Any old style tips for newly single older vegetarian lady

kimwp

Cornwell27 said:

Hi well I’ve bought some thermal curtains in the Dunelm sale as I couldn’t find any second hand that fit, so I’m hoping they will help. I did an experiment and kept the lounge door closed overnight and the rest of the flat stays pretty warm whereas when I went in there in the morning it was noticeably several degreees colder… so that is the room I need to work out how to manage! I’ve also bought an electric blanket for sitting at night, and my ex-mother in law swore by halogen heaters so I’ve also invested in one of those, and last night I was quite ok sitting with it by my legs. 

I also made a lentil sweet potato thing in the slow cooker that will give me 4 days meals again. 

Thanks everyone for suggestions, I’ll keep reading and seeing what else I can do. 

Sounds like you are making great progress! 

Generally, keeping doors shut will help with thermal control- in the summer as well as the winter. 

Rosa_Damascena

OP - keep an eye on the energy the halogen heater uses and perhaps restrict it to small rooms with the door shut?

Cornwell27

Hi all, I’ve just had the smart meter installed and it’s showing I’m using approx 85p of electricity per hour - the only items plugged in are fridge-freezer, tv, hall heater, bedroom heater and lounge heater as it is very cold here and I’ve just got back from work 😳. I think I’ll be watching the meter as my new entertainment lol

MayDogsandCoffee

In my first flat (studio / shoebox) I had eco7 and was out all day like you, sometimes I used to switch the oven on to warm the space not sure if it was cost effective.  But just to say you have moved in at the worst time for weather at a major life change.  I think you will feel better about the flat as the weather improves but if not start a savings pot to move out off this temporary accommodation into your forever space.  My current house was filthy when I moved in, (woman had been a heavy smoker and lived on fried food, grease everywhere) and for weeks I felt like giving the keys back and walking away - lots of work on a budget and now it is the best space I have had.

Cornwell27

Yes I’m already thinking that this is temporary, maybe for the next 2-4 years then hopefully I can move to a little cottage in a more rural area that I know. I’ve already researched and it’s got a station, sports centre with swimming pool that does yoga classes, and seems to have a thriving community. I’d have to move jobs as the commute wouldn’t be worth doing, but that’s not a problem as I’ve had to move 3 times last year due to redundancy then bullying 😳. So I’m making my flat homely with items that are all moveable, with an eye on somehow saving and moving in the future. The flat looks better already with my nic-nacs round ☺️ 

kimwp

Cornwell27 said:

Yes I’m already thinking that this is temporary, maybe for the next 2-4 years then hopefully I can move to a little cottage in a more rural area that I know. I’ve already researched and it’s got a station, sports centre with swimming pool that does yoga classes, and seems to have a thriving community. I’d have to move jobs as the commute wouldn’t be worth doing, but that’s not a problem as I’ve had to move 3 times last year due to redundancy then bullying 😳. So I’m making my flat homely with items that are all moveable, with an eye on somehow saving and moving in the future. The flat looks better already with my nic-nacs round ☺️ 

Sounds lovely! 

Rosa_Damascena

Cornwell27 said:

Hi all, I’ve just had the smart meter installed and it’s showing I’m using approx 85p of electricity per hour - the only items plugged in are fridge-freezer, tv, hall heater, bedroom heater and lounge heater as it is very cold here and I’ve just got back from work 😳. I think I’ll be watching the meter as my new entertainment lol

Are you sure? Three electric heaters are eating up a lot of energy.

i bought myself another electric throw today - toasty warm for when I watch TV 

ETA: I've just revisited the OP, you did say it was expensive to heat @Cornwell27 !

Cornwell27

Rosa_Damascena said:

Cornwell27 said:

Hi all, I’ve just had the smart meter installed and it’s showing I’m using approx 85p of electricity per hour - the only items plugged in are fridge-freezer, tv, hall heater, bedroom heater and lounge heater as it is very cold here and I’ve just got back from work 😳. I think I’ll be watching the meter as my new entertainment lol

Are you sure? Three electric heaters are eating up a lot of energy.

i bought myself another electric throw today - toasty warm for when I watch TV 

ETA: I've just revisited the OP, you did say it was expensive to heat @Cornwell27 !

I’ve just got home as I do a short day Friday - the only items on are slow cooker and fridge freezer and it’s showing as 3p an hour - so it’s definitely the heaters eating up the cost. 

kimwp

As I said previously, don't try to save money by being cold- but having said that, do you need to heat your hall? 

Cornwell27

kimwp said:

As I said previously, don't try to save money by being cold- but having said that, do you need to heat your hall? 

I was thinking that by heating the hall and leaving bathroom and kitchen doors open it would heat them a little, which does seem to work as they’re not too cold.. I really think it’s the lounge that’s the problem - quite big, lots of glass and small heater that doesn’t seem to even touch the cold. An electrician friend came round and he said it’s undersized for the the room… but I don’t want to invest in a bigger one for now as they’re around £400. So I’m sitting with fingerless gloves and heated blanket for now ☺️. I’ll go in my bedroom around 7pm as that’s really cosy