Anyone planning ahead?

Gin_and_Milk

Hi,
I know we're not even into summer yet, but have any of you started to prepare for later on in the year, particularly with energy prices?
We've got a multi fuel burner, so the plan is to stock up with wood over summer and spend as much time as possible in that room in order to avoid using central heating. (Coal just makes everything dirty).  Other than that I'm not really sure what to do.  Our energy supplier was SSE, and they've moved us to OVO (cheapest tariff).
Any tips would be very welcome.  I bought a lovely Christmas blanket for a few quid from The Range last year, which I often wrap myself up in when watching TV.  Just wish I'd bought my husband one now, as I've a feeling they'll be more expensive this year!
Thanks

joedenise

Probably worth stocking up your tins cupboard with anything you regularly use like tinned tomatoes, baked beans, pulses and also any dried products you use like (again) pulses, rice, pasta, couscous.  Prices can only go one way so it could help to ease the burden in winter.  Perhaps just an extra tin or two a week so you don't really notice it.

With regard to heat, hot water bottles are a cheap and easy way to keep warm.  I like one for my feet when it's cold as I really suffer with cold feet in the winter and if my feet are warm I feel warm.  Fingerless gloves can also be useful as they help keep you warm but you still have plenty of movement.

JinJinBlue

Hi there. I'm certainly preparing. I've checked all my winter clothes to see that they're clean and in good repair. I've done a stock take of my freezer and cupboards. None of us can see into the future but we can try to prepare in our own way. I'm in the middle of reading the Preparing for Winter thread. Lots of good ideas and advice on there. 

gill5blue

Regarding energy usage- I have bought smart plugs, they turn off appliances when you don't need them. I have set up a schedule for minimum usage of electricity. These plugs use between 1 and 1.6 watts each.
I have stocked up on wood and coal for the log burner.
I have bought thick jumpers to wear.
I have just replaced an old fashioned boiler/emersion heater and already my gas usage has plummeted.
All windows and doors have been replaced in the last two years.
Need to buy hot water bottle and would like to buy a Wim Hoff poncho.
So I think I'm nearly ready.
Gill5blue

Effician

This topic does get covered on the prepping threads though they have tended to go quiet as the months have warmed, no doubt there will be a mad dash to prep just before winter sets in.

As for us, we already have enough firewood for this coming winter & beyond, we're all electric ( also moved to OVO) & have over the last 6 months been modifying our usage to get best value for money from the electric we use, even with a potential 40% rise in the October cap our bill will be under £50/ month.

The cupboards & freezer are well stocked plus fruit & veg growing well around the garden plus 800 litres of compost on the go for next yr.

Good luck with your prepping ,it's never too early to start.

Gin_and_Milk

Thanks for your replies, much appreciated.
My feet feel the cold too, especially when I'm working in the study.  That was an extension which was built before we bought the house, and it's obvious they didn't bother with any sort of insulation.
We bought a chest freezer last year as I tend to batch cook, and it's one of the best things we've bought in a long time.
I'll take a look at the prepping for winter thread too.

Rosa_Damascena

We're only just feeling the heat, I don't want to think about the misery of being cold.

Having said that I think a review of the store cupboards and stocking up on things that are used regularly is sensible. I for one wouldn't wish to run out of toothpaste or toilet roll!

Gin_and_Milk

Rosa_Damascena said:

We're only just feeling the heat, I don't want to think about the misery of being cold.

Having said that I think a review of the store cupboards and stocking up on things that are used regularly is sensible. I for one wouldn't wish to run out of toothpaste or toilet roll!

I know what you mean, although we're not feeling the heat at all up here which makes it easier to think about.  I'm wanting to prepare ahead because what I spend now I can offset on utility bills.  I think coal and wood will get more expensive as we get into autumn / winter, so I want to avoid paying more as much as possible.  Can't avoid it altogether obviously, but I can definitely minimise it.
We also live in an old 3 storey house, and even though we had the boiler replaced about 4 years ago for something more economical, it's still not cheap to heat.

Floss

Gin_and_Milk said:

We also live in an old 3 storey house, and even though we had the boiler replaced about 4 years ago for something more economical, it's still not cheap to heat.

Have you done things like shutting off rooms, putting carpet / rugs down on hard / wooden floors, door curtains, draught excluders etc?

Gin_and_Milk

Floss said:

Gin_and_Milk said:

We also live in an old 3 storey house, and even though we had the boiler replaced about 4 years ago for something more economical, it's still not cheap to heat.

Have you done things like shutting off rooms, putting carpet / rugs down on hard / wooden floors, door curtains, draught excluders etc?

Good points - we used to have door sausages, no idea why I got rid, but yes, things like that do make a big difference!

Floss

My front door is quite wide, too wide for a standard sausage so I rolled up an old fleece blanket & tied it with thick cord in 2 places to make a custom draught excluder 😉