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.

If you’re not already, see if you can switch to Octopus for your electricity, they are one of the cheapest, and source a lot from renewables, and you can pay the same each month so you’re never hit with a big bill. If you own your home they can help you with solar panels too.

We keep our heating on low all winter so that the house doesn’t get damp, and we snuggle under blankets on the sofa, and dogs are great for sharing body heat. Another vote for curtains across the front door and consider adding that plastic ‘double glazing’ to your windows, even if they are already double glazed.

Sigh, do you understand that for some people, being able to save anything, each month, is just not feasible? Honestly people know that Winter is coming, and just surviving is the most, that some people will be able to achieve. There should be more help available.

A very cheap way to keep your feet warm in very cold weather when inside is to make a foot muff out of a pillow. Fold pillow just under half and stitch along sides. So top reaches to your ankles and bottom goes right under your heels. Keeps feet really warm. Can make two one for your hands to go in as well when watching TV. Cheap, easy and really helps in cold weather. Close curtains as soon as it gets dusk as well. Also the old fashioned door curtain works wonders to stop drafts and/or if glass in your door. A fleece throw on chair to sit on also works.

I'm sorry but this comment smacks of privilege. If you're just getting by, on an incredibly low income and living alone, how exactly are you meant to save? There's literally nothing to save, every penny is always accounted for every month!
Sorry if it seems like I'm having a go at you, but it's unfair to blame poor people for being unable to financially prepare instead of the multimillionaires and world leaders who have dropped us in the shit and led us into this situation in the first place.
We're the sixth richest country on earth, and people are having to wear hats and thermal socks indoors because they can't afford heat. Does that not seem utterly outrageous to everyone?!

Sorry for being poor 😔

What a fantastic idea. Thank you 😊

I'm sorry you're in this situation, I think a lot of people are wondering how they're going to manage this winter. For what it's worth, my flat gets very cold in the winter. Once it gets below 7 degrees the heating just doesn't seem to be able to combat the cold very effectively. I appreciate this isn't the same as not being able to have your heating on a lot but I've lived there for a few years and these are the things I do. I have two hot water bottles; one of the long ones which I can lay alongside where I sit on the sofa and another normal one. When I go to bed, the first thing I do I refill them and leave them in the bed 10 mins before I get in so that warms up the bed. I have a dehumidifier to help dry clothes. I wear really thick slipper socks and proper boot slippers with rubber soles that I got from FatFace a few years back. Sometimes I wear normal socks underneath the slipper socks. I also wear either a long sleeved top or vest over my t-shirt and then a hoodie as well and thick PJ joggers. I have blankets and sometimes use two on the sofa to keep warm when watching tv etc. My flat has hard floors so I'm thinking about getting some rugs for the living room to try to warm it up a bit as well.

I'd recommend wearing thermal boots with proper soles inside the house. Makes a huge difference to have a thick sole between your feet and the floor. Look at this product that I found on google.com https://share.google/m4Gz4xBeXr3bDvePv

I don’t know sorry! The scheme I pasted info on is the Scottish one (where I am) if I remember correctly you’re in England.

I know heated blankets are supposed to be great, but unheated blankets are also warm and snuggly. Ditto duvets and sleeping bags. Any of these will keep you warm while sitting. Also, those wheat things you heat in the microwave are good to cuddle

I have hyprothyroidism so feel the cold a lot but cant afford heating on all the time.
I wear
Thermals (uniqlo are good)
Fingerless wristwarmer style gloves
Hat
Oodies (look god awful but really keep you warm)
Hot water bottles and thick blankets for watching tv/reading
I hope the government will do something to help those struggling with oil prices

it’s rubbish op, hope you can sell
something / do some overtime to bridge the
£290 price hike? increase your dog walking prices? You shouldn’t have to though :(

I live on my own (apart from my dog ) so I honestly don't care how I look in an oodie 🤣🤣. I'm sorry to hear that you'll be struggling. Let's hope we have a mild winter and /or the conflict ends soon. I doubt very much the government will help us out.

Invest in a Oodie and electric blanket. We don’t turn our heating on until it snows.

In real terms, we paid 10k from our savings for the Solar panels in March 2025. Until then we paid around £240.- for gas & electric/ month - 4bed detached if that is relevant. We pay between £90- 110 gas & electric now.
For us it was about reducing the monthly outgoings.

I'm going to do exactly this. I'll curl up under some blankets with my big hairy Labrador 🤣

Best thing you can do ♥️ if you need further insulation- I suggest recruiting cats. All of my neighbours cats come to ours in the winter evenings.

Is it really over your head to realise that some people don’t have the luxury of saving each month.

Also interested to hear what your suggested alternative arrangements would be. Get a better paid job?

It beggars belief doesn't it? Some people really are sheltered from the reality of life.

I love my oodie. I got a cheapo version of it and it’s brilliant. I also use a hot water bottle all the time in winter.
wearing a hat indoors helps, thermal vests and wool tights. I got some fleece lined tights from b and m a few years ago and they are still going strong.
Make draught excluders from old trousers or tights, heavy door curtain and thick curtains in lounge and bedroom. Charity shops and freecycle type sites are good for this.
Huge sympathies op- being cold is awful.

If my quick maths is right, then your price increase is less as a percentage than the OPs.

All is not lost. I grew up in a home where ice was in the inside of the window and I just had one thin blanket.

Buy yourself a duvet and where it around your shoulders in the house. Wear a woolly hat inside and also big insulated socks.

Drink hot drinks and get yourself a hot water bottle.

Soon you won’t notice you’re cold as you will be nice and toasty with 2 duvets on the bed. Hot water bottles, etc. Wear fingerless gloves.

Oh God, I remember those days well..you could literally see your breath it was so cold. Hopefully things won't be that bad. 🤞

We never use heating. We have blankets , hot water bottles and my husband has a heated over blanket. Wrap up keep warm