I caved!

[OakTreex]

I've caved and turned my heating on today.

Me and DC are so ill with a really nasty chesty cough and cold.

The cold is just irritating my chest so I've turned it on for the first time and I could cry with relief.

My house is drafty and cold and I'm in a cold area of the UK.

I've had it off because I'm so scared of the bill as I'm not in a great financial position.

Anyone else?

Yes and I'm in the warm south east. Been putting it on in evening but yesterday had it on in day time. I only need it on at 17/18 when I'm active but that still feels cold if inactive, It's painful to be cold even when dressed well and hard to think or do anything. Do you think your house being so cold contributed to your situation now? Hope you feel better soon. Please check with your provider/ Citizens Advice or online to make sure you are getting any help with the bills you may be entitled to. I don't think it's always connected to being on benefits/ pension.

I know you are worried financially but if you have bad chest infections then living in a cold and damp house is going to make it a lot worse. You have done the right thing. Hope you get well soon

To reiterate what @Pixiedust1234 said, you need the warmth if you're all unwell. The body can be impacted by living in cold conditions. I really hope you're all feeling better soon. it's awful to be unwell and cold. x

Agreed. It's fine to have caved. We turned on ours today but we were testing out a new radiator.
If you want to save money on heating why not use hot water bottles, wheat bags, turning the boiler down a few degrees

We did yesterday (south east but up a hill and it’s cold!) and this morning.

it’s cold now, I’m in a thick roll neck jumper and hiking socks and slippers, but still cold. Think heated blankets are going on before bed tonight.

Same here. Woke up this morning and had to de-ice the car. Got home from work and it was freezing, had to put it on for 30 minutes just to get rid of the chill (now we're huddled together under the furry heated throw ❄️)

I just can't believe that I've been afraid of putting the heating on because of the cost, never imagined I'd be in that situation

We’ve turned ours on in the last week or so. It is mid November!! Understandable that it’s needed. Hopefully off by end of Feb I’d guess? Ours is only on for a couple of hours at each end of the day I think.

Yes mines on 17 has been all afternoon as I was shivering at 13. We can cope at 17, it feels warm if you've been outside for anything and we are wearing jumpers and wool socks. My thought is when it's really freezing I'll go down a bit more maybe 15 or 16 if we cope OK.
It's all off at night and if we go out for the day.

Warm southeast? I'm in London and it's 8 degrees out - that's turn on the heat weather to me! I have it set to 18, and the thermostat is in the warmest part of the house, so upstairs for example is colder. It's off for most of the day due to solar gain, but clicks on at night.

North Yorkshire here. Had to put the central heating on for the first time this year as it was literally freezing outside this morning. Having aired out the bungalow, now time to return to blankets and hot water bottles!

Mines been on for over a month but we have damp and mould in the house. I’m going to see if my landlord will do anything, the issue is if I keep it off I have an awful draught coming from the front door and it opens into my living room so it feels cold all of the time.

Ours went on on Saturday - 2 of my kids are print to coughs so I decided I just couldn’t put it off. We’re on oil soi don’t know if that makes the financial position better or worse - we certainly seem to be getting bigger all help from the govt🙄

Bugger all that’s meant to say!!

@Sereyah at the very minimum see if they will put up a thermal door curtain, it really does help reduce draughts, as do those "brushes" for letterboxes.

just seen other typos….sorry🤦🏼‍♀️🙈

@Sereyah If your landlord won't help. You could always pin an old curtain over the doorway and use a sausage dog to cover the bottom of the door. You can get some great old thick curtains from a charity shop.

Mine is on but isn't kicking in the evening as it's above 18. Mornings it comes on for an hour. House still is warm ish thankfully

Glad I'm not the only one! Can't believe how scared I've been of just putting it on!

I'm pretty poor and a single mum but I'll just try and be sparing with it and at the end of the day if I get an unaffordable bill I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it - I've been so miserable and sick and I don't want the DC getting ill with the cold either.

It is bloody awful isn't it? I am in a better position than most as my heating is included in my rent but I live in one small room and don't normally heat it as I get head-achey, plus my tv is just by the radiator, but I am feeling it now and will close the window now that summer has gone. Bloody stiff sash window, took all my strength to open it in the first place!

All I know is, more people will be in hospital with either pneumonia or the like and/or mental health issues. It is disgusting.

Hope you all feel better soon OP, warming up will do you all good.

I say this on all these threads but electric blankets (for under the bedsheet) and electric throws are a godsend and so cosy. I come home, whack my throw on and curl up in it, it's heaven on a cold day.