Turning Straw into Gold: Creating Long Term Security & A Solid Home

MillQueen

@Rhyddid2026, some of them are, but some have vents for the fires. I have a couple of gas fires in the reception rooms (which probably aren't safe to use, so at some point I need to get those replaced). The ones in the kitchen seem to be blocked off, as one has been made into a space for a double oven and the other one is a cupboard. I don't trust the cupboard one though, as a live bird mysteriously appeared the other week and I suspect in came in through there. I'll have a look at the curtains, thanks. In the summer it seemed a good idea not to have any, as I love the light rooms and not a fan of adding fabrics, but as it gets later in the year I am less excited about the lack of privacy when I put the lights on in the evenings.

Having another day of under-consumption, with storebrand weetabix for breakfast with a ripe banana that needs using up and some yellow sticker mik. I have only been buying milk when it's reduced, otherwise I just use water for everything. Lunch will be roasting the remaining 2 yellow sticker sweet potatoes (1 for lunch tomorrow) and the yellow sticker falafels. I think tea will be grilled cheese mushroom quesadillas with some tortillas that need using, and maybe a tin of kidney beans. It's surprising how cheap food can be - I have really gotten into this, with it being the one area of finance I have most control over. I am going to try to have a few work from home days so that I can spend less on petrol before pay day.

Cosmos1234

Hi, I hope it's ok to 'pop in'. I bought a Chimn3y Sh33p as a removable block for the open fire here a couple of years ago. The breeze used to come down the chimney and the tiles around the fireplace were freezing, but aren't any more. If I want a fire it can be taken out and put back in again later. (A wood burner doesn't fit in the budget unfortunately).

I should think there are similar things out there too, I found them after a friend suggested looking up about chimney balloons. (No connection to the company, it's just something that's made a real difference for me, so I thought might be worth mentioning).

vampirotoothus

Hi I have found that it is actually warmer outside than in a few times this week, so maybe go outside and see if that is the case where you are and open the windows if it is to let the house warm up. Mine definitely seems to trap the cold overnight. V x

MillQueen

@Cosmos1234, thanks I will have a look at the sheep. I did consider a chimney balloon, but it would require having work done to be able to get it up there and if I am going to go to the expense of removing fires then it would be to install original style fireplaces, which I can't afford in the near future.

@vampirotoothus, I never thought of that, I will keep an eye on the temperature. It's always nice to air things out anyway, I do like doing that every now and then to let the outside air in.

I've been thinking today whether it might be best to mostly not use the heating at all this winter if I can get away with it, as I'm pretty happy with my hot water bottle and can invest in another one and maybe a heated blanket next time I am a bit more flush with cash. I could just set it to come on if it's very cold to prevent frost and have a small use every now and then to avoid any damp. Before I lived here I was in a house without any central heating and had gotten used to not having any, so I don't feel particularly bothered by it. I'm more concerned about keeping costs down and getting myself financially on track.

I have popped some sweet potatoes and baking potatoes in the oven for the next few days.

MillQueen

Reading a free book on BorrowBox for today's entertainment, and I have had the last couple of yellow sticker crumpets. The book is "Enough" by Dawn French, which isn't my usual type, but I was curious.

I need to make something with the 2 packs of yellow sticker tofu - they were only 57p each.

Fortune_Smiles

Our heating comes on 20 minutes before we get up and is on at 19 for an hour just to take the edge off. Then it's 18 until 6pm when it bumps up to 20 until we go to bed. We find we feel the cold more in the evening, probably because we're not moving around as much (and we're getting on a bit now). The heating's off all night as we find we don't need it on when in bed but I do have an electric blanket which is useful for those rare nights when I wake up feeling cold. My electric blanket has settings so that you can have it on all night on a low setting which is much more cost effective than having the heating on.

We have the log burner going as often as possible when we're at home which helps reduce our oil usage. Mr F laid a large section of our hedgerow this year so we are lucky to have plenty of logs in store.

I bought heated blankets for Mr F and I last year after other forumites recommended them and we love them.

I have tried reducing the temperature in past years but it's miserable, hard to get washing dry or even towels after a shower, the house feels damp and we get mould in the bathrooms. I try to strike a balance between considered and economical use of the heating and keeping us and the house healthy.

Fortune x

Blackcats

you are doing very well with your grocery spending. I agree that it's a budget area that we can control when most other bills seem to get increased without us having any say in the matter.

MillQueen

@Fortune_Smiles that sounds good to be able to use the log burner and have some control over that. I agree about the towels not drying, that's the one thing that irritates me when not using the heating. I am thinking it may be a priority to invest in an electric blanket before the winter sets in.

@Blackcats, I have been working super hard on never buying full price groceries any more, but I am eating a lot of strange food combinations! I am having yellow sticker loaded cheese fries for tea tonight (£1.21), and I also got a pizza, mushrooms, bag of pears, 2 packs of knorr stock pots, clotted cream fudge, a pack of yoghurts for £7. I think the trick with it is little and often to supplement what you have.

MillQueen

I am really looking forward to getting paid tomorrow - this is my only update 😂

Chocolatefund

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82185611#Comment_82185611

Me too! 😂 Bring on payday.