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Original poster

My house is 8 degrees. 8 degrees

455 replies

Bonecold · 01/04/2022 15:43

Heating oil ran out yesterday. I have £200 in the savings pot with boiler juice. For a minimum order I need 500 litres which is £468.

So I’ve left the heating off until either the price per litre drops, the weather gets better, or my savings pot reaches the amount needed to do an order (£65 DD a month).

In the meantime I have a fire place so I can heat one room (but no wood so have to outlay for that).

I can’t work out if I should:

a) remove the £200 from the savings account and spend it on wood/coal to get through to warmer weather. Pro - would be warm now, Con - even further away from filling the tank

b) heat one room with wood, live near a wood so could scavenge enough wood weekly to do this?

c) plug in electric radiator. Pro: heat, con: eats electricity

D) small loan for £300/400 and top up oil. Pro: heat, con: small loans have huge interest and would be another bill each month

I’m at work all day and kids at school usually so it’s not like we would be freezing all day and can boil water for cooking and have electric shower for washing. But it’s Easter holidays here so they’ll be home for the next two weeks now

What would you do?

OP posts:
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7
Malalaa · 01/04/2022 23:34

I'd choose B. Do you have any hot water bottles?

Sid077 · 01/04/2022 23:36

Flowers I recommend wearing thermals, using hot water bottles and buying a few bags of coal, real coal not the smokeless if u can, it burns for much longer with way more heat generated. I grew in a cold house and remember the tricks my parents used to keep us warm - it really did us no harm in case you’re worried about kids being effected long term or anything. You come across as a very resourceful and practical person.

Teenagehorrorbag · 01/04/2022 23:47

@actiongirl1978

Hi OP, that sounds horrible I hope you can fill the oil tank soon.

Just be careful with having it empty, we have ours auto topped up as we were warned that when it empties out it causes issues once it needs to be filled again, I guess the pipes can get air in or something?

I'm sorry to bring what might be more bad news. Are there any other oil companies? We use Rawlings for oil, I don't know if they are nationwide?

This is true, my DH had an awful job bleeding the system last time we let it get too low. I really hope when you say 'ran out' that you haven't actually? He's quite practical but if you have to pay someone it could be pricey......

We are similar in that I checked the level today (we don't have an auto check thing, just have to pull the tap and watch the blob drop down) and realised we are close to the bottom. We turned it all off and now have to manage without heating until the delivery which is coming any time up to next Wednesday. (Boilerjuice have a weird thing at the moment where the express price is cheaper than the the standard price!! I got it at 93.15 which is miles lower than anywhere else - makes me think they are expecting another huge hike, so if you could somehow get some money from somewhere and buy now you might fix at a 'better' price than in a few weeks or months. Could family help out?)

But if you can't then yes - we are going log burner all the way until the tank is filled. Bedrooms are freezing but we can have extra bedclothes. Immersion is on (more expense) and we do have electric heaters we could plug in if desperate. Go to the woods, collect as much wood as you can and use that. If you leave doors open and keep the fire in (can you leave it safely going overnight?) it will keep the whole house warm after a few days.

It's really scary! We have paid between £350 and £700 over the years for a 1000l tank, and were always horrified by anything towards the higher end. Today I was quoted over £1000 by everyone, except this weird boilerjuice offer which was £985. I can't believe I'm feeling almost chuffed to have got it at less than a grand! Had to sub the bills account from my savings (yes, I'm very lucky) even to pay that!

I hope you get it sorted. Times are going to be hard, clearly......

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Teenagehorrorbag · 01/04/2022 23:49

Sorry - as per PPs - yes no green wood. But there is loads of old dead stuff in woods especially after the recent storms. As long as it's that you'll be fine.

Ladybyrd · 01/04/2022 23:57

I assume that people who say this are trying to help by showing that its not the end of the world and people can cope with it, children can cope with it as long as there is the right equipment (hot water bottles, socks, jumpers, heated blankets, hot drinks etc)

We had no central heating and single glazed windows when I was a kid - a fire in the living room. Finally got an oil radiator in my room in my teens. There used to be ice on the inside of the windows sometimes. I can assure you that while it is possible, it isn't a comfortable way to live by any means. I had bronchitis for months.

BigRedDuck · 02/04/2022 00:00

OP, I don't know what local oil companies are like near you but we found boiler juice to be far more expensive. We use Lovells here and they don't have a minimum spend as far as I know?

Ladybyrd · 02/04/2022 00:01

@Bonecold Rishi Sunak said that local councils were being given a discretionary fund to help people. Not that I have much faith in anything he says, but I would speak to them - can't hurt.

Original poster
Bonecold · 02/04/2022 00:10

I appreciate all the advice and PMs - lots of good ideas.

Thank you for offers of help, really appreciated but I’m going to try and muddle through the next weeks until it warms up a bit.

Pallets is a v good idea and my neighbour up the road has loads. I’ve text him and he’s said I can take as many as I can drag so I’ll be up doing that tomorrow! We have hot water bottles, electric blankets and the living room got up to 14 degrees once the fire was going for a few hours. I know open fires aren’t efficient but it isn’t our house so we can’t change it.

I looked again at boiler juice and they do sell those boxes but I’d still have to pay extra on top of savings and would only get 200lt. However they do allow you to pay using PayPal credit over 3 months with no interest! I was thinking I could use the £200 I have saved and then the rest over 3 months and then save like mad over summer to get the savings pot back for winter? I can’t see a con to this idea but I’m bloody cold so not thinking straight Grin.

OP posts:
AlwaysLatte · 02/04/2022 00:12

I'd go B, with plug in radiators in the children's bedrooms when they're there. I know we're having a cold snap now but we're coming into spring, hope for your sake we get that warm weather sooner rather than later.

Andouillette · 02/04/2022 00:13

8 degrees is too cold even by my standards, I keep my thermostat at 11. OP have you thought of using some of your £200 to buy one of those mobile calor gas type heaters? If you don't put them on at full blast the cylinders last for ages. I have one in my sunroom (no radiator) and it's great!

Blinkingbatshit · 02/04/2022 00:26

I haven’t read the full thread, sorry! ..but has anyone mentioned covering the windows with bubble wrap yet? It’s an insulator! It should warm up in next few weeks so if you can survive do!! Get some wood down for next year though xx

Eloise666 · 02/04/2022 00:27

I think the cheapest time to fill with oil is mid-summer, so if you can delay it and save to buy then instead of buying now, I would.

sarah13xx · 02/04/2022 00:45

What a nightmare people are already at this stage. We’re about to move into a house with an oil tank and this is going to be us soon. We also have a fire so have already thought maybe if I got that going and had the door open the house would heat up! We have a young child though so I’d put an electric heater on in his bedroom before he went to bed so that he was warm when getting PJs on

MuggleMadness · 02/04/2022 00:49

@Gulliverstravel

I would have a long look at my earning potential and ask myself how I got into this situation in the first place and then I would work my way out of it. That's what I would do, I think that was the question you asked.
All by tomorrow?

Fabulous.

Maybe look into finding some compassion & losing some smug superiority while you're 'looking'

Ddot · 02/04/2022 01:03

Jesus some people are harsh. The pallets are a great idea. The cold weather will only be for a week or so. You can muddle through sweetie. Best of luck and get sawing x

Ladybyrd · 02/04/2022 01:04

would have a long look at my earning potential and ask myself how I got into this situation in the first place and then I would work my way out of it. That's what I would do, I think that was the question you asked.

If Boris has an angel (pah!) and a devil on his shoulder, I definitely think you're the latter. Got it. It's Jacob Rees-Mogg.

ToCaden · 02/04/2022 01:46

I lived in a house for months before we could get any heating put in. Hot water bottles was the best advice I had to muddle through. Place on or near groin (a place of lots of blood vessels) and another on feet if have two. Huddle under a heap of blankets and it's a cozy bubble.

Thermals and as many layers as you can wear and still move. Thermal socks I found particularly useful. You can wear more than one pair. When you're out of cozy bubble space, keep moving.

For children sprint games are good to quickly warm them up when needed.

The pallets are a great idea. There's often people on apps like nextdoor giving away pallets and piles of scrap wood. Maybe keep a bit of a stock if you have the storage space just in case we have another cold snap before summer gets here.

Wish we lived in a world where people didn't have to struggle for basics. Good luck op. I wish you many cozy hot water bottle under multiple duvets hours through cold spell. I remember huddling under my nest after a cold commute home from work. Utter bliss.

SquirrelG · 02/04/2022 01:59

I would have a long look at my earning potential and ask myself how I got into this situation in the first place and then I would work my way out of it. That's what I would do, I think that was the question you asked.

Well, aren't you a hero! You do realise that your comment just makes you look like a dick - or maybe you don't, people like you are usually too up themselves to realise it.

SquirrelG · 02/04/2022 02:04

I just wondered how many of those telling the OP that she should put up with it as they had to once upon a time were also currently sat in an 8 degree house

They are not telling the OP that she should put up with it, they are merely pointing out that life hasn't always been this easy and offering advice on how to deal with it being so cold and suggestions to heat up, based on their experiences.

k1233 · 02/04/2022 02:36

Be really careful with pallets - they can be treated with chemicals and not safe to burn. Google, but I've attached a starting link below

forfirewood.com/pallets-for-firewood/

RustyShackleford3 · 02/04/2022 02:40

I would have a long look at my earning potential and ask myself how I got into this situation in the first place and then I would work my way out of it

Excellent. Great suggestion for heating the house this week. I'm sure OP is thrilled that you contributed.

OP, whatever you do, don't take out a loan to buy more oil. That will make this situation so much worse. It's great that you've been resourceful and got some fuel for your fire.

I'd battle it out with the cold and keep dreaming of the warmer weather that's just around the corner. Keep putting your DD into your oil fund. Come next winter you'll be all set.

If it becomes unbearable then I'd break out the electric heater.

dipdye · 02/04/2022 02:54

Hope you're staying well op, it's a shit time for you 💐🔥

bluetongue · 02/04/2022 03:00

Are you still cold after layering clothing and having rugs over you while watching TV? I’ve always lived in cold houses. I’m in Australia but the southern states get surprisingly cold overnight in winter and having single glazed windows and are often not well insulated. I used to get chilblains as a child.

I’ve only ever had heating in the living room and have lived in a couple of houses where you could see you breath freeze in parts of the house (not sure how cold it needs to be for that to happen). Wearing shorts and T-shirts inside in winter has never been a thing for me.

If you can use the fire safely I’d go with that and get everyone to rug up.

sashh · 02/04/2022 03:19

Long term look in to a credit union for a low cost loan.

Heat the one room and 'camp' if you have a tent literally camp, if you don't them build a den or dens with duvets and furniture.

Hot water bottles are useful, particularly at night.

Depending on the ages of the children then send them foraging.

Can you buy more coal?

Is there anywhere the kids can go that is warm and free? A friend's for tea, a library?

Have a look on Youtube for the plant pot and tea light heater.

Narwhalsh · 02/04/2022 04:00

Get on gumtree or fb marketplace you will find people offering up wood on there. You may find some already seasoned stuff that’s been sitting in peoples gardens for ages! Or offcuts of construction timber (not the tannalised stuff)