How to keep warm? Can't afford heating

[MandiY]

Other than wearing ridiculous numbers of layers. I cannot afford to put my heating on. It's just so expensive and I am already struggling to pay council tax. This never used to be an issue but the cost of living is killing me financially. What are some ways I can warm up? Any heaters that are cheaper than central heating? It's 7 degrees outside and 14 degrees in my house. I have a 3 year old so can't just suffer the cold like I would of it were just me. Thanks

For info, looks like these cost 48-52p to run for up to 50 min (based on 2litres of fuel for £8. 120ml lasts for 40-50min)

Heated throws are great but I also really recommend something like this:

www.amazon.co.uk/Sienna-Blanket-Oversized-Wearable-Sweatshirt/dp/B0851KN668/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=W7M97WJ9EN4N&keywords=sienna+hoodie+blanket&qid=1664466602&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI0LjI5IiwicXNhIjoiMi43NCIsInFzcCI6IjIuMzEifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=sirnna%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-2

have been wearing around the house wfh for last few days and would normally feel cold at 17 degrees inside but this keeps me warm really well and I’ll definitely be wearing indoors most of the winter!

Décathlon do thermal jumpers and leggings. Not sure if they deliver to UK but rouge gorge do lovely cashmere/cotton tops and leggings.

How much are rouge gorge for cashmere thermals?

Have you checked you're getting all the help you're entitled to?

Have a look through the link below and see if there's anything extra you can claim, or any way of reprioritising your income, eg can you go to a food bank for food, so you have money available to buy warmer clothes?

Lots of tips on everything 'cost of living crisis' here.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/budgeting-debt-help/

Good luck

Electric blankets/ throws (cost pennies to run) are really good and of course warm clothing. Maybe try a thick warm fluffy robe to wear around the house or thermals?

I always get cold feet, so wear joules woolly socks and slipper boots in the house.

Your not the only one, the thought of heating bills gives me anxiety too 😥… Im trying to cope with using my heated throw in the living room. I also have a thick feather duvet that keeps me warm in bed, but I might get a heated electric blanket for when it gets colder.

I feel the cold a lot even with the heating on. Things I do:
hot water bottle wrapped around my waist/kidneys (the snake shaped ones with a tie to make them into a loop)
another hot water bottle up my top
wear a hat and scarf (not necessarily a big wooly scarf, just something to keep the skin covered, I have a lot of cotton shawl types)
fingerless gloves like the Turtledove ones that I can type in
thermal vest and, depending on outfit, leggings
never go barefoot in the autumn/winter, always have socks and slipper boots on
keep the next set of clothes in the hot press so they're warm when I get dressed
try to move a bit every hour or so, if I'm sitting working at the desk, just to get circulation working a bit more!

@MandiY - I have just realised how nuch our heating costs - so probably not brilliant but I have drawn curtains to keep the heat in & if interlined that helps . Any draughts - get rid. Always try to stay warm rather then get warm - I have a blanket over my sofa & I can get upstairs pretty warm. Other then that I would say little one - pyjamas and dressing gown / jumper / cardi and slippers / socks .

I have spent the day working at my desk (I wfh) with a hot water bottle up my jumper. Will add a duvet wrapped round me when it gets colder.

You'll have to have the heating on low at least once it gets properly cold. It's usually much more expensive to heat up a cold house than it is to keep it at a constant temperature.
Our heating isn't on, yet. We are at work most of the day anyway. It's about 14 degrees outside but the temperatures can go as low as -20 in winter where we live. The heating will have to go on soon...I think it comes on automatically once thr temperature outside drops below a certain number. For the evenings, I have a heated blanket, which is lovely, but it's still very snuggly and warm even when it isn't plugged in.

I am determined not to put central heating on until October. DH is annoyed with me and Adults DS says he is freezing. They have warm fleece blankets for on sofa, hot food and hot drinks. Oh, and thick socks. I have soft bootee slippers. I am holding out. I told DH kitchen is warm as oven has been on. Sit in there if cold. I would make 3 year old a hot water bottle to cuddle up under a fleece and hat.

Are you on any benefits uc etx / you can get a ct discount if you are

as others have said uou need to put the heating on a little esp when minus temps or pipes will freeze and then more problems

do you have any friends or family you can share staying warm at so all get warm but at one house and take turns

Thick socks aren’t enough, slippers with a proper sole are important.

if you really can’t put the heating on, one thing that will really improve your quality of life is to dry your bath towels on the washing line after use (if it’s dry weather). Towels are horrible if still wet from the last use, and can start to smell quite quickly.

Another tip is to keep wiping the condensation that will be on the windows each morning. Damp houses feel colder.

get an oodie (a non branded one off Amazon)

fluffy pyjamas, fluffy socks. We also have a heated throw but haven’t used that this year yet, hoping the longer we leave it we’ll feel the benefit of it when it gets colder.

hot water bottles are a must, I’ve got an extra long one from Amazon.

id also echo heating a specific room, maybe reorganise your living space so you spend time in a room that retains heat better if that’s possible. We use a draft excluder on the bottom of the door. If you have an unused fireplace you can get a chimney balloon to prevent drafts.

I don’t understand these threads when someone has no spare money to tell them to go and spend more money they don’t have on all new clothes, sheepskin thermals, heated blankets etc. I am also alarmed at some of the clearly hazardous suggestions of homemade naked flames or burning wet wood

OP, gas is cheaper than electricity per unit. It probably is more cost effective to put your heating on for short burst periods of time to try to maintain a temp indoors across the day and prevent frozen pipes. Do you have a smart meter? It’s easier to see what you use and you can cap a limit on yourself. Buying cheap insulation tape is a good idea for your windows and doors and even radiator reflective roll for behind the radiators. It’s worth bleeding your radiators and checking the thermostats on them and keeping internal doors closed too.

I WFH and have been using a hot water bottle in a fleecy cover the last few days - genuinely been surprised how long it stays warm and how cosy it's been. They have some in Dunelm for a few pounds. I was trying to find out which was cheaper in the long run, hot water bottle vs heated blanket and this article (from The Sun, ick) says hot water bottle significantly cheaper.

www.thesun.co.uk/money/19888417/electric-blanket-hot-water-bottle-energy-price/

Please be careful with the advice re "burning stuff" there is a risk of co2 poisoning if not properly ventilated.

A tent, if you have one will warm up (or a blanket fort) with a toddler playing in it. But straight candles are the most effective things I’ve found. Ones in jars would be best with a toddler around, and obviously well out of reach. The terracotta pot heater does work, but I’d be super wary having one around a toddler, and I have heard of the catching fire. Heated blankets are really good, if you can stretch to one.

From a recent costing of a heated blanket throw- it costs 19.6p to run a 100W electric blanket for one hour a day for seven days.

Layers.

Keep all the summer clothes out and put a couple of t-shirts on underneath your shirts and jumpers.

sorry, you mentioned layers yourself in your first sentence

Excellent advice. Please don't attempt anything which could risk your fire safety. Like most crisis situations this will pass although it's going to be a difficult winter.

If you can afford it, a fluffy neck warmer. Like what a motorbiker wears under helmet. I've been using dh's old motorbike one all week and I swear by it. It's so cosy. Like this one below.

NovForth Winter Neck Warmer Fleece Lined Infinity Scarf Thicken Windproof and Dust Skiing Circle for mens women Double-Layer Fleece Lining Knit amzn.eu/d/aGasQJ1

If it’s just you and a toddler I’d co-sleep and you’ll keep each other warm, and save on heating a bedroom. Toddlers are very effective hot water bottles!

I saw online recently, haven't tried it, but apparently it works. If you want to heat the room you're in cheaply without putting the heating on, get a plant pot and turn it upside down and put a tea light in it. Obviously make sure there's a wee hole at the bottom