To recommend this to keep warm inside..and ask for others

[daretodenim]

This has been on my mind for a few days with the rising heating costs and so I'm posting here for traffic, as maybe it can be useful for others.

I have my heating very low during the day and I'm often at home sitting - and get cold easily. Decathlon have cheap ski base layers. I use them to keep warm and they're great. I only use the tops but I have the leggings too and rarely have used them when there's not snow outside. So I'm not recommending those as a first step, unless your legs are always cold. They are really warm though! I often wear the base layer top under a jumper or sweatshirt, jeans and warm socks and it makes a really big difference.

The adults costs £6 and kids ones are £4. They're also quite thin so dry quickly.

There are also merino ones and other brands that make higher quality ones, but for the purpose of staying warm at home, rather than concerns about staying warm and dry on a cold piste, these do fine.

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/women-s-base-layer-ski-top-100/_/R-p-302806?mc=8510031&c=GREY

Anybody else have good tips?

If anyone is in doubt about not being cold, at all, with the right clothing,

I got a heated poncho as a Christmas present (just like the throw but it is shaped to fit around your shoulders with poppers to hold it in place).

I bloody love it

Poundland do great long vests which come down and keep my back warm. I hate short ones.
I also wear their leggings under a skirt or dress.
Husband rarely feels the cold so we just put a blanket on my side of the bed.
Flannelette is good.

There are people who rave about teddy fleece bedding but its not for me. The pillow case is just a no. The dog finds it comfortable.

Keep a thermometer so the heating doesn't drop dangerously low.

Tights keep you surprisingly warm and don’t feel too bulky under looser trousers.

We have blankets on the sofas, on nights we don’t light the fire it’s a simple solution but I see so many people who don’t use blankets.

Hot water bottle in your waistband.

Slippers, make a huge difference.

We didn’t have heating for about 10 years and didn’t always have the fire on if we get home late or have run out of logs, very used to taking measures to stay warm.

Thanks for the tip OP. Just ordered a set to try.

Draft excluders are going to come back into fashion I expect. You don’t need a pretty one though, a rolled up towel does the job too.

microwave heat packs are tons better than a water bottle - they cool down to room temperature after a few hours, better than a water bottle that gets cold and clammy (and impervious to being kneaded by the cat).

Oil fired free standing radiatior in the room your using, rather than central heating, especially if WFH & fairly stationaey in one room.

Primark snuddie if they still have them.

I used to have beautiful walking socks that had a thin silk lining - lots better than wearing two pairs of socks.
Wonder what happened to them?

@ThinWomansBrain the sock thief obviously. Cheeky buggers usually only take one usually. So I reckon they're inside a pair of your boots hiding. They sound delicious 👍🏼

Draft excluders: I made some from old tights, just cut off the legs and stuff with outgrown kids clothes, tie a knot. Have crocheted nice covers but they work without obviously.

When WFH I wear a dressing gown over everything, when I have a zoom I just take my arms out of the top but keep it tied round my middle so my back stays warm. One day I will stand up and be embarrassed.

Feet though are difficult, I need to buy slippers.

I wear slippers and dressing gown while WFH. Also get up and move around as much as possible to get your blood flowing.

I recommend getting fat.

I WFH all day without the heating on and don't feel too cold. I'm size 22 and the fat is very insulating which is very handy this year

For anyone who finds layering restrictive- a kidney warmer goes around your mid section and can be more comfortable than wearing something with sleeves. You can easily make your own out of an old jumper.

I love my Amazon oodie and fleece blankets for round my knees. I find that I get really cold sitting at my desk so I try to go for a short walk at some point to get the circulation going. Always feel warmer after moving

When it's cold, walk your hand around the entire edge of your property to feel for colder spots. Any small draft can be handled with draft excluders, windows lose less heat with a layer of clingfilm and eaves heat loss can be minimised by insulation, or filling up with cardboard boxes plus any blankets you have nearest the house; the boxes create pockets of warmer air to reduce the rate of heat loss.

It's also more energy efficient to pick and stick at a consistent lower-but-liveable temperature than to have the boiler firing away all evening because the walls got hot. (In a house anyway, in flats you might want to schedule around when neighbours heat.)

*cold not hot!!

Curtains: buy cheap from charity shop and use as curtain liners behind your good ones. Or use an old duvet or flat sheet. ( I use an old duvet behind the kitchen blinds in summer to insulate from the heat. Would work on winter too)

A snood or polo necked jumper to keep your neck warm. A hoody or hat.

Wrist warmers

Warm your hands in the washing up water.

Also have kids old leggins stuffed with old pants and socks as a draught excluder.

• only for those without mobility issues Whenever you feel a bit chilly, get up (remove layers) and dance around for a bit until you work up a slight sweat. Or do a ten minute work out on YouTube. Or do housework like change the bedding clean the oven or windows. Just keep moving as much as you can. Wfh you are entitled to a tea break so dance around or run on spot while waiting for it to brew. Go out for a brisk walk in the cold and when you come inside it feels warmer (if the heating is on low).

Thick warm slippers with socks and hot water bottles with blankets are what I’m relying on.

The problem with layering up is it increases the washing considerably, using more energy and makes drying it more difficult indoors. We are trying to keep warm but also keep the washing down to a manageable level.

I hate the feeling of layering, just find it restrictive and uncomfortable.

I do adore my heated throw in the lounge though, and have an electric under blanket on the bed in winter. Cheap to run, heats up instantly, gloriously cosy. I also have rechargeable electric hand warmers, which are great if you're going to be stuck outside (dog walk, kids sports games, winter days out etc). I rarely am out due to mobility issues but they are pretty good. It's so nice to be able to pop your hands in your pockets and feel heat, really takes the edge off.

I get up at 5:30 and have noticed if I shower first thing I’m pretty warm for a few hours as opposed to hunching around in my dressing gown, shivering and miserable!

@byvirtue

I have a fake oodie from Amazon, like wearing a blanket so cozy!

Me too, best thing ever, the minute i put it on i feel the warmth spread. Also not too much like a dressinggown so perfectly ok for answering the door.

Yes layers are key! Also soup with extra chilli flakes warms me up brilliantly

Wow! I came back to the thread and nobody had replied so I left it and now 😃 I feel warm just reading it!

On the shower front, sometimes I've had to take a shower to warm up if my fingers are white (usually when I've not worn a base later!), however, since the beginning of last year I've been having cold showers some mornings. I start with it warm and when I'm finished I turn it cold for as long as I can stand. Started off only on my legs, now it's full body and hair. I feel really, really warm for quite a while after that - and energised too! Not sure I'd recommend it to start with though.

Looking forward to the hot water bottle between thighs and I forgot about those electric booties! Think they'll be going on my list!

I agree that men's pyjama bottoms are thicker and warmer than women's generally (they often have pockets too). I have some lovely fleecy ones from Matalan.