To think that I could just not use the heating much at all this winter?

[Socathe]

I live with my DH and three year old DS in a new ish four bed detached house. I know that there are many who will not be able to afford to heat their homes this winter and for whom it will not be an option.

We are very fortunate in that we could just about afford to heat our home as we usually would. However, it would swallow up all of our extra money - we would be doing it at the expense of other things, such as a holiday next year, a normal Christmas, meals out, the pantomime in December, finishing our house renovations, those sorts of things.

I know these things are luxuries and we are very fortunate to be in a position where we have luxuries we could give up in order to afford heating. But AIBU to think that we could just try not to use the heating much at all this winter, so we don't have to give up these other luxuries? In previous winters we've had it on for 5-6 hours a day, I'm thinking of trying an hour a day to start and see how we go. Thicker duvets, boot slippers, oodies etc.

Am I being unrealistic especially with having a 3yo? What is everyone else planning on doing?

Think from an environmental reason you should always be wearing jumpers, slippers, thick duvets etc anyway. Why do people only care now that it's costing them money?

Standing charges are increasing so you are going to see an increase whatever you do.
though I, like you, will be trying to use less.

searching my local history there used to be so many house fires Pre-electricity so be careful if using candles!

Iv been thinking the same. An hour in the evening whilst kids up and when we get home after work. Then heated blanket before bed for them and then for me. Plus jumpers and proper socks?

I'm thinking along similar lines, but I worry about the house getting damp, or pipes freezing and so on. I never have been one to put it on wantonly but sometimes I've 'cracked' and left it on longer than planned because I'm so damn cold.

Yes we always put a jumper and slippers on before heating but I'm talking even more layers this year to avoid heating altogether.

I think if I were you I would cut down as much as I could but not completely deprive myself if I felt we needed it on sometimes. Nothing worse than being so cold!!

I've bought DS and me an Oodie for this very reason. Electric heaters tripled my bill, and that was before this madness. They're not going on ever again!

I think it's very easy to say that in August, before the winter has actually happened. We have no idea how low the temperatures are going to drop yet which is what it all depends on.

I think it’s easier to do this in the south of England than the north.

l live in a very cold snowy area in the north. We always have snow in the winter😩

Yes this is what I'm wondering about mostly. How I'll actually feel about it when the reality of the cold months hits. I think we'll be able to reduce from what we usually use but by how much is the question.

New builds hold heat very well. It sounds as if this may work- or you could possibly downsize to a two or three bed new build with cheaper council tax and bills and have the best of both worlds (heating on whenever, without having to compromise on the things you mentioned). Just a thought?

I've just got myself a (knock off) oodie! DS has a warm fluffy dressing gown.

If you set your central thermostat at 15 or above your pipes should not freeze surely? If in doubt lagging is cheap and readily available.

Seems eminently sensible to cut down on energy use as much as possible - not only for yourself financially but for the planet.

I was born in the 50's when there was no CH, we had one gas fire put on when really necessary. We didn't freeze to death even when the net curtains where frozen to the INSIDE of the window!

There was no heating at all in the bathroom and mo shower, so once a week bath (Sunday) one after another. Strip wash at sink every day.

I know posters will come on and sneer "race to the bottom" and "disgraceful one of richest nations on earth" blah blah blah but the fact is it's going to be an uncomfortable winter for a great many people, but I just want to reassure them that it's uncomfortable, perhaps even totally miserable, but it's definitely survivable and Spring comes around.

Dress warm, don't light fires in chimneys that haven't been swept.

Yes I'm the same. I always set the thermostat so it comes on automatically for 3 hours or so but usually crack and give it a blast at other times too.

This year I'm thinking of setting the thermostat to just one hour a day to start with and then try not to touch it.

It depends on who lives at home, their age and health and also where you live in the country but generally an unheated house in the UK. I have young children and live in the north and their health is more important than holidays.

I think we're going to really struggle. My boyfriend can't stand being cold (or hot). This month he's constantly had the fan on; I can't imagine I'll have much scope to reduce our bill. But in winter 2020/21 when I lived with a friend we'd only have the heating on for an hour or two here and there, found it very doable.

I think to not use the heating at all is unrealistic, especially with a young child. It could also cause other issues, such a frozen pipes if it gets very cold and a damp/mouldy house.

It would be better to limit the time it's on as well as the temperature of the thermostat. Many people put it at 22c and over but putting it at 16-17c while wearing a jumper and blankets etc would take the edge off without being as expensive as it would only come on when the house temperature dips below that.

I haven't had my heating on for the last 3 years or so. But I live in a mid terrace so am well insulated.
We have thick fleecy socks and blankets. We also don't really feel the cold.

The energy companies are aware that most families are thinking like this so they’ve really hiked up the standing charge. So in essence even if you don’t put heating on you will still be paying more. It’s worrying!

energysavingtrust.org.uk/hub/quick-tips-to-save-energy/

You aren't being unreasonable, I grew up in a house with no heating so it can be done. It's just not much fun. You will need a good mix of warm clothes. Make sure your dc has a couple of snow suits and plenty of gloves.

I use ski thermals, ski socks, wool trousers and sweaters over long sleeved t-shirts. Warm drinks etc. Your house is newish and probably well insulated.

I have a log burner and have built a huge pile of fire wood drying in a shed. I intend to heat my house while only using the gas heating for an hour each morning. It depends how cold it gets this winter.

I like my house cold - I grew up in a freezing cold house in the mountains of Snowdonia with all the usual mumsnet cliches of ice inside the windows etc. It was crap, but it has made me very cold tolerant. My house is always much cooler than all my friends' houses, if I get to choose. I hardly use my heating and have the thermostat on low, but in August in the heat it's so easy to forget how bloody cold it can get! My house is old and badly insulated, and it does get cold in winter without heating. I'm all for hot water bottles and blankets and lots of tea but I still want radiators when you have to get up for work at stupid o'clock in December when it's snowing and dark and you have to get out of bed.

Last winter I only put the heating on when I had guests. We used a lot of blankets!!

Just be careful. We live in a Victorian flat that is destroyed by damp. Once the damp gets in it's hard to get rid - and the only way to prevent illness in a damp house is to heat a lot more than you normally would so it's a viscous circle

We’ll reduce our heating a bit, but I’d be concerned about damage to pipes, damp etc if it was off entirely. And frankly I’d rather cut down on other luxuries before I was cold all the time.

It also depends on your lifestyle - if you’re at home all day then it’s going to be harder to turn it off than if you’re at work/nursery for 9 hours a day. (Although those places are going to struggle with bills too.)