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

There's some fantastic suggestions here from everyone but what a bloody state of affairs where this is necessary

Money saving expert has advice on 'heat the human not the home'

One cheap thing he doesn't recommend is a USB heat pad (£10ish on amazon). They're only small and need to be close to your back or stomach but over a layer like a vest or t-shirt. Can plug into a powerbank, USB on computer or USB plug. They cost pennies to run and keep your core temperature up.

Ignore the crap reviews, people expect a heated blanket when they buy them.

As well as all these very practical suggestions you do need to make sure you are maximising your income, either through benefits or work or a combination of those. In addition (and I’m sure you’ve already done this) cutting your outgoings to the bone. As others have said not heating your house at all will end up being counter productive. Please call Citizens Advice - there may be local sources of help. At the very least getting a food bank voucher will free up some cash for you to use towards your energy costs

Can I also suggest you look at other ways of reducing your usage of power generally. We have cut down to virtually nil our use of our oven, which eats up electricity like you can't imagine. We use an air frier loads more and the microwave. We have stopped using our quick boil electric kettle as boiling water on our gas hob is loads cheaper. I also bought an electric airer which is good to air clothes off after they have been out on the line and also takes the chill off the room it's in. We now turn everything off at the mains when not in use including the microwave. We have a smart meter so can tell how much less we are using overnight and through the day when we're not in.

A microwaveable hot pad to stick in your waistband or under a jumper or on your lap is so good as it keeps your core warm and you can warm your hands on it or shift it to your feet. A hat indoors is really helpful. Do a minute of starjumps to get your circulation pumping. Use your duvet on the sofa. if you have a spare duvet, sit on top of one duvet and have the other duvet over you, thus cocooning you. Two or three pairs of socks. A thin scarf tucked around your neck. This winter is going to be hard for so many x

I'm going to recommend a "bed tent", which is basically like a modern, temporary, canopy bed. You will be so much warmer at night and only need to heat a small space rather than the entire room. You could make similar tents to hang out in during the day.
Carpets and cushions everywhere is a good idea.
Sharing a bed will also help stay warm at night.
I prefer heated mattress pads to electric blankets. Then you aren't losing heat to the room, it's trapped between the mattress and your duvet. Which, coincidentally, is right where you are.
You can also use these heated pads or blankets outside of your bedroom, by putting them on the floor or couch.
I also strongly recommend getting long john, thermal under garments. Really, this is my #1 recommendation for you. They'll be the best solution all around, because you'll be taking your own heat with you. Before modern heating, people wore padded and quilted clothes (and hats!) inside during winter for a reason. The long underwear will be a tad more discrete, while still helping out with warmth. Remember, when it comes to clothes, socks, and shoes, you actually want them fairly loose. Tight or overly snug cuts off circulation, making you colder. Loose creates an insulating buffer of warm air between you and the clothes, which is how nearly all arctic animals stay warm.
Basically, take a look at some winter historical clothing trends from Victorian times and earlier, or those videos of modern people who live Siberia, and see if you can't copy them. Fingerless knit gloves that go to your elbows, a shawl, and a cap all seem like great ways to stay warm.

If you can do so safely, using something like a pellet stove, or a hot tent camping stove may be an excellent way to heat your main space.

Of course, much of this stuff is expensive. Especially if you don't own any of it already and can't Jerry rig something to work as a substitute or find things used or from charity shops. It may be cheaper to just turn the heat on than to spend a few hundred on new clothes, electric blankets, and personal heaters.
However, you might do the math and discover spending $$$ on a wood stove or alternative heating system will save you significantly in the long run if gas prices remain high, and is therefore worth the cost.

I looked into these tea light things but I think for consistent heat you'd need one in each room in winter to keep the whole property warm.

Oh, and it seems silly, but that plastic shrink wrap stuff for windows? Is actually amazing. Works very well, and is quite cheap.

Ive been skimpy on the heating this year and already noticed some damp so I would second what pp have said, please look out for mould, regularly check and get some infra red or oil heaters for your little ones room- make sure where she spends a lot of her time is not damp.
We have infra red heaters in every room now and have permanently switched off electric storage heaters, but have prioritised heating again because mould is a health hazard. Fortunate to be in a position to take a second job to afford it- I know not everyone is in that position but if you notice even the smallest speck of mould get down to citizens advice and get help. Xx

So sorry OP. If you can afford it, buy thermal vests and long john’s for you and your child, and wear them day and night under your usual warm clothes.

Do you have a council library nearby? They’re heated and always have a children’s book section. Free to visit and join, they’re heated and you can literally spend all day in it, reading with DS or playing quiet board games, and it’ll be warm.

What kind of heating do you have?

Can you get a lodger to boost your income a little and share the burden of energy bills?

I live in an old house and I've spent today putting insulation stuff behind my radiators. It was £6 on Amazon and did four radiators. It's supposed to make sure heat comes into the room and isn't just absorbed by our totally uninsulated walls.

I'm also putting an insulating pad thing into our chimney to stop warm air going up it. I think some people use an old pillow. Please don't start lighting fires or candles to keep warm. The fire risk is scary.

Make sure you ask for all the help you can - speak to your HV, GP, Homestart, CAB, even your local church. Leave no stone unturned.

www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/getting-help-if-you-cant-afford-your-energy-bills
For when you do need to incur energy costs

Heated throw.

Op I've spent a bitter winter in a caravan that wasn't for for human habitation really eg windows not properly sealed and damp.
.it was meant for seasonal fruit pickers.

I'e not habitat in winter. ..what' saved me was a hot water bottle.

So get lots and a heated throw.
.as pp said initial outlay is about 40/50 but costs pennies to run.

I won't go for tea lights as they are pollutants and fire risk.

Hot water bottles, onesies and thick socks around the house. We don't put the heating on much anyway and always find that helps take the edge off. hot water bottles in bed too. Draft excluding, curtains over doors.

Can anyone loan you an oiled filled radiator? You can move them from room to room, again not instant. When I moved to this house it was freezing, there was hardly any insulation, the boiler leaked and the windows were crap. It was miserable first few months living here. I got mine from screwfix and it was a flipping godsend whilst I was sorting the issues out.

Im sorty but i thunk you will need the heating on a little bit as the house will get damp.

Can you cut back in any other area? Can you pay for what you use not an estimated bill?

Heating not been on yet
We have heated throws and hot water bottles
I wear a gilet and cosy scarf,as well as fingerless gloves which make a huge difference. Extra blankets on the bed
Bolster thingy at front door along with curtain. Curtains in front room lined with fleece.
Hot bath to warm up when really cold

A lot of good suggestions however unless you have the items suggested around the house they aren't going to work.

Hot water bottles are great but not enough unfortunately.

Could you contact SVDP or any other charities in your area that could help financially towards some real heating.

It's already very cold and going to get much worse.

I have a heated throw but with a child I'd get a blanket(they're also cheaper)Use on the sofa with cheap fleece sheeting or blankets over you.
Don't skip on hot food,microwavings cheaper.
Library's and storytimes are great for your child and later you can snuggle on the sofa reading.
It's going to be a tough winter for so many.

Don't count on school being that warm this winter. They haven't got money for heating either. And still need to ventilate for COVID to some extent. My school is freezing at the moment. There is no heating on yet.

We did a bit of a burns test tonight to test the price of our electric fire. Worked out 1 hour at full blast is about 76p. If I have worked it out right, the central heating will be about £2.40 an hour. (24kwH boiler, 10p/kwh gas) Its going to have to be pretty cold to put it on. Im getting a heated airer, already have electric blankets, hot water bottles, blankets, high tog duvets. Been gradually testing certain appliances to see what costs the most.

I lined the childrens beds with duvets under the sheets to make them extra toasty.

The oven is expensive, but I can batch cook and since it throws out a lot of heat, there is an extra benefit to that too.

I am watching usage closely at the moment to make sure I know what to expect when the statement comes.

I have been trying to think back to when I was little-we lived in a terraced house that didnt have central heating and I do remember upstairs being so, so cold. I dont want our house to be like that.

OP - sorry to hear about your difficult situation

I grew up in a cold house & have also spent some time in a v cold house (no heating at all due to building work in Scotland 🥶 )

What I think is worth it /cheap

• seal any and all gaps - even stuffing loo paper in will help. I covered an air vent in my old flat by taping over one of those envelopes made of bubble wrap- it made a big big difference
• Block off any draft coming down a chimney (an old duvet or similar in a bin bag, even old newspapers can be used for that
• hot water bottles. If you don’t have them make a ‘rice bag’ by sewing up a bag of rice (eg in a pillow case folded over & sewn shut) and heat in microwave
• Sleep with a blanket under you as well as over you
• hats, onesies, thermals etc but you know this
• tea, soups etc (hot squash for your child?)
• sitting in whichever room catches sun
• Curtains closed 10 min before dark to keep heat in
• dry washing/towels etc outside to avoid damp air (& wipe down any condensation on windows/shower etc)

a cost but worth it

• heavy curtains (charity shop.?) & rugs (ikea?) if you don’t have them - I appreciate this is an expense
• i do have an electric blanket and it is v helpful as I don’t need heating on when watching TV etc

I had not heard about the tea lights but will try them

I hope you manage ok OP, I appreciate its s lot tougher with a child

LOads of good tips here.

Natural materials used for centuries are better than man made I think. When I was a kid people had proper "woolly jumpers" and there were loads of knitters. Now we're stuck with horrible (and cold) acrylic jumpers. So wool is better than made made fleeces. Look in charity shops etc for woollen blankets for bed and sofa.

If you have a bath, leave the hot water in for a while as it heats the bathroom. Likewise if you put the oven on. Once you take the food out, open the door and let the residual heat heat the kitchen.

Thick curtains are better than cheap flimsy things. As soon as the sun goes down, draw the curtains across. Some people have door curtains if their front door is draughty or they don't have a porch etc. Get a draught excluder/sausage dog cushion type thing for your front door.

If you have any source of heat like an electric fire or heater, use for a very short time to heat just one room, and KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED to keep the heat in the room. So many people just leave their internal doors open then wonder why their rooms aren't heating up. Open plan obviously doesn't help when you want to keep things cosy but not sure what you can do about that.

Don't let your feet get cold. Heat for your Feet socks are good. But if your feet are already like blocks of ice I don't find them great for warming your feet UP, they are good for keeping them warm. Wool socks are better for that.

Woollen ponchos and scarves are nice to wear in the house. Keep your chest and neck really covered and warm. Same with your wrists. Three quarter length sleees are a no-no. If you can find a thick proper arran jumper anywhere in a charity shop etc then grab it.

I work nights from home. I do a quick (10 mins or so) workout-are you physically able to do that, apologies if not? Every couple of hours. I have a cheaper version of an Oodie, I get too hot with that on sometimes. Heated shawl. When I was young in the 80s/90s I used to smother myself in vaseline under my clothes, sounds ridiculous but I may start that again. Long socks too, slippers, hat.

Hoard your housework for cold days.Cleani ng a room thoroughly is enough to get you flinging off jumpers even on a very cold day.
I have a heated throw for this winter.Trials so far show that a heated throw also means you have 2 cats sitting on you saving even more fuel as you have to turn it off as the combined heat is too much!