Preparing for a very frugal Autumn/Winter anyone?

[caughtupinthismoment]

It maybe a little early but its no harm being prepared.
I'm going to learn from my mistakes last Autumn/Winter

My clothing for the cold weather wasn't up to scratch it just wasnt warm enough. this year I'm going to outlet winter stores to buy thermal fleeces hat scarf gloves ect I also need to wear proper footwear converse dont cut it feet like icicles and wet most of winter. My dd was kitted out properly all snug waterproof just forgot about myself.

Im going to stock up on the meters before the winter sets in. I plan to be snug and warm with a hot choc in hand instead of trapsing to the shop for the meters.

This year I shall be making more hearty comfort food such as stews soups, broths and casseroles. I do make them but not so often.

Im going to bulk buy dried goods cans ect to get us through the winter. I tend to go out to buy fresh every other day/ week but there more expensive in winter so i'm going to buy seasonal and keep loaves in the freezer and long life milk just in case.

Im defo not spending lots on xmas this year cutting back drastically most people seemed to forget I existed at xmas and they didnt seem to appreciate all the effort I went to making hampers for them.

Xmas and Bday presents for my Dd are going to be things she needs. She has enough toys and Im sick of plastic tat that seems to break when I accidently stand on it as she has so much.

I'm going to start saving now so that I can have a nest egg incase I need to use it. seemed to be skint most of the time and january bills were hard.

With our filled stomachs of homecooked food and Our thermal clothing we will be able to venture into the unknown (wink) i.e long walks to jump into the crisp snow and to crunch on the autumn leaves to collect pine cones and such to decorate and we will come home to a warm house freezer and cupboards full to snuggle by the fire with a hotchoc and a family film.

[Caecilius]

Some great ideas there. I'm going to sort out draught proofing NOW and get fleece linings for the curtains and a front door curtain as well to keep out the cold.

[SylvaniansKeepGettingHoovered]

Some great ideas there OP, I'm planning to cut back on the cost of Xmas presents, in particular for my neices and nephews. Last xmas I made the mistake of purchasing fairly small items too far in advance and then I ended up buying extra items to make it up to a bit more - what a waste of money really, my neices and nephews receive so much from family members I doubt they even noticed what I bought. I plan to buy less this time, just one item each.

My DDs were well kitted out for winter last year, and I bought myself a very warm coat (it's like wearing a duvet!) so don't need to buy another coat for me again this year.

Do you have a slow-cooker for your stews, soups etc? I make good use of mine in autumn/winter.

I'd like to cut down on using the tumble dryer in the winter but I can't see how really.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I've bought loads of these outlet.marksandspencer.com/Heatgen-V-Neck-Cut-Out-Thermal-T32-6351-S/dp/B009TPUH6O.

If you are a first time customer register and get an extra 15%,I've bought 4 for £16 and I'm really happy with them.

I'm a big fan of thermals though.

[Charlesroi]

We're doing this

• topping up the meters with a few extra quid a week
  
• slightly overpaying the CT so it's finished before Christmas. We'll then use the 'spare' money on the winter bills.
  
• putting a bit extra in the savings for the festive season.
  

We find it easier this way, as we're not tempted to have (for example) another bottle of wine if the money isn't there.

We used fleece linings last year and it worked really well, so we'll be doing it again. Also need to fill in some small cracks around the front door.
I really don't like thinking of winter at this time of year but needs must!

[PrimalLass]

Yes definitely. We have so much to do to the house that we have to save other ways.

[mmmmmchocolate]

Some fab ideas already on this thread. I'm planning to leave my job soon (still have another job, but less hours, less money and things will be tighter for us than we're used to).

Right now while I've got 2 jobs money coming in I'm in stockpiling mode. I've started to buy toiletries, cleaning products and loo paper etc whilst it's in offer because although they're only small amounts at a time during winter bill are higher and of course there's the costs for Xmas.

I've already put the money away for the Xmas tree, Santa gifts have been brought and I've brought on offer gift vouchers to buy the DC gifts from us. I'm putting away £5 a week so I don't even have to think about Xmas gifts for family.

So- place marking for hopefully lots more ideas! I've learned loads from here in the past so I know I can make ends meet on less money and I'd rather struggle that put up with my crappy job for much longer :)

[mmmmmchocolate]

sylvanians I don't have a tumble dryer, during winter I split my washing into whites, colours and darks and do one wash each day. (Eg whites Monday, colours Tuesday, darks weds, then have a couple of days of no washing while the laundry builds up again) If you put the washing on a clothes horse in the morning I should be completely dry by the next morning- ready for the next load.

I have this fab hanger thing from ikea for hanging pants/socks (looks like an octopus) and I hang this from the curtain pole in the front room. If the fire is on it's dry in a matter of hours.

The trick is to not do too much at once so the clothes horse isn't overloaded and I generally put it in the kitchen or front room when I go out. It then dries quicker. I've never had a dryer so I can't really miss what I've never had lol.

[Didyouevah]

I've got a fab heated clothes horse from Lakeland. It's worth every penny. It's the only place that does it.

[justjuanmorebeer]

Hellooooo. I have just recently become a single parent so this winter will look quite different for us I think. I do the soups/stews and hearty meal thing already but I have just moved into a new place and there are a few doors where draughts could get in so I am going to make 3 excluders to prevent this hopefully.
Good news is where I am has new heating system and appliances so with any luck my bills should actually decrease from what they were before. Esp with us both out lots during the week as we will be.

Christmas will be a frugal one, I tend to only get her little bits as family buy so much anyway and we will likely be eating round families house frequently. I dont bother with the work Christmas do either.

A lakeland airer is on my list of wants . If I get my financial situation sorted properly before Christmas I might get one maybe.

[AnimalsAreMyFriends]

Hello lovely frugal folks!!

Can I join this thread?

I have been buying saving stamps in Morrisons since last Christmas & saving fuel vouchers etc - last year I had enough to do my december shopping, and also a week in January as well (you know that really long stretch of January when there is no money!)

I meal plan every week, and we are very much a "put another jumper on, wear your slippers" rather than put the heating on, household.

I am using the local farm shop for fruit & veggies, and plan to use my slow cooker for batch cooking.

Might have to look at the Lakeland airer, that sounds useful (esp as we don't have the heating on very often! )

[Fluffycloudland77]

I looked at the lakeland heated aerial too but I bought a spin dryer in the end.

It's not for everyone but we don't have the heating on much in this house in the winter so I spin a load for 20 minutes or until no more water drips out then I put it over the clothes horse.

Everything dries overnight.

[Keepcalmanddrinkwine]

Last year I had to manage without a decent coat as mine fell apart and I couldn't find something properly waterproof for a cheap enough price so I'm sharing my find- Trespass has waterproof coats and fleeces in the sale. I won't be struggling in the cold and wet this winter.

[justjuanmorebeer]

I stocked up in sales early 2014 on the best winter gear ever and then it didn't even snow. This year I am determined to get good use out of it all. Mmmmm duck down parka. I need that stuff as I don't drive so have to walk everywhere.

[misstiredbuthappy]

Some great ideas on here :)

Ive already been putting extra on my gas meter, like when its been realy hot and we havent been using much gas ive been putting the same amount on every week its soon add up.

Ive bought dd nice snd warm jumpers cardis ect in the sales, realy need to buy myself some though as ive go no winter clothes or boots. I remember 1 year when dd was very young I was wearing the thinnest shoes I was freezing not going through that again.

[Fluffycloudland77]

just I did that too, I bought 5 pairs of heat holders socks for £1 a pair in April.

It's like having duvets wrapped around your feet. I think they are 3tog.

[LadySybilLikesCake]

Hi

My house gets cold (sash windows don't help). I need to get some thicker curtains and some logs for the fire so that we don't have to use the central heating as much. I bought a stove kettle last year so I can use that. If the log burner is hot anyway it's free hot water. I bought a couple of really thick jumpers last year and have been picking up warm clothes for ds every now and again. I didn't get any plums from my tree this year, sadly, and only a few cherries so I can't use those.

Covering a cardboard sheet with foil and placing it behind your radiator helps. It stops the heat going into the wall and radiates it back into the room. Most heat is loft through the roof and windows, so thick curtains and good loft insulation will save you lots.

[QueenofWhatever]

I always buy winter coats and boots off eBay at this time of year. You can get some real bargains. In the last couple of years I've got a couple of good quality wool winter coats for £12 each and fur lined boots for £20-30.

Also, even in winter it's worth hanging the washing out even if it's just for a couple of hours. Always drying indoors makes your house damper and you can end up needing the heating on more.

[LL12]

I have a Lakeland heated airer and it is a Gods send. I don't have a tumble dryer but purchased the airer a few years ago mainly for during the summer months when it is wet outside and took ages to get washing dry inside.
The airer costs me 3-4p (can't remember which) an hour to run, I put the wet clothes on it before I go to bed and cover it with a couple of sheets and in the morning it is all dry and I don't have to worry about things shrinking.

[Snowie2]

I'm planning on fleece lining my curtains as DS has very flimsy cotton ones. I've looked on ebay as not in UK and best price I see is £30 for 5m which I might get. It's about the same price I would have to pay for lined curtains for her room anyway.

[Snowie2]

DDs I meant !
Also I'll try to keep the heat off as long as possible but I have to say I nearly put it on today ! Our house is semi d 18 yrs but obv getting a bit draughty etc can't afford big insulation job yet !

Other frugal ideas: I make a bolognaise sauce ev week using 500g mince plus lots of veg, passata, spices, herbs etc blend it all & I freeze into bags makes about 3-4 bags (red lentils bulk it even more) and it does a lunch for 3-4 ppl on spaghetti plus the kids love it & don't realise full of veg.

[justjuanmorebeer]

Does anyone have any more energy saving tips for me that I could use?

2 bed ground floor flat victorian conversion majority upvc double glazed with 3 original sash windows including the living room bay.

I am with eon pay 80pcm direct debit for dual fuel and cannot get lower than this as even in the summer I seem to be using that amount. At the mo obvs elec more than gas.

I love the cardboard with foil tip! def doing this as have loads of boxes already. Anything else along these lines? I have an elec tarrif with cheaper night unit so I was thinking if I do get a lakeland airer to keep in the cellar I could pop this on before bed at about 11 so would benefit from the cheaper night electricity? Similarly with slowcooker, use it overnight? I used to do that to make chicken stock just use it overnight.

I have loads of stuff to sell on ebay/facebook/carboot so need to get on that really.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Check the thermostat on your water tank, they are quite often set to 70, set it to 60 and only heat for 20 mins at a time.

Yy to thermal lined curtains.

[Snowie2]

I think I'll also do the cardboard tip DH will think I've gone nuts...

[LadySybilLikesCake]

I tried hidden veg, ds didn't fall for it.

justjuan. It's really not a good idea to use a washing machine/dryer over night as they are a fire risk. Make sure you don't leave things on standby. I also noticed that leaving the microwave plugged in and switched on at the socket used electricity, so I unplug mine. Victorian houses are hard to heat, and the heat also goes upwards, so you're keeping the flat above you warm! There's no way to avoid this really. What you could do is get an electric heater as electric costs less than gas. Just heat one room during the day, the main one you're using. Bulk cooking works as you only use the cooker once. Then microwave the spares as and when you need them (don't forget to unplug your microwave). Big fluffy socks, fingerless gloves if you can.

[LadySybilLikesCake]

Honestly, Snowie. I heat a 2 bedroomed victorian terrace for £1.80 a day (cooker included). Bargain. I do use a log burner also but only for about 2 weeks over the winter.