How to live without heating - save £000s

Sea_Shell

But it's still going out and buying additional clothes now...not just replacing as you go.

I agree with the poster above, that this is not the answer for a family.

Do live alone, with no-one to please but yourself?

EssexHebridean

Your maths above seems to miss the fact that presumably multiples of each item would also be required - for most folk at least they do remove clothes to wash them from time to time? If you are in a position where you are spending most of every day by yourself, so can be liberal with requirements for changing and washing clothing, then perhaps, but realistically for the vast majority of people that's either going to be morally be a step too far, or they have family members or work colleagues who would be affected by a less than regular washing habit. 

Alnat1

What treats do you give yourself for living to what most seems a drastic lifestyle and not spending a few thousand a year on heating?

Or are you just saving up for the biggest harp in heaven?

PennyForThem_2

Oh for goodness sake!  HertsLad is giving sound, if extreme, advice.  Very,very few of us are going to follow to the letter everything HertsLad does.

But - layering up shouldn't be that difficult from what we own already - and, if needed, can supplement from cheapo supermarket and/or charity shop purchases.  What is first layer next to skin is not going to be seen.

His other advice may or maynot be useful or practical - but take it and follow, adapt, or ignore

Alnat1

I suspect the Herts Lasses will ignore too

EssexHebridean

Alnat1 said:

I suspect the Herts Lasses will ignore too

If indeed HertsLad DOES only possess one set of all that clothing, I suspect there ARE no HertsLasses to ignore anything!

Boxman

Sorry for the thread drift but reading all this just remembered a tv comedy sketch involving a young couple living above the Arctic Circle who got the urge just as winter ended but by the time they got all their layers off, before they got near each other winter had returned and they had to layer up again!

deano2099

HertsLad said:

Everything should last at least 10 years so that's a mere £9 per year, compared to the sky high energy prices.

Does anyone know a more cost effective way to stay warm? I exclude extreme measures like travelling round on a bus all day to keep warm, if you have a free bus pass.

Exercise!
I'm not being arch, but five minutes of vigorous activity every hour will help immensely. Those layers don't "keep the cold out" - they keep body heat in, so getting your body to start producing said heat at an increased level is great. Think of your body like a hot water cylinder - you can add more insulation indefinitely but at some point it'll go cold if you don't pop the boiler on for five minutes.

HertsLad

deano2099 said:

HertsLad said:

Everything should last at least 10 years so that's a mere £9 per year, compared to the sky high energy prices.

Does anyone know a more cost effective way to stay warm? I exclude extreme measures like travelling round on a bus all day to keep warm, if you have a free bus pass.

Exercise!
I'm not being arch, but five minutes of vigorous activity every hour will help immensely. Those layers don't "keep the cold out" - they keep body heat in, so getting your body to start producing said heat at an increased level is great. Think of your body like a hot water cylinder - you can add more insulation indefinitely but at some point it'll go cold if you don't pop the boiler on for five minutes.

Good point. I very seldom sit down in my house so I am standing, moving around almost all the time, including walking up and down stairs quite a lot. Some days I may feel very slightly colder than others but walking to the shops and back will soon warm me up, as will having a meal. It's interesting to me that I was not wearing ski trousers on top of down-lined trousers on the day the photo was taken, while the temperature in my house was 2C. That day, I must have been warm enough without them. I have the confidence of knowing it works to think what I need to do if I do feel even very slightly cold. Anyone trying this for the first time would probably just give up, thinking it's not for them, which would be a pity.

Yes, others are correct that I have multiple sets of base layers and dozens of cotton shirts - plenty to allow for washing. But if everything was doubled up, that's still only £18 a year, compared to an energy cost of £thousands. 

Alnat1

Most people get visitors, friends come round for coffee/lunch/dinner, relatives stay over etc. This is a normal part of life for the majority of the population.

I can't imagine offering guests thermal long johns and a woolly hat as they come in the door. Also I'm sure after one winter I'd have no friends left if my house was like a fridge.

Sorry but yours isn't a lifestyle many would want to contemplate.