Many of us cannot escape the cold winter temperatures coming up, so I thought I would share what I have bought that maybe useful to help you and your family.
i started in January buying bits and bobs as I didn’t want another year being cold at times and not being able to afford heating. We managed but it wasn’t easy.
So I saved what I could, and used voucher, saved money on Zilch to purchase items, great way of saving on Zilch, more on that in a minute. Please feel free to add your ideas whether to keep warm, receipts to keep costs down as much as we can.
1 ZILCH - Download the app and this is how it works. Once downloaded and approved. You add your bank account to Zilch. You can pay in one, or over several weeks ( zilch add a little interest that way, but not much, I think its 2%) so for example I want to buy a product off Amazon, firstly go on Zilch, and click on Amazon, it will lead you to that page, if it doesn’t, click on anywhere. Once you have the product in your Amazon basket, go to payment and pop your virtual zilch card in as payment. Really you have paid with your bank card, zilch take payment from bank, and then give you money. Believe me adds up so fast if you use the virtual card for all your spending online.
I have a heated jacket from Amazon, charge battery with USB, some cheaper than I purchased, but mine was £99.99. Yes expensive, but can be worn out, or for keeping warm in the home. Battery life is up to 10 hours, the lower the setting, lasts longer. The jacket is a fleece, lovely and warm. Amazon and other online shops do offer cheaper versions..
Next with my Zilch money so was free I bought an electric blanket, dual control, three settings and mine was king size. The heat is exceptional, again I bought from Amazon, here’s the information..
Reverie Electric Blanket, and it is fitted like a fitted sheet, plus so soft because it is Sherpa. King size £61.99 + delivery. Very low energy, mines on every night for at least 6 hours and hardly any electric used.. lots of excellent reviews, mine included.
For heat in the bedroom or wherever needed, you have one floating around a tube heater, usually used in green houses, these are very cheap and cheap to run, my bedroom is cold, however the heat is constant and steady, takes a while to notice, but room doors closed will be cosy
For the kitchen most people know now how cheap Air fryers are and + microwaves.. I cooked a small chicken the other day in one side and roast potatoes in the other, then frozen veg in the microwave, very tasty. I have a Ninja when it was in sale, but I bought my daughter the Tower T17021 family size for £57.88 for Yuletide, this price is on offer currently on Amazon. The reviews are manly excellent with over 22,000.
Buy a Oodie when in sale, sherpa and over the knees, super warm, or similar ones which equally keeps you warm from Matalan and a lot of different shops. I feel not in the same league as Oodies, but ultimately depends on what you can afford. Oodies need to be bought from their own online shop. Also for extra warmth, pop a hot water bottle in the huge Oodie pocket.
Hot water bottles in the bed
An electric throw, cheap to run
Thermal underwear
Now for food:
if you like Tuna or even better pilchards, many may have cooked this, but it is cheap and filling.. basically a bake.
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A large tin of Pilchards
Pasta
Cheese
onion
sweetcorn
Grate as much cheese ie red cheese as you want
boil the pasta, once al dente, sieve, then add pilchards with tomato sauce in with pasta, add chopped up onion + sweetcorn as much as you want. Mix it all up, then warm through on hob.. remove from hob, place in a casserole dish or oven proof flat plate as I do, add on top lots of cheese, salt and pepper and then pop in oven 200, or if doing a small version in the air fryer for 20 mins or until cheese golden brown, garnish if you like with tomato, then serve.
Very cheap but tasty.…….
Corn beef, will need just one tin for a family of three.
A tin of baked beans
diced onion
brown sauce
cheese as much as you desire…
Mash potatoes
Oblong ovenproof dish, open corn beef and spread evenly on the bottom of the dish, add cold beans and spread evenly.
add chopped onion, I use one big one
add a slither of brown sauce or similar the length of the dish, about 1.5 tablespoon.
cook enough potatoes for how many people you are cooking for. Once cooked, drain and mash.
Add mash potatoes on top of beans, onion and corn beef
make a pattern ie with fork across the potato, then add the cheese to lightly fill the dish. Add a tin of tomatoes around the edge for extra taste or cut up fresh tomato, however not needed if you don’t like.
pop in oven for 20-25 minutes on 200 electric.
corn beef is the dearest, but with the added ingredients is a different meal, and cheap.
These two recipes have been going years, however still nice.
I am looking forward to reading other tips, every little helps🙂