Has anyone caved and put the heating on?

[DetetectiveDouche]

I get that not everyone can - or should - try to manage without. But I’m among those who want- need really - to try to manage without as long as possible. We are middle aged and grown up kids have flown the nest now and it’s not going to kill us to be a bit chilly and sling on an extra jumper. Reason being of course, that our British Gas direct debit has QUADRUPLED from this month 😮.. I know we are not alone.

Had been doing ok but God tonight it’s so bloody cold! I’m having a bath rather than a shower just to warm up! (I know that costs more than a shower in itself).

I’m working from home some days and seeing my colleagues appear on Teams wrapped in their dressing gowns because they’re doing the same!

Goodness knows how we coped when I was a kid, in our house with one coal fire that used to heat the water too (if we were lucky) and had ice climbing up the insides of the window. I’ve definitely gone soft since then!

Am thinking of buying one of these oil filled radiators.. but doesn’t help that downstairs is so open plan. I’m laying in the bath now and it’s the first time I’ve felt warm all day. Am tempted to rip the HRT patch off my arse at bedtime in hopes of inciting a hot flush! Not really

I’ve dug put my reindeer onesie for when I get out of this bath!

How is everyone else fairing?

Yes, put it on for a hour tonight, and it’s been on 2 or 3 times recently.

I'm freezing. Its 16 degrees inside. I have 2 layers of thermals a hoodie and an oodie , I've now come to bed with a hot water bottle 🙃

Hot water bottles. I love them!

Yes! Hot water bottles! I have one that DD used to use for period pain. Thank you @hairymuffet

i think maybe we are just out of practice - or I am.. central heating has ruined me

No, no heating yet but hot water bottles. Was frozen, probably because I have covid 😡

No but my house isn't cold, thermostat said 19 half an hour ago without any heating. We aren't planning on being martyrs, we haven't even reached the putting on a jumper stage yet. It's warmer here as SW

Oh Lord @akabluebell you need the heating if you’re not well!

Not yet but there was definitely quite a chill in the air this evening.

Yes our heating has been on though the thermostat is set to 19 so it’s kicking in then. Obviously it’s more expensive than last year but we don’t want to freeze

Had it on for a bit first thing this morning - felt like I was waking up in a tent. It took the chill off the house. Was WFH today but it definitely warmed up during today. I bathed the kids before their early night so no particular need for it tonight - had a hot drink and bowl of chilli whilst I carried on working.
Although having said that, I have moved the oil filled radiator from my office to DDs room as she feels the cold.
I've reached the conclusion that given that we're not absolutely on the bones of our arse, I don't want the kids suffering. DD is generally quite a chilly person, and DS has a nasty cough 😐

Why has your direct debit quadrupled? Electric unit prices haven't quadrupled. Are you sure they haven't put it up too much?

@gogohmm I’m not into martyrdom but really not v well off.. if the quadrupling of the gas cost hadn’t happened (and I’ve been through the options with British Gas) I probably wouldn’t have held out THIS long…

Nope - still really mild here. Just chilly in the mornings.

I normally cope really well with the cold, but I’ve got Covid and the cold air makes me cough and choke, and it makes my nose run and my body ache. A respiratory bug can easily turn to pneumonia if you’re cold. So I’ve had to put the heating on. As soon as I’m better it’s going off again. I wonder how many people will be seriously ill this winter because they catch a virus and can’t afford any warmth to help them recover!

No, got a few layers on and don't feel that cold

Yes we caved, it has been freezing so we put it on for an a little bit this morning and then at shower time for the DC tonight. Trying to just stick to having it on when the DC are home as both DH and I wfh so it could easily cost us a fortune.

I find having the heated airer on in the room with us when we are working keeps it nice and toasty (with a load of washing on it also obvioulsy not just using it as a heater.)

I’ve had it on a quite few times over the last few weeks. I’m pleasantly surprised what the spend has been. I’ve had it on 30 mins in the morn & 40 mins in afternoon & it’s not that expensive at all. Doable for me & i’m
poor.

Dh put it on last night and this morning.
The house was quite warm already but he kept looking at his weather app saying the forecast said 4C.

Yes. Heating was in for an hour this evening, whole house boosted to being lovely and toasy warm. Being cold is miserable.

It’s horrible when you can feel cold air inside. Can you not light tons of candles as these knock out heat and light and look warm too.
I got a ton from Facebook free giving from house clearances. So many people have candles they don’t use because they’re tall red or in a naff pot. Burn them all I say.!

@Cloverforever I’ve been it through it with them. Has had gone from £44 pm to £184. (Elec from £124 to £150). I thought I’d read the meter wrong or something but no. And our usage isn’t even excessive. The house is 4 bed but there’s just the two of us and the only thing that’s gas is the heating/boiler.

We could change to variable DD but I’m concerned about accruing a huge bill over the winter that would be even less affordable

Yes, put it on for half an hour while kids getting ready for school this morning as it was quite chilly. I have the warmest bedroom (has the airing cupboard) so I have to be aware that when they moan it's cold, it is actually a lot colder in their rooms than mine. Heating clicked on at 17 though so it wasn't that cold really, in the winter it gets down to 14 overnight and we'll really need it then. But also I don't want damp and if they're closing their windows then we need some heating to dry the bedrooms out.

Must get more room thermometers.

I haven't actively put it on. We never switch it off. The thermostat is set for 17.5 and it has been on a few mornings and clicked on tonight. I worked from home today and by midday I had to have a blast from the oil filled rad in the study.

We pay when we receive the quarterly bill. Whilst we don't have to worry we have been doing all the tips for years.

It’s only been 12 degrees some days so yes I’ve put the heating on for an hour to take the chill off.

I did get DD to take a hot water bottle to bed last night. I think I'll buy a few more as they're a very energy efficient way to warm up.