How to live without heating - save £000s

HertsLad

We have people coming to these boards right now who can't afford to turn their heating on, and also can't afford to spend out money on multiple sets of additional clothing to "layer up" as HertsLad does - if there is ANY risk that some of them skim the thread and think "oh that's OK because I'll just get use to it" then we need to be mindful of that, and there needs to be responsibility in the thread, IMO. 

I have never said I get used to low temperatures. Quite the opposite. For anyone with zero money, I don't know the answer. But for anyone with some money it's my premise that it's better to spend it on clothes which keep you warm than spending a lot more heating rooms or the entire home. Martin Lewis reluctantly suggests a similar approach but with electric pads rather than pure layering. The clothes also last for several years, rather than spend money on energy.

EssexHebridean

HertsLad said:

We have people coming to these boards right now who can't afford to turn their heating on, and also can't afford to spend out money on multiple sets of additional clothing to "layer up" as HertsLad does - if there is ANY risk that some of them skim the thread and think "oh that's OK because I'll just get use to it" then we need to be mindful of that, and there needs to be responsibility in the thread, IMO. 

I have never said I get used to low temperatures. Quite the opposite. For anyone with zero money, I don't know the answer. But for anyone with some money it's my premise that it's better to spend it on clothes which keep you warm than spending a lot more heating rooms or the entire home. Martin Lewis reluctantly suggests a similar approach but with electric pads rather than pure layering. The clothes also last for several years, rather than spend money on energy.

You still need to actually have the money to buy the clothes in the first place though. As a rough guideline, to kit out from scratch one person in the kit you were wearing through much of yesterday, what would the spend be, do you estimate? I know you said the down trousers would be £25 bought now, and I think there was a reference to £12 for a thermal baselayer top...but clearly that's only some of the relevant layers. (And this needs to be "shop prices" as someone suddenly finding themselves in the position of being unable to turn their heating on wouldn't have the luxury of time to stroll round charity shops, of course). 

It'd be interesting to work through the figures on this - then to extrapolate out the "real" cost allowing for multiple sets being needed. At this time of year it can take several days to get items dry indoors even with heating, so without is clearly going to be even more problematic. I'm guessing that for base layers you need at least three full sets assuming three wash-loads per week, probably 4 as a realistic minimum in case things are slower than expected in drying. Then - what, at least 2/3 sets of the next layers out, and perhaps only singles of the outermost stuff - although that's the stuff that will get more traditionally "dirty" I guess, so you're still going to be washing trousers at least weekly, so probably actually two pairs of those... That's got to be a fair old outlay for anyone looking to start this approach from scratch?  

From a female perspective, the thought of toilet visits would put me off if nothing else did I think! 

jadey2024

EssexHebridean said:

HertsLad said:

We have people coming to these boards right now who can't afford to turn their heating on, and also can't afford to spend out money on multiple sets of additional clothing to "layer up" as HertsLad does - if there is ANY risk that some of them skim the thread and think "oh that's OK because I'll just get use to it" then we need to be mindful of that, and there needs to be responsibility in the thread, IMO. 

I have never said I get used to low temperatures. Quite the opposite. For anyone with zero money, I don't know the answer. But for anyone with some money it's my premise that it's better to spend it on clothes which keep you warm than spending a lot more heating rooms or the entire home. Martin Lewis reluctantly suggests a similar approach but with electric pads rather than pure layering. The clothes also last for several years, rather than spend money on energy.

You still need to actually have the money to buy the clothes in the first place though. As a rough guideline, to kit out from scratch one person in the kit you were wearing through much of yesterday, what would the spend be, do you estimate? I know you said the down trousers would be £25 bought now, and I think there was a reference to £12 for a thermal baselayer top...but clearly that's only some of the relevant layers. (And this needs to be "shop prices" as someone suddenly finding themselves in the position of being unable to turn their heating on wouldn't have the luxury of time to stroll round charity shops, of course). 

It'd be interesting to work through the figures on this - then to extrapolate out the "real" cost allowing for multiple sets being needed. At this time of year it can take several days to get items dry indoors even with heating, so without is clearly going to be even more problematic. I'm guessing that for base layers you need at least three full sets assuming three wash-loads per week, probably 4 as a realistic minimum in case things are slower than expected in drying. Then - what, at least 2/3 sets of the next layers out, and perhaps only singles of the outermost stuff - although that's the stuff that will get more traditionally "dirty" I guess, so you're still going to be washing trousers at least weekly, so probably actually two pairs of those... That's got to be a fair old outlay for anyone looking to start this approach from scratch?  

From a female perspective, the thought of toilet visits would put me off if nothing else did I think! 

Personally with the amount of toilet trips I make it would be a nightmare for me haha.
I walk/sit around my massionate in a huge oversized fleece hoody blanket (Which I throughly recommend to people by the way, mine is from dunelm) and I have to take it off every time I visit the loo. A little bit of a nuisance but maybe it is a little easier for a male going to the toilet, not sure. 
I wear about 3 total layers tops being a pj top,a fleece jumper and my hoody blanket and that's enough and comfortable for me. But I have storages in living room so ine room with all day heating so not living in the temps this chap is.

HertsLad

EssexHebridean said:

HertsLad said:The clothes also last for several years, rather than spend money on energy.

It'd be interesting to work through the figures on this - then to extrapolate out the "real" cost allowing for multiple sets being needed....

From a female perspective, the thought of toilet visits would put me off if nothing else did I think! 

You make some valid points. I will calculate the costs and report back.

Yes, toilet visits are more awkward than wearing light clothes. But it's not very challenging, either. I'm happier spending twice as long on each toilet break, and being away on holiday for several weeks a year (wearing 'normal' clothes of course) rather than thousands of pounds on energy 

Effician

Two of us here so clothing costs would have to be doubled ,(not that Mrs E would even contemplate it for around the house), we heat our house for free so not even entertained the extra clothing route . We do however have all the low temp weather gear & petrol stoves/lights from years of camping in all weather just in case.

HertsLad

Here are the costs of items worn to keep me warm in my unheated house at 1C, as shown in recent photos.

From top to bottom:

Thinsulate lined hat, Asda, £4
Neck liner, snood, Asda, £3
2x long sleeved base layers, SportsDirect or Decathlon, £14
100% cotton shirt, charity shop, £2
100% pure wool sweater, charity shop, £4
2x polyester lined jackets, Decathlon, £30
Thinsulate lined jacket (M&S), ebay, £12
Polyester fleece, charity shop, £6

2x base layer 'pants', SportsDirect or Decathlon, £14
Down insulated trousers, ebay, £25
Thinsulate lined ski trousers, ebay, £8

Add a further set of base layers to allow for washing, £28

Total outlay: £150
The clothes should last at least 5 years
So cost per year will be £30

Compared to hundreds or thousands of pounds spent on heating 

peter3hg

HertsLad said:

EssexHebridean said:

HertsLad said:The clothes also last for several years, rather than spend money on energy.

It'd be interesting to work through the figures on this - then to extrapolate out the "real" cost allowing for multiple sets being needed....

From a female perspective, the thought of toilet visits would put me off if nothing else did I think! 

You make some valid points. I will calculate the costs and report back.

Yes, toilet visits are more awkward than wearing light clothes. But it's not very challenging, either. I'm happier spending twice as long on each toilet break, and being away on holiday for several weeks a year (wearing 'normal' clothes of course) rather than thousands of pounds on energy 

I think you're overstating the thousands of pounds of potential savings for the types of people who would be able to adopt a similar approach.
Realistically it is only people living alone or couples with no children at home who could live with no heating, and they on average aren't going to be spending thousands a year anyway. Personally I spend around £550 a year on heating (based on current tariffs) so I could pay for an extra holiday with that money, but I would prefer to be comfortable for the four/five months I would normally have heating on. 

EssexHebridean

HertsLad said:

Here are the costs of items worn to keep me warm in my unheated house at 1C, as shown in recent photos.

From top to bottom:

Thinsulate lined hat, Asda, £4 x 2 to allow for one being washed £8
Neck liner, snood, Asda, £3 x 2 to allow for one being washed £6
2x long sleeved base layers, SportsDirect or Decathlon, £14
100% cotton shirt, charity shop, £2 Cheapest bought in store - perhaps £10? x 2 to allow for washing £20
100% pure wool sweater, charity shop, £4 Goodness knows what this would cost bought instore - maybe you might be lucky at £20 from a discounter? x 2 to allow for washing (and note that it would need to be washed on a delicates cycle too) £40
2x polyester lined jackets, Decathlon, £30 Unsure if this is two being worn at once at £15 each? If so x 2 to allow for washing - £60 total
Thinsulate lined jacket (M&S), ebay, £12 Again - far more expensive in store - the cheapest I'm finding is around the £60. I'm assuming you *might* get away with wearing this right through the winter without washing if you weren't too fussy!
Polyester fleece, charity shop, £6 Decathlon look to have these for around £15

2x base layer 'pants', SportsDirect or Decathlon, £14
Down insulated trousers, ebay, £25 I think you mentioned that these are still available at this price? x 2 to allow for washing - £50
Thinsulate lined ski trousers, ebay, £8 I'm seeing prices around the £40 mark for these bought new.

Add a further set of base layers to allow for washing, £28

Total outlay: £150
The clothes should last at least 5 years
So cost per year will be £30

Compared to hundreds or thousands of pounds spent on heating 

OK - comments in bold relate to what the "from scratch" cost would be for someone who no  longer has the ability to pay to heat their home and so feels their only option is to manage with no heat at all, as per this thread. Allowing that those folk probably won't have the option of getting things gradually over time from charity shops, the initial "real world" spend is in the region of £350. And that is per person, of course. I'm trying to be conservative/hopeful about the regularity of washing although obviously base layers (next to the skin) are generally going to need washing very frequently with most people probably being happy to wear layers for extra time as they progress outwards. I'm also being very generous about the cost of the pure wool jumpers I suspect - whether there really is any chance of getting them at that cost I have no idea, but suspect not! 

The cost per year isn't really relevant as it's the up front cost that will be out of people's reach if they are in that much of a desperate state. So yes - it seems that it's not prohibitively expensive for someone who just wants to give it a try as an experiment, or a challenge as in the OP's case. It's going to be a long way off being viable for those who simply have "no money" though, as those sorts of clothes simply often aren't the things that a lot of people have just lying around. 

My electricity bill for the entire year is currently being estimated by Octopus to be around £1100 - I'm fully expecting around £600 of this to be heating - with the balance being hot water and the usual stuff like washing machine, fridge freezer, TV, lights, internet etc. So it would take me quite a number of years to "save thousands" allowing for that £700-ish upfront outlay to kit out two of us. 

peter3hg said:

HertsLad said:

EssexHebridean said:

HertsLad said:The clothes also last for several years, rather than spend money on energy.

It'd be interesting to work through the figures on this - then to extrapolate out the "real" cost allowing for multiple sets being needed....

From a female perspective, the thought of toilet visits would put me off if nothing else did I think! 

You make some valid points. I will calculate the costs and report back.

Yes, toilet visits are more awkward than wearing light clothes. But it's not very challenging, either. I'm happier spending twice as long on each toilet break, and being away on holiday for several weeks a year (wearing 'normal' clothes of course) rather than thousands of pounds on energy 

I think you're overstating the thousands of pounds of potential savings for the types of people who would be able to adopt a similar approach.
Realistically it is only people living alone or couples with no children at home who could live with no heating, and they on average aren't going to be spending thousands a year anyway. Personally I spend around £550 a year on heating (based on current tariffs) so I could pay for an extra holiday with that money, but I would prefer to be comfortable for the four/five months I would normally have heating on. 

Yes - I'd agree with this. 

I'm sure this has been asked before OP - but how do you cope with accommodating visitors? I presume they wouldn't be wearing 5 layers as standard!  

HertsLad

EssexHebridean

I'm sorry I don't have time to go line by line through yout comments in bold.

Here are some general comments:
- my costs are accurate. Are you a savvy money saver? It took numerous visits to charity shops and the ebay website to buy several of the items. I would never pay the full retail price. If people didn't start preparing for Winter (buying clothes at good prices) months ago, then that's their loss.

You will be different. I don't normally wash any of the clothes (within one season)apart from the base layers, snood, shirt and polyester fleece. Heaven forbid if I smell like a tramp but it's good if it keeps strangers at a distance as I walk around supermarkets while winter viruses remain a risk.

If I meet friends, I don't wear any of those clothes. I don't have any visitors.

The figure of £28 is the latest (increased) price for 2 tops and 2 bottom base layers at £7 each.

I didn't overstate potential savings at all. I suggested hundreds to thousands. So that could be any cost above £200.

Flight3287462

There are just some threads, that I think it it is best to say nothing.

All I will say having lived in caravan (new house build) in 2010 when it got down to 23C I really don't want to back to the hassles that caused.

Were we healthy yes, very but not something we as a family would do again from choice.