A little tip for keeping warm from someone who is very 'nesh' (and a bit poor)

[jjazz]

Go to an area of town with lots of charity shops- not difficult so far. Hunt out the nicest cashmere jumper you can find. It has to be 100% cashmere and roomy enough for a couple of layers underneath. This is also not difficult as they were very popular a couple of years ago and stupid rich people are now bored of them after a couple of wears and find them far too hot in their super toasty houses! I got one for £5.95 last week (which is the most I have ever spent on one item in a charity shop.) Hand wash it & dry flat (this is the not so good bit...waiting for it to dry aint fun either) wear with a couple of layers (i.e. vest and long sleeved skinny rib/polo neck type thingy) under. You will not ever be cold again. xxx

[Alisvolatpropiis]

I think I love you a little bit

[spookysal]

Years ago my parents used to use draft excluders on every door and used to be big on making sure we shut every door behind us.

A few years ago, when I remembered this, I thought my mum was a bit obsessive about it.

But with energy bills so high I totally get it now. I wish draft excluders were more widely used though, feel a bit daft using them in this day and age - even though it's actually a sensible thing to do.

Love your tip jjazz

[TheCortanaThatStoleChristmas]

Thanks for the tip jazz. Will keep an eye out.

Spooky, I make draft excluders from DP's worn our trousers. Cut up the crotch, stuff (one bag of good stuffing is about £2.50 from a craft shop. One bag does two) and you also have nice little pockets to put smellies. A few years ago this was considered one of my little eccentricities, now I know loads of people doing it.

[ScramblyEgg]

I've got a staying warm tip too.

If you wear trousers, knee-length socks will keep you much warmer than ankle-length ones. Obvious really, but it's taken me years to work this one out.

[hiddenhome]

I bought three pairs of knee high socks from poundstretchers. Obviously, they were only £1 each.

They are bloody boiling! They keep my feet lovely and warm Can totally recommend them. They are grey with multicoloured spots on

[spookysal]

That is a really fab idea TheCortana, and they would look a lot better than the ones my mum used to buy that had animal heads on and used to look like long stuffed dead animals

[onthemetro]

Great tip, thanks OP.
I bought knee length big furry bed socks from Primark the other day for £1.50, they're so soft and warm and I've been wearing them a lot. I also bought a pair of fakey Ugg boots for £5 from there and the combination keeps my feet really warm and cosy when usually my feet are the first to turn into blocks of ice

[EverythingsDozy]

we used to make draft excluders from old tights and hamster bedding or filter fluff. We would make them into snakes

[BornToFolk]

Scramblyegg I just worked that one out too! For ultimate toastiness, I wear knee high cotton socks with a pair of handknitted wool ankle socks over the top.

[Corygal]

Men's thermal long johns make a smart matt legging for the ladies.

At the risk of sounding like a Viz top tip, cover up the crotch with a fashionable tunic or longline cardigan. Excellent choice, Madam.

[propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS]

I am so fucked off by the cold. I hate it. My tip is to wear fingerless gloves over normal gloves. And a hat. Don't go anywhere without a hat.

[AnnaRack]

Agree about the layering, its a pity that all the charity shops round here are full of Primark acrylic.
Hot water bottles v warming too!

[AnnaRack]

Another tip - girls' woolly school tights are lovely and warm and much cheaper than womens (£5 for 3 pairs in Tesco). They are surprisingly big too - I'm a size 12 and am wearing DD's age 10 ones, which were far too big for her.

[Nixea]

I love you purely because its been and age since I heard nesh being used!

[Xroads]

I've been wearing thermals under my clothes this year, either it's much colder, or I'm getting much older or it's very fashionable either way I'm loving it!

[bluecarrot]

Our heating switches off at 7.30pm so we get showered and into pjs around that time. It means that we dont have to get undressed when the house is cooler at 9pm (about 11c today) Often we go to bed about 8pm and chat / watch a movie on laptop / play a card game etc nice and cosy under duvet.

If you have any spare but raggedy blankets or duvets, put them on top of your mattress, under the sheet. I do this on DDs bed (mine is a tempur type mattress so no need) and she says it feels cosier. She also has another duvet that will go on top of her current one when she feels she needs it.

Hot water bottles. We have two each - one goes in bed and one with us if cosying on sofa and then smaller ones (from poundland - maybe 1/2 liter size) that go in the front pocket of our fleeces - the type with a single front pocket that you can put your hand in one side and it can come out the other Thats also good for period cramp if the fleece is fairly snug.

Slippers instead of slipper socks. Sooo much warmer, though admittedly not as comfy. I wanted celtic sheepskin ones but will have to look out for them in sales. Got £8 machine washable ones from tesco for now and cant complain.

Line curtains with fleece. Really cheap and easy as no sewing involved - i just pin some to the standard lining.

Sadly I cant stand the feel of cashmere...

[Toomuchturkeyatendofthedinner]

Get a Labrador. I currently have 30kg of furry toasty black beastie lying all over me on the sofa and I am as cosy as anything

Am going to charity shop tomorrow so will keep an eye out for cashmere!!

[blackeyedsusan]

ha, I have been going to school pick up in,
thermal base layer
wool jumper 9chaarity shop)
2 fleeces
wool cardi
coat

therml base layer
2 pairs of trousers
3 pairs of socks

hat gloves

[suebfg]

I love my new hot water bottle with furry cover

[RabbitsMakeGOLDBaubles]

I am putting up curtains at doors this year, it's so cold by them I can feel them eating up the heat.

[PlaySchool]

I sit with a microwaved wheat bag on my knee with a blanket on top.

[ssaw2012]

I use fleece blanket in bed and then the douvet on the top. I just cannot get warm without my fleece blanket. Sounds ridiculous, yeah :)
I will be too looking for the cashmere jumper!

[threepiecesuite]

Sorry for slight hijack, but I've got a couple of those handwarmers that you click to heat up. The gel solidified and now I can't get them to go back to normal. What am I doing wrong?

[LegArmpits]

You have to boil them in a pan until they go soft again!