To suddenly be frightened of the coming winter?

[KathrynKampbell]

I think it's just hit me how hard winter is going to be. I'm sat downstairs now (watching a film tut tut get to bed) and its really cold. Today was cold too and we had to have the heating on and off all day. I thought we would manage with maybe once a day for a bit and make do with layers but I hadn't realised how much the house would leak heat and how cold laminate floor is. And the temperature is obviously going to get colder over the next few months.

AIBU to be scared about the next few months?

No we feel the same tbh. We're buying thicker vitamins, we now wear slippers and have started wearing more woollies indoors just to keep the goats down as it will get much much worse than this.

Yanbu, i question putting my heating on most of the time thanks to these money sucking energy companies.
But today it was indeed quite cold (south east england) and had it on for 2hrs in the morning aswell as this evening for the children's baths.

The mould is coming back too since it got colder and the tumble drier is also being used the majority of the time.
It is a worrying time, knowing that with the cold brings higher bills too, that added to christmas, impending arrival of dc5 and all january birthdays coming up, i'm juggling my brain with it all!

Slippers. Draught excluders (old tights stuffed with newspapers if necessary). Draw the curtains. Think about cheap rugs (my living room laminate always has a top layer of icy draft on it). Socks and gloves - if your extremities are warm then you are, also think about hats. Be smart with the heating - in my old house we had a gas stove so the heating went off at night and we just heated the living room. In this house we have cavity wall insulation (also worth a google, we got ours free) so can run the heating for a couple of hours then switch it off and the house stays warm. I work from home so during the day I run an oil-filled radiator in my office.

Don't get scared, get smart

thatisall I love that you're keeping warm with thick vitamins and goats!!

It's a bit of a shock to the system at the moment because it's been so mild recently. I find you get used to the cold. Wear decent slippers, shut the curtains to keep the heat in . Our house is freezing and I struggle to keep it warm with the heating on.

I wish I'd used my brain and planned ahead a bit! I could have chucked a snuggy onesie on or something if I had haha! Luckily I had Sellotape so I could tape up the keyholes

It's scary though. I'd read other threads asking for advice to keep warm but it never really sunk in until today that I need to plan too :(

NPower have just put our combined energy bill up to £241 a month.....there is just no way on earth it can be that high?

I can't remember the last time I had a bath, it's showers all the way here. We use low energy bulbs, don't leave appliances on and I don't leave things slow roasting in the oven for hours. Don't see how I can cut things back really, not with 3 teenagers.

I like the rug idea wallison, and maybe i should spend out on some thicker curtains too.

Extra socks and slippers. I also have a few huge cardigans (think knee length) which I throw on when I'm in the house.

One thing that REALLY helps is wearing a scarf in the house. I find if my neck is warm my whole top half is warm and then I just need to worry about the feet...

WINTER IS COMING!

I agree serin we have done all you have mentioned, yet no savings
The only thing on at night is my energy saving bulb in the hall & the fridge. I turn everything except from sky & tv off at the mains.

I'm dreading it. I'm always cold even with the heating on - but this yr I reckon we have to cut it down by half. We just usually end up in bed really early on the nights the kids don't have clubs.

Yes I think cheap rugs would be a good idea! I already have a couple that dd plays on so might get a couple of those thin runner ones to fill the gaps so its almost like having a carpet. I definitely need to get smart before it gets really really cold! Upstairs is usually warmer so I'm wondering now if it might be a case of spending more time up there too. Just seems weird to abandon my downstairs though!

Thatisall please come back and report on the thicker vitamins!

Keep the goats down and we'll all be okay.

Indeed. Wish I were in Winterfell with its thick walls and hot springs beneath

£241???

laminate flooring must have been invented and made popular by the energy companies

I can see me returning to candles at this rate!!

40 odd years ago when I was a child we all used to have ice on the insides of our bedroom windows and my poor dad used to race downstairs to light the coal fire in the living room.

Haha! I wouldn't be surprised! I'm just glad the landlord at least chose carpet for upstairs! If I ever own a house I am going to have ridiculous thick warm carpets everywhere.

At least we won't have White Walkers. (hopefully)

Yeah £241!

British Gas did the same to us a while ago, started off at £120 then just kept going higher every month. We did eventually get them to refund £970 but it was a battle.

Must have mug written on my head.

I live in a particularly cold area of Scotland. Our new build has great insulation but also heating that comes on automatically when room hits a particular temperature. I'm worried that when we are out at work it'll be coming on and off all day. I'm living in my jml snuggie blanket. I love that it has sleeves.

I too am sorry you are having to keep the goats down, Thatisall.

My next 'big buy' will be a carpet for the living room.

If I'm doubly lucky it will help with the goats too .

Op I suspect your upstairs is warmer because heat rises - so if you stop heating downstairs upstairs will be colder...

You can't keep a good goat down... :o