NO MORE COLD MUMSNETTERS!

Oh, I knew there was something I wanted to ask - I'm a layers gal, but vests and leggings rather than an all-in-one types of undies/onesies (even though I used to wear bodysuits in the 80's and found them great at keeping my back warm - I tuck all the tops in the bottoms these days).

How the hell don't you freeze your nuts off stripping out of these things to go to the loo?! Great if you're a bloke, not so easy for females.

Next door fell asleep with a home-made candle heater burning. I was letting the dog out and saw the flames. I rang them (mobile in pocket, quicker than getting round wall), woke them and they managed to put it out.

Please be careful with these things.

If anyone's in the east Midlands please do pm me, I have the number of a company that will assess your house for energy saving measures which they may well be able to carry out for free even if you aren't in receipt of any benefits. We had cavity wall insulation installed and it hasn't cost us a penny, our loft insulation was already the required thickness otherwise we could havehad that done too.

We moved into a cold draughty house in February this year during a cold snap. Dh is especially sensitive to cold and draughts and went on a crusade to sort it all out. Some of the measures were £££ but some were incredibly cheap.

We replaced all the knackered windows with thermally efficient ones.
Blocked all draughts around doors with draught excluder tape around the frame and draught excluders at the bottom.
Blocked the chimney in the open fireplace.
Cavity wall insulation as above.
Making sure that the loft hatches are insulated as well as the loft itself, and again with the draught excluder tape around the hatch.
All curtains closed at sunset and tucked behind radiators.
Foil behind all radiators.
New fire in the front room as the old one was crap, meaning that we can now heat just one room rather than the whole house.
Thick curtains, lined with thermal lining, across all doors and windows. Floor length where possible. For the bay window in the front room I am making some curtains that have slits in them so that the middle bits can be tucked behind the radiator but the sides will still be long enough to reach the floor.
Not done yet but a work in progress... rods down the sides of the curtains in the front room which will clip into catches on the wall, stopping draughts coming round the sides of the curtains.

I appreciate that a lot if the above is expensive, we were fortunate enough to have enough equity in our old house to pay for it all after we'd bought this one. Dh is very resistant to wearing thermals and layers due to skin sensitivity issues, so we've draught proofed and insulated the house as much as possible.

Sorry if this has already been posted, read most but not all! Someone mentioned those wheatbags you stick in the microwave that will keep you warm (I use one instead of a hot water bottle and accompanying me on the sofa in the evening). Well if you have a Home Bargains near you, they are only £1.79 which I think is fantastic!

Just wanted to say that you lovely people have inspired me to give what I can to help others stay warm: my offer

I wanted to post this here, in case anyone on this thread would like one.

I've got one of those candle heaters going now instead of having the heating on - it's only really beneficial close-to, but it's keeping my hands toasty while I type I've had to reduce it to one flower pot though - I tried with two stacked yesterday, and the outer one barely got warm.

This thread is officially amazing.

This isn't exactly a heating tip, but I'm guessing lots on this thread have cold and possibly damp houses. I found a useful leaflet from the Scottish govt on how to deal with this and prevent mould.

www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/05/10103020/30217

This is the oddest addition to classics ever.

Make your own (almost) free heated neck warmer with stuff around the house.
You need a pair of old clean tights (i used a pair of DD's which are outgrown as kids' sizes are ideal) and some rice (I used 40p value stuff)
Tie the waist of the tights closed, then pour the rice into the legs, about a quarter full. Make two or three knots in each leg to hold the rice evenly through the length of each leg.
Nuke in microwave for 2 or 3 mins and wrap around your neck. Keeps you warm for ages!

possibly been said, but put 2 fleece bkankets on top of your bedsheet and sleep in between them, with a duvet on the very top.

it's warm when you lie down and gets toasty. I'm never cold, in fact sometimes I kick off the duvet as I get too hot.

Our curtains have been pulled since summer first beacause of sunshine and now beacause of weather as dp does nights by the time hes up and im home its dark we like mushrooms

Oh and pull your curtains as soon as possible.

Check outshops like B & M Bargains, Poundstrecher, Home Bargains etc for cheaper curtains and things like draught excluders and curtains. I noticed B&M had thermal blackout curtains for £14 at the weekend. Lighting candles give the sensation of warmth, definitely wear a scarf.
B&M and Sports Direct has thermal long johns and long sleeved tops. The ones in Sports Direct are reduced from the original price and are BOGOF. DH got some for under his mitorbike gear and really rated them.

Primark have the clicky hand warmers for a pound.

Extra large fleeces in Primark for £15. Soft fleeces for £5 also Primark.

Faux fur throws, Poundstrecher has them for a tenner. I put the furry side against me.

Wear a thick dressing gown over your clothes.

I have put duct tape around draughty windows.

Curtains over the doors make a big difference. I have extra long denim ones from Ikea, £14. They pool on the floor so are like a draught excluder too.

the flower-pot joke cropped up before, it is a load of

Thanks for the tips, I'll see if I've got some old tights.

I remember waking up to frost inside the windows when growing up. And hopping across the kitchen floor, to switch the kettle on, and then running back upstairs to get dressed in time for the kettle boiling.

Went through the airing cupboard earlier and dragged every blanket out. They are now on sofas, in bedrooms etc, so big kids can snuggle in as needed.

Am buying new slippers for everyone this year. Except small boy who won't wear them.

I need more leggings and tights, and long sleeved tops for layering up. But am plus sized so places like primark don't fit me :(

This is probably only for emergency measures (and we did this one year when snowed in with no gas or electric) and that is to get the weird foil blankets (that you see runners using after a marathon) and put them under the flat sheet, so you are lying on top of it. It essentially reflects all your heat back up.

It's £1.98

Amazon have a hand/lapwarmer that you plug in the computer (while you are on mn!) and the power you are using anyway heats it up!

teenagertratruns i have pm you :)