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?

I make a hot water bottle before I start work and cuddle up to it. Makes a world of difference. If you refill when you want a cup of tea I reckon it’s pretty low cost.

12 degrees in the house I mean

I don't mind it being a bit chilly but getting so frustrated with the bathroom taking ages to dry after use now. 😐

Not yet. Normally we would have, but not this year. I’ve got a throw, fleece leggings and a hot water bottle for bedtime.

I don't really like the wording "have you caved" as if putting the heating on is a sign of weakness.

You are not weak, you're cold.

Yes it's expensive and it's a balance, but it's not "caving", you're not weak if you want to be warm.

Yes, it is on.

grew up with icicles on windows, feeling frozen and no heating upstairs at all.

But going in to work, rather than at home more often is helping. Not using the oven as much, or turning into my mother and putting it on and filling it ( an oven baked rice pudding on one shelf, whilst main meal and sides on other 2), and creating enough for 2 days of hot meals.

@RagzRebooted God yes damp.. hadn’t thought about that old historic issue from houses of yore that I’ve lived in 😐Don’t want that!

Yes hot water bottles.. good idea.. I’m going to get more of them

Heating is on . Put it on today. I’m not freezing for anyone!

Ours is set to 16 overnight and 18 in the day and its kicked in the early hours of the morning and a couple of times during the day. Ive got a warm throw and wear fleece jumpers etc but if the air feels cold then the heatings going on.

No, absolutely not. It's 6 degrees here, no thermometer inside so not sure what the temperature is like inside. We almost never put the heating on unless it's a 'can't feel your fingers' situation. Thick socks, oodie/onesie with pyjamas underneath and a blanket and that usually does us.

If you're this cold already these are a few suggestions that might help (I'm not doing this in a sarcastic way, just how I have always kept warm in case you are interested):

-Put clear duct tape along the seals of windows, this makes a HUGE difference and tomorrow evening you will notice a massive difference in the warmth of the house/flat

-Put a thick blanket on the sofa itself as if it's a sofa cover, not really sure why this works so well but it does.

-if you can't afford a draught blocker for under doorways, you can easily make your own by rolling up kitchen roll or socks and stuffing that into a pillow case and rolling it up. These make a big difference

@tranquiltortoise yeah it was just a bit of a flippant title. I was careful to state I didn’t think people SHOULD be cold.. or feeling bad if they’ve put it on…

No because depressingly a friend worked out it was around 1.80 per hour of central heating

@strawberrysea I’m certainly not above trying any ideas.. but shouldn’t double glazed and insulated houses not need tape on windows etc? Does it really make that much difference?

No but in bed with pj’s, two dressing gowns, a quilt and a throw 😄

not yet, mines set at 13 degrees, house is currently 16 degrees. am in bed with a onesie on and a hot water bottle

Since September twice a day on timer 6-730am and 830-1030pm

Planned to do it in 1st Oct but haven’t touched it yet, we’re in London but a 1900 house that has no Cabot walls etc.

Not yet. My youngest daughter is our yard stick. If she says it's cold then the heating comes on. Until then, nothing.

I don't want damp is my main reason and we like to be comfy

It's just on thermostat so once it got colder it came on of its own accord.

It was chilly when I got home from work, under 15 downstairs. I shut the bathroom windows and it got up to a comfortable 16. Not thinking about heating yet, it would be the electric blanket for me and the cats first as DS is still changing into pj shorts and t-shirt after school.

I expected to put it on this week, but so far it hasn't been as cold as I expected. A warm blanket and a hot water bottle keep me cosy downstairs, and I usually have the radiator in the bedroom off as I don't like sleeping in a warm room.

My British Gas payments haven't gone up by as much as yours either, and I've just come off a lengthy fix, so I expected a terrifying increase rather than merely eye-watering. Projected cost this year is about £1,000 more than last year in total, assuming similar usage. But I was paying about £70 pm for gas rather than £44.

I have it on for 30 mins in the morning for dd getting up. Then again when she gets home. It's been set a degree less than I'd normally have it though.

No not yet, but I have set the timer and thermostat, it just hasn't got cool enough here to kick in yet. I'm down south and we had the sun all day today which helped. My 2yo spent all day yesterday prancing around in just a vest! Crazy little thing.

Only twice so far, trying to be careful with it. Now I'm in bed with heated blanket and layers. I hate it.