It's bloody freezing

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How are people coping without heating?

I've seen loads of people on here and on Faceache saying they're not putting their central heating on. We've been putting ours on for an hour on a morning and if I'm on nights it goes on for 2-4 hours overnight because it gets unbearably cold.

SSE's prepayment site has broken and I stupidly didn't check the gas this morning after my nightshift because I thought SSE had family-friendly credit from 6pm Friday until 9am Monday so assumed if we had run out the family-friendly credit would kick in. It didn't. We have no gas.

I have an oodie and a hot water bottle and I'm still fucking freezing. Even the big dog is cold and he never gets cold. I built the chihuahua a nest with a fleece blanket because she was shivering even with her jumper on and the big dog stole it and crawled under it. He never, ever gets under blankets.

I've given up now and brought the garden heater in so it's getting warmer.

How the fuck are people living without using their heating?

Would a stove not burn the floor? I have laminate but we are changing it to vinyl soon.

I've always found firewood to be fairly expensive when we use the fire bucket in the summer/autumn.

It's freezing here in SE we've had our heating on to.

We're also with SSE. They completely made the switch over to OVO on Friday so you can't even use the SSE app anymore and we had to register with OVO app and set up a new account and all the information had already been switched over. Try using OVO.

Have you got chimneys and fireplaces in your house?
a small stove can be put in and keep you warm- but stoves can be expensive- Free wood can be found in skips if you live in an area where there is a lot of building work going on.
You definitely need chimneys with a good “draw”. To take dangerous fumes away.

A couple a few years ago died of carbon Monoxide poisoning in their tent by bringing in charcoal barbecue tray to warm them up in part of the tent.
I’d also not use a garden heater indoors because of carbon monoxide risk

It’s 1890’s wood, beautifully seasoned taken from loft conversions ( Purlins, rafters &c
i used some in restoration work for an old rocking horse base as it is so “ Stable”

I have been burning wood for 25 years- it’s not green wood.

The chimney is blocked up. I could knock it through but it would be cheaper/easier to buy a small halogen heater.

In south. Had heating on for the past week, it’s unbearably freezing in ours without it (detached). The washing won’t dry either.

heating on sporadically we all have heated throws but had windows open this afternoon in lounge and I’m in bed with a fan on but I am peri we are NW

The amount it would cost for a wood burning stove would run your central heating over winter - it’s hardly an economic measure, if you don’t have enough money to run the hearing you don’t have £2k to buy and install a stove.

In terms of heavy curtains etc they can only retain heat already in the house - if your house is cold to start with they won’t do much other than help slow down any further cooling. If it’s just till you can top up your supply I’d tick myself into bed and read rather than sit up in a cold house.

Really tired at the moment so really feeling the cold. Having a hearty dinner tonight which I’m looking forward to. It’s going to be a long winter. Brrrrr

For today it is only until I can top up that we have an issue and with the garden heater I'm relatively comfortable. The room itself is still quite cold. Big dog is still under his blanket. I've moved my thick winter coat for the Chi who is now snuggled up deep within its faux fur depths but the heater is right by my side so I'm quite toasty where I am.

I didn't get out of bed after my night shift until 20:30 so sleep is kinda out of the question.

In the long term though my house does struggle to retain heat and costs a lot to keep warm. I've an inheritance due soon so could, in theory, afford a stove but if it's only going to save me a few £ a year it's not worth it.

Single layer brick, semi-detached, double glazing, loft partially insulated. Managed by a HA but I have been here long enough to make structural changes at my own expense. I'm in a built-up town and work full-time so not much time or opportunity to go scouring for free firewood.

Yesterday was the first day we needed the heating on all day (NW) it was freezing inside. Car was showing 8* in the afternoon and it was warmer out than in. I’ve started going for a walk or doing some cleaning if I need warming up !

I'm N.E too, though not costal. Woken up today and downstairs is 15 degrees. It's not "see your breath" cold, but it isn't particularly comfortable.

We just came back from a holiday in a warm place and it was freezing in the house. We are in the SE. Room temperatures read 12 degrees. Towels in the airing cupboard felt cold too.The heating is on twice a day now for 1 hour in the morning and 90 mins at night. We also have a heated overblanket for watching TV and an under blanket to take the chill off the bed. No heating on overnight - couldn't bear ir.

I’m in London but in an old house, so it’s been 16 indoors this past week or so. I’m on a pre payment meter and built up £100 credit over summer. But it’s going down fast. Was on £35 the other day so topped up another £30. It’s worrying though as it’s going to get a lot colder.

I’m trying to limit it to just going on for an hour to take the chill off and otherwise making do with my hooded blanket! I’m glad I’m on a pre payment meter though as that way I can use the heating as long as I have credit, and not force myself to freeze with concerns of a big bill.

Your electric heater should be ok to use indoors but don’t light a fire without a proper chimney as it gives off CO2.
You can get heat pads for dog ( like small electric under blankets) Some have a timer. I’ve got a spare electric cape, only used it a couple of times. It’d make an underblanket for your dogs. I can post it to you if you want.

I have a disabled son, and a dog that is old, so have to put the heating on. I'm dreading bills that I can't pay, but I have no choice. There really should be more help for disabled people. If my son gets cold, he deteriorates.

I’m broke at the moment and the thermostat is set at 14 but it’s just clicked on.

I’m sat with thermal leggings, two tops, dressing gown, fingerless gloves and hat, and must admit I’m actually cold this morning for the first time.

Dreading when it’s colder.

1980s terrace house, it is cold. Sun is out today so im spending time in the rooms on that side of the house for natural warmth. In the evening I stick heating on for 30 mins twice (early evening and just before bed).

Heading to the office every day now cos with zero payrise I'm not heating my home just so I can work when there is an office to go to. Also will save about £1 of electricity by going to the office so I can use that to heat my home for another hour in the evening

I'm in London as well. My house says 18 at the moment. Really feel for you being on a prepayment meter they are awful.

15 degrees in the house this morning but not uncomfortable. 3 layers on.
We will put the heating on 4 till 7 tonight

Really feel for you being on a prepayment meter they are awful

Honestly, no need to feel bad for me. I prefer it. I did the sums and actually it’s marginally cheaper to be on pre pay for my electric than DD (I know it sounds crazy but it’s true) and gas is a teeny bit more expensive, but again marginal. Apparently pre payment meters did charge much higher in the “old days” but that was changed to bring them more in step with other payment methods. As it was unfair.

I think the reason the idea still exists that meters are more expensive is usually people end up with them because they owe a debt, so the meter is taking more to cover that debt. I’ve never been in debt. The meters were just here when I moved in and I never changed them. So I pay the standard rate. Which as I say, is very similar to the DD rate.

What I like about it is I can’t spend more than I have. So I don’t need to worry about future debt. Of course if there’s nothing in the meter I have a problem! But I can just look at any time and act accordingly. I have £60 in the gas meter right now, I’m cold, so I put the heating on for a bit. No worry about how much of a bill I’m running up.

Ah I felt the opposite. I had prepayment for many years. Now I'm on a smart meter paid by a monthly bill. But I do readings twice a week and it shows me how much I owe within an hour. So I pay that total on line once or twice a week. So I don't build up a large bill. I hope you manage to find away that works for you