skips to carry it away. Is this possible, or is it most unlikely? In the case of this lady, there are fears she could injure herself by falling over the clutter.

My question is what powers does any authority have to intervene to prevent what they would regard as 'living dangerously'? Does anyone know?

I might need to think about arguments to force them to back off, if I come to their attention as I get older.