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.

Sympathies OP, it’s really worrying with winter on its way.

I’m in a similar boat. I live in rural north Scotland and with no heatwave up here and actually a pretty cool summer, my house has been cold and I’ve felt cold as I have not wanted to buy oil till recently. There is no gas here. I am dreading the winter as it can be so cold for weeks on end. Theres no help unless on benefits.

Without wishing to dismiss others’ experiences, there are real differences in temperatures south and north of the UK, honestly when it’s freezing and below the air in the house is cold and heated throws and such just aren’t enough. When we had a several day power cut one November, the house was cold as a fridge. You start feeling unwell. I don’t know the answer but I’m fucking angry at the ripples of Trumps war.

Knowledge is power

I bought the genuine Oodies for the whole family before winter last year, I think I paid £39 each for them in the sale. They kept us really warm in the house, worn with thick warm socks and a blanket. We were able to set the heating to 17/18 ( formerly 21) and feel comfortable wearing the oodies.

Same here - I think the companies have no choice in this minimum amount, which I think needs to be looked at.

I'm also angry. At least Trump et al are getting wealthier.

Boilerjuice were selling 250 litres not long ago. Rather than 500 litres. Have a look online. Maybe you could afford that.
Also, you should be eligible for a grant for oil heating

I am assuming a full tank of heating oil will last 3 months or more . Seems like good deal to me . In the winter Dec and Jan , our electric only house uses about £330 a month . We aee in the most expensive area for electric in tbe UK, N.Wales and .Merseyside. I change to the cheapest provider regularly but still paying over 70p per day standing charge and 23p per Kwh for the actual electric
Thank goodness we have a log burner and solar panels . Really can't offer more advice than the OP already been given except the fingers crossed too !

@MousesHouse it’s because of the cost of transporting it, it has to be worth their while, especially with the fuel costs of the oil tank lorries bringing it. That’s why buying groups are good.

Yeah you're not going to run a 2kw oil radiator on one solar panel on short winter days.

You'd struggle with a full solar array.

The heated throws are good as is wearing a decent base layer.

I think heating one room on electric is a false economy (and i say this as someone on all electric with solar). Better to reduce the oil use critical hours and rooms.

Also do everything you can to stop heat escaping. Wipe down showers etc to reduce damp in the house.

I have an infrared picture heater. It heats you rather than the room and is low power but you need to sit in front of it (it feels a bit like sitting in the sun). That might be an option but aware all of these things come with outlay.

If you’re working 8-6.30 6 days a week you must have a decent income. Is there anything you can cut back on to be able to afford oil?

when we have oil, believe me its an hour in the morning and 4 hours from 5pm

The trouble with Oil, id toy have to buy it upfront. The bigger the volume, the cheaper - and we are only talking pennies per a lite, but having to find X amount to be delivered, for a huge amount of households,

But hey, we ( family income below 30K ) will be entitled to a £100 grant this year - because oil cant be capped -

When I moved here, oil was 30p litre. , during the banking crisis it read 95p. and during this crises it reached £1.10 its around 85p a litre right now - about tho change because they have kickerd off again

Are you out of the house every day 8-6.30pm?

I think it’s also because of the calibration of meters on certain delivery tankers as quantities supplied need to be accurate.

Christ who shat on your toast!

it works for us and I’ll not apologise, I do recycle as it happens and do plenty of other good things including drive an electric car but free fuel in an economy as tough as this? Yes please. It is cleaned regularly which stops soot backing up and causing pollution.

suspect you live in a city of its that polluted they can’t leave the house? Or you are exaggerating

I think it's muscle that keeps you warm...

Same here @Ihateboris I have a heated blanket and as long as my feet and ears don't get cold, it's usually OK. I wear a woolly hat indoors all winter. If only my nose didn't get cold, I'd be fine. Dogs are a good heat source so there's that too.

How many duvets have you got? If you’ve got a spare one, put it on top of your mattress, underneath your sheet. Acts as a mattress topper and makes it that bit cosier.

Argos have got a sleeping bag for sale for £8. Perfect for sitting in while you’re on the sofa and warmer than a throw.

where have you got drafts coming from? You don’t have to spend a fortune on draft excluders etc, Asda do a pack of two pillows for £4. All you need is a pair of scissors and a needle and thread.

Hot water bottles. Wrap your pyjamas around them so they’re warm before you go to bed.

Have you got any of those free shops that are springing up around you? Or Freecycle? Keep an eye out for curtains you could use for doors. Or cheap throws you could just sew a hem onto and thread some curtain wire through it.

Asda’s men’s clothing are currently doing thermal tops and leggings in their sale. I know they’re aimed at men, but if they keep you warm, who cares?

Worst case scenario, start thinking about exercise regimes that will keep you warm. Or even housework. Anything that will keep you moving about, to keep yourself warm.

No, there's no rule that says this. We have been able to do smaller amounts from several different companies around here (we shop around). Like I said earlier, we find it actually slightly cheaper overall than when we had gas as it seems to be very efficient and get used up very slowly. We use about 1000-1200l per year. I think perhaps the lump sum is just more noticeable and feels more painful? It is irritating that it has gone up, especially knowing those responsible would never be affected.

Rechargeable electric hot water bottles are very good, I've got one for work that takes minutes to charge up and stays warm most of the day.

This. ^ Most people are going to struggle.

I've lived in several homes I couldn't afford to heat- have plenty of warm clothing layers, finishing off with a doubled sided fur fabric fleece- they are amazing for keeping you warm. Move around at least every hour or so, make a huge flask and drink hot drinks all day and wear a hat and fingerless gloves (or full gloves if you are doing nothing with your hands. The heated blanket idea is good if you get cold at any point (you shouldn't do if you wear enough).

Thank you, I didn’t know that and I’ll investigate locally 😊.

We use a lot more than you - I think over 2000 litres ordered between September last year and March admittedly the coldest months. heating been off since about May though without a good warm spell we could have done with an hour or two morning and evening to take the chill off, as we’ve done in previous years. just put more layers on as putting more aside for the coming winter. Just about to put in an order needs must and all that!

My only other suggestion is a feather and down gillet and long thermals, help keep your back warm.

So sorry many of you are in such a crap situation.

I remember my dad wearing a woolly hat back in the day (because he was bald) bless him. The fact is that heating shouldn't cost so much that we have to wear a hat indoors 🙁....but thanks for the tip - I might have to resort to this myself this coming winter!

How long was that?

Buy yourself some Oodie trousers, I am a cold person and really struggle through winter. Mostly WFH and refuse to heat the whole house just for me but these trousers are something else. Yes they are bulky but they’re like wearing clouds. Them and an electric blanket are the winning combo