I won't be able to heat my home..

[Ihateboris]

Due to the war in Iran, I simply cannot afford to heat my home.

I'm on heating oil, and since day 1 of the war, oil prices have risen sharply. I've just done a quick calculation, and to fill my tank today it will cost £550, the day before it all kicked off it would have cost £260. I'm just hoping and praying we have a mild winter. 🙏 Just venting.

I’ve no additional advice but want to say I’m bloody furious with Trump for starting a war on Iran. I cannot see a single benefit from his stupidity.
Meanwhile in the UK our heating costs have doubled and businesses (no energy price cap) either pass on the increase or go out of business.
Also, sorry I didn’t say this first, people are being KILLED for no reason. Not any good reason I can see anyway.

I managed last winter in a park home without the central heating on as I just couldn't afford it. I kept the room I was in warm enough with an electric heater and wrapped up warm. It wasn't great but I survived well enough.

Please don't burn pallet wood indoors. Most of it has been treated against pests and/or rot and it can give off toxic fumes (especially if marked MB). Same goes for old fencing.

Do you have any health conditions?

My additional recommendation is to wear a beanie in the house. A warm head works wonders!

If you're renting are there any better options out there?

Heated bed jackets are fantastic. Our house is in a freezing in the winter as we are in the countryside and only have a log burner. They cost us £20 each, they heat immediately and you can unplug for a bit if you want to make a cup of tea.

Yes i have me/cfs which stops me from working or leaving the house much.

portable gas heaters create condensation so you were probably making your damp problem. electric is a dry heat as is gas unless you dry your clothes on the radiators as that water has to go somewhere like your walls and windows if they are cold.

Stick to heating one room only.The advice from other posters suggesting electric blankets, heated gloves, slankets, hot water bottles etc is great advice.
I am sorry that so many people, young and old are facing this dreadful dilemma. The world truly feels like it is going mad. Ten years ago, we would not have thought many would be facing this situation, for many it's a choice of 'heat or eat!'

It's not a dreadful dilemma for the majority. Inconvenient and uncomfortable yes. Many of us grew up without central heating and thought nothing of it. For the very elderly and those with certain health conditions of course it can be dangerous, but in the main not.
I choose to eat during the cold months, have a health condition which means I cant work or leave the house most days but I manage.

I am a boomer baby and can relate to what you are saying Tedsnan. Fortunately, I am healthy. Unfortunately, not everyone is and they need heat in the depths of winter, surely regardless of age, everyone does. IMO it should not be a choice between heat and eat and I am sorry you have to choose. Both heat and food are fundamental requirements for a decent quality of life and survival.
I would say, majority of older generations are hard-core and will overcome and make do. But in 2026, should anyone, regardless of age?

Not helpful.

Buy a Dreamland electric small blanket. Supposed to be just for aches and pains but with 5 heat settings and washable cover its brilliant for getting warm.I use it against my back as I sit on sofa. Keeps me warm all over all winter with maybe a blanket over feet on colder days.

Unfortunately not. Many landlords are now selling up.

Everyone's circumstances are different of course. My home is small and I have an electric heater which keeps my living room warm enough. I like a cold bedroom (fortunately) but will buy an electric blanket this year for use in both rooms. I agree that it's not ideal and I'm not so vulnerable that I'm in any danger, but seeing the savings that can be made I'm not sure I'd go back to full central heating if prices came down. I no longer see it as an essential.

But it is a dreadful dilemma, because houses that remain heated for periods of time develop condensation dampness which causes respiratory ilness as you breath it in . Yes if it’s the difference between eat or starve to death you need to eat, but it is a health risk, whatever your age.

Where I live central heating isn't really a thing and most of us only heat the room we use the most in winter. Like you I prefer a cold bedroom anyway and I'm toasty in bed. Central heating always seems rather wasteful to me.

Heart goes out to you :-(

my gas boiler is broken, we won’t have heat this winter and I’ve been boiling kettles to wash for 3 months
the kids are older now so we will manage I hope
will never afford to buy, government schemes full or ended and I’ve tried loads of times, even pay monthly is beyond reach - we are already down to bills and food and that’s it

this country needs change and fast

Cold damp air is very harmful to the elderly and very young, and encourages formation of mould. It is not wasteful to keep your home at over 16 degrees

Solidarity. I too have been boiling kettles to wash myself. Just checked the prices of oil again today. Still can't afford it. 97p per litre plus VAT.

What a shit show. Work every hour god sends, and still can't afford the bills. Let's hope we have a mild winter.

Everyone needs to accept that the reason for this is not the present war in the Middle East, it is a deep seated malaise in Britain; we are not longer " a rich country", we are a ,poor country, ot quite 3rd world but way off being rich, we were bankrupt in 1940 and have been living beyond our means, beyond our income, ever since, apart from a timecwhen we had oil revenues which were used to fund de industrialisation and the resulting unemployement .
of late " growth" has been entirely ficticious, a feature of The Treasury saying that an in rease in population increased the size of the economy. just maybe ut did, but it was fuelled by mass immigration of unskilled low paid labour, not only producing less than the average output of the rest of the country but receiving government benefits and sending the money they got back to their families overseas, reducing the wealth of the country besides driving down wages, and of course " per capital income and wealth". That is why YOU are poor and cannot afford to heat your house, the Swiss dont have that problem, they are rich and just pay the bills. YOU HAVE GOT WHAT YOU VOTED FOR, voting for politicians who have destroyed the country.

So it's because of immigrants the oil prices shot up. As soon as The Orange One started the war? Also, i didn't vote for this.

The electric blanket/throw idea is sensible they consume a negligible amount of electricity, be a bit careful with electric fan heaters as they can chew through electric, for example a 2000kw electric fan heater used for 8 hours a day would cost £4.80 per day if your electricity tariff was 0.30p per KW, thermostatically controlled ones are better but only if your house retains heat. That would equate to £144 per month just for one heater being used for 8 hours a day, you could look at thermostatically controlled oil filled radiators as they retain heat better so are more efficient.

Thank you so much for this...very much appreciated 🙏