With the gas price rises, what are the best (cheap) fleece suits to wear inside??

[flintstonewall]

On benefits due to poor health. There is no way I can afford these rises that are about to happen. Struggling as it is.

I have a small, small buffer of savings which I have figured is better to use on some very warm clothing for me and 2 others in the household. that could last us a couple of years, whereas with the new gas prices wouldn't stretch even nearly that. We are all quite small in size.

Everything I can find is designed for outdoors or just too thin.

Any recommendations?? Stuff that will actually keep us warm, wash ok, and last..

I bought a few pairs of thermal leggings and a few thermal vests (from Matalan and Amazon) and wear them, tucked in to each other and then into my thick socks (from Tesco). Over them I wear thick, fleecy pyjamas (Tesco, Asda, Amazon). I also occasionally wear my fleecy dressing gown (Sainsbury's) as well if I'm still cold.

Thermal long johns and thermal long sleeved vests all round will keep you warm and toasty worn under warm top clothes.

Poor you OP. I'm in Scotland too and I really feel the cold...I have one of these that I use indoors and it is incredibly warm and comfortable. Its very good quality: thick outer fabric, heavily padded and warm fleecy lining. I have it in a slightly larger size, and wear it over layers, I practically live in mine. It really keeps your body heat in and covers most your bum, & zips up round your neck. When really cold I put the hood up. Its currently half price. I really recommend it. Hope things improve for you soon

Here's a link:
www.houseoffraser.co.uk/brand/soulcal/2-zip-gilet-ladies-669424#colcode=66942473

Marks and Spencers Heatgen plus thermals, if they're within your budget OP.
£15 for long sleeved vest and same for leggings/long johns.
Like climbing in to a warm hug.
Good luck.
It's truly awful in this day and age.
I swear we're going backwards.
We'll all be sleeping with our coats on the bed like in the 1940's and 50's.

Thanks. Some great ideas here. I am used to putting the heating on when we are cold, within reason obviously, but my budget is now stretched to the limit with the cuts and long freeze on benefits now added to all the rises in the costs of living (my food bill is going up quite a lot too - for eg the cheapest bread and milk has went up about 15% in recent months).

There's no more room in the budget. When the rises come in, I will only be able to put the heating on for an hour every other day when we have showers.

I don't even live rurally, I live within a few miles of a big city but the flat is 1950s built and draughty. I am counting myself lucky because were we in still in private renting things would be even worse.

I think the 'bill' for warm fleece clothing each year will be less than the massive rise in prices. Hopefully things get better. Scary times.

You can get thermal tops and trousers for a couple of pound last I checked in home bargains.

Check charity shops for other clothes, layer up a lot.

It sucks I know.

Last year I bought this jumper, the size large was too big for me but I kept it as it's the warmest jumper I've ever had! Wore it all last winter. And now it's on sale. Seriously warm!

www.mandco.com/sonder-studio-embellished-roll-neck-knit-cream/1601946.html?dwvar_1601946_color=0040&cgid=10010030080#q=Cream+jumper&start=24

My go to is tights, thermal socks, slipper socks. Jeans over tights and sometimes also leggings under jeans. Vest, strappy t-shirt, long sleeved t-shirt, jumper, cardigan. Dressing gown and a throw/blanket if I'm just sitting still. All stuff I already have but layered up and all tucked in. Also disabled, on benefits and am now in debt with no savings (had no debt for years but now very overdrawn with no overdraft).

Don't put on heating, use kettle or hairdryer. Shower and wash hair every 4th day. Don't put on hot water. Unplug everything, turn off lights. Stay in bed as long as you can in the morning and go to bed early.

My energy firm have already put my prices up 50% last month so am dreading how much more it will be in April.

There's no more room in the budget. When the rises come in, I will only be able to put the heating on for an hour every other day when we have showers.

The price rise doesn't come in till April?

If you need the heating on in spring to have a shower then maybe drying yourself off before getting out of the shower might be an alternative, instead of putting the heating on

@Flaxmeadow I meant that my income is so low I am struggling to meet bills now, and the thought of 50% plus rises in energy is just not fathomable.

I live in quite a cold part of the country, and my flat is draughty. From around early October - mid April the heating has to go on when having a shower or else you are absolutely freezing.

Presumably this is going to be a medium to long term thing, so will apply next winter too?? The government don't seem to be wanting to help us disabled people, my income will not be higher next year (maybe like 1%) and I've never heard of prices dropping a lot once they have been risen to a 'new normal'. I am trying to work out a way to heat AND eat, rather than one or the other.

I'm in the same position OP but I don't know anyone who heats their bathroom or who ever has.

How many rooms do you heat? Do you have central heating ?

A good woolly hat and wear it all the time , it really does make a difference . I used to be a night staff nurse and the hospital was badly designed and we had a 6 bedded bay that had big windows on 3 sides which were badly insulated and draughty . On very cold nights we resorted to wrapping towels round the patients ( all elderly ) heads like turbans and it really helped to keep them warm .

Terrible state of affairs is all this.

Keep warm op

Layers with thermal underwear.

You can get battery heated blankets, rechargeable, so that you can take it anywhere, curl up on the sofa, whatever.....and don't have to be clipped to the mains power. Regatta also do battery heated jackets and fleeces so that you can be warm and working about the house, or sitting at the computer etc. and keep warm. There is a whole range from expensive to cheap versions, check online.

If I were you I would get an Oodie, or at least a knock-off version. I live in mine in winter. I bought my mum one as her house is freezing, and she says it is too warm for her most of the time! Heated blankets are great too, and pennies to run.

OP, you can tackle the draughts quite cheaply. It makes quite a bit of difference to the interior temperature. Take a walk about and figure out which parts of the place are colder - it's usually exterior doors and windows. The front key hole, bathroom fan etc can let in cold air too, so it's worth trying to figure out the cold spots and blocking and/draught proofing them.

There is this foam weatherstripping stuff you can buy from Poundland or similar, that just sticks on - I put it around the doors to block gaps in the frames. Same with windows. I also put door sweepers under the exterior doors.

I ended up putting one of those door snakes that sit on either side of the door, in front of the bathroom - as that is an icebox and was letting so much cold air in. I keep as many doors shut as possible in the flat to retain the heat in the room I am in.

Doing that lifted the base temperature by at least a couple of degrees. Otherwise, I do what other posters have suggested - heated throw, brushed cotton bedding, slippers, Primark fleece lined leggings, jumpers etc.

The blanket hoodies are v warm and thick slipper socks

Layers are best, you probably own some suitable, leggings with joggers over and a fleece is my camping go to, I have proper base layer leggings and long sleeve top for the motorbike (lidl have them) but old ones you already own are fine. Thick tog rated socks are key actually and have throws on you sofa(s). My thermostat is set at 17 and comes on for only 3 hours a day

I bought a full length Lushforest hoodie from amazon, it gets too warm! Not the most stylish of garments but I can lounge around, move around and even answer the door in it!

Keeping your core warm is the most important - furry/insulated body warmers are really good.

I also wear fleece lined leggings, long sleeved base layers and fleecy hoodies or tops. Socks over your leggings so the heat is trapped, plus fleecy slipper boots on top if you really feel the cold.

My only other thought was have you looked at the £10 a day thread here on Mumsnet, obviously be careful but there's quite a few ideas for making a little money, could help offset higher bills. I also have done quite a lot of project testing, lots of cleaning chemicals for instance, means I don't need to buy them.

I was home alone yesterday sitting at my desk and didn't want to put the heating on just to keep one room warm. I put my dressing gown on over my clothes - what a difference it made! It's not even a very thick fleece one, more like a stretchy thick velour, but it really did properly warm me up.

[quote Bluehasnoclue]What about something similar to the Oodie? The actual branded ones are quite pricey but I’m sure they must have cheaper versions in primark etc? theoodie.co.uk/[/quote]
I second this. I bought a Kuddli for Xmas and when I put it on instantly I'm very warm and can move round with it on