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?

We have put down a fourth hand carpet in the hopes of staying warm its old and discoloured but hopefully will help. I'm not worried about myself I can deal with it but we have a six month old baby to consider and living on benefits we can't afford heating. We'll get the warm front grant but that's for electric and all our heating is gas. I'm terrified of the weather turning really bad on us it really will be heat or eat for us.

If you are able, best way to keep warm is stay active. I was on the move all day yesterday (loads of housework after having guests all weekend) and didn't feel the cold.

Also agree to electric blanket and lots of layers!

peach
These went up at my windows last winter and spent the summer as throws on my sofa. They're huge, and at fifteen quid each doable.

Before our new kitchen floor was put down last year, we put tape over all the gaps in the floor boards and sealed the floor/ skirting board, and the room is considerably warmer, and retains the heat.

Goodness knows how cold the previous owner must have been. We added in a lot of loft insulation when we moved in. Put back in a radiator to the kitchen-diner that had none after alterations (it was freezing and drained the whole house). Put down a good carpet and underlay in the lounge instead of the cheap laminate.

I'm finding it hard to adjust to the temperature range. I wonder if it's because last winter was the second half of my pregnancy, and I'm currently losing baby weight, so my body's not had a winter on normal metabolism in 2yrs. Actually I remember being cold this time last year and having to buy a few warmer mat tops as I'd already reached the furnace stage of pregnancy by late autumn first time round. It's also confusing switching between warmer and cooler spells.

Dawn Thanks for the idea they're slightly cheaper on eBay so will order one once we're off sanction in three weeks. Every little thing helps!

Pahahaa! The autocorrect on this bloody phone makes me appear weirder and weirder every time I post.

Out goats are doing just fine thank you all for your concern and I can recommend thick vitamins.

I've always thought you CAN'T keep a good goat down, Thatisall.

LOVE the thick vitamins and goats! That has to be one of the most surreal posts ever. You have really cheered me up - thanks!

You just can't and the heat they give off will halve your energy bills don't ya know?

Just so that you aren't distracted from your day thick vitamins should be thick curtains? And goats should be costs. No I'm not sure how I managed that either!! I blame cold fingers haha

Sharing your place with goats would certainly keep it warmer. Might be a bit anti-social smelling though, on the downside. If you had angora goats at least they could make you some good warm jumpers (well, not 'make' exactly, they probably don't knit/spin/weave).

Dunhelm mill have cheap runners we've added some to the hall way and our bedroom as we have laminate in our bedroom and it gets so cold in winter it needs replacing with carpet but our room is the last in the house to get decorated.

Have you looked at the green deal scheme? You can replace your boiler/get better insulation and pay it off with the savings made on your bills - so your bills will be the same but you will have a cosier house. I think you have to pay a fee of about £100 or so for an initial assessment, but that's the only upfront cost.

Good insulation can make the world of difference.

www.theguardian.com/money/2013/nov/03/energy-bills-npower-400m-credit-customers

the direct debit charging for gas etc predicted usage is a massive scam, and benefits only the companies, certainly not the consumer
Before you accept your 200 plus direct debit to N power find out how much money you actually owe them eg is your account in arrears or surplus? and work out if you can switch to another cheaper provider. You also need to agree to any direct debit increases and can challenge these if they try to take a sum not agreed or discussed out of your account

Ive had them try and increase direct debits twice - both times when I have been substantially in credit and both times by a figure plucked out the ether, which apparently assumed I would start suddenly running my home as a sanctuary for tropical orchids

I am no longer with N power and no longer pay anything by direct debit that a company can adjust

I often dream of living in a gorgeous Victorian or Edwardian home - terracotta tiles on the kitchen floor, high ceilings, bay windows, etc... But it's threads like this that make me thankful for my modest / well-insulated / carpeted 2006 new-build because it heats up so flippin' fast!

We have our thermostat set to 16 and our radiators turned up half-way so it doesn't get too hot. Our heating comes on for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening, but we only put it on properly this weekend because we had guests - the odd burst of heating has been enough until now. I work from home and don't bother with heating during the day - just stick a hoodie on (more layers when it starts getting colder) and I'm good to go.

I'm a massive fan of dressing gowns, fleecy socks, throws and blankets too, which helps. We're careful to turn appliances off too to save where we can. Have hot water bottles at the ready for when temperatures really plummet, but hoping we won't need them for a while. Our energy supplier has just reduced our bills because we've been paying too much :-/

The goat has been a massive help too, of course.

I have throws on all my sofas and chairs so during the day while I'm home with the children we can blanket up and watch a movie or something if its particularly cold.

I keep all doors shut to stop draughts and wear & dress my DD's in a lot of layers.

Having said all that, I've got the heating on! I'm freezing and have a cold so I couldn't resist!

Where can I get thermal undies for kids please?

YY to layers, and to neck / wrists / feet. Worth getting wool, merino and cashmere if possible (can all be had fairly cheaply on Ebay or from Woolovers). DP laughs at me in my cashmere snood and wristies but they make SUCH a difference . Slippers are a must.

I also recommend a Slanket - never have the heating on in the evening here, it's kids to bed and then I'm in my Slanket. Have never been cold in it!

I haveaduvet under my top fitted sheet on bed. A thick fleece blnket and two duvetso top of me. The fleecy.blnket is so warm next to my.body. Same for DS too.

Thatisall you.made me lol

I made myself lol!

I got my thermals from M&S a couple of years ago. They probably do kids ones too. I pretty much only ever wear them indoors and they doo keep you warm.

Knitted/wool socks are good too. I have 2-3 pairs I wear round the house and my feet are never cold.

Don't flame me for it but I know Primarni do thermals for adults and children

Those of you who are considering foil behind your heaters, it may be cheaper to buy solar windscreen protectors if you have many or large heaters. They can be had for a couple of quid on Ebay.