Preparing for a very frugal Autumn/Winter anyone?

[caughtupinthismoment]

It maybe a little early but its no harm being prepared.
I'm going to learn from my mistakes last Autumn/Winter

My clothing for the cold weather wasn't up to scratch it just wasnt warm enough. this year I'm going to outlet winter stores to buy thermal fleeces hat scarf gloves ect I also need to wear proper footwear converse dont cut it feet like icicles and wet most of winter. My dd was kitted out properly all snug waterproof just forgot about myself.

Im going to stock up on the meters before the winter sets in. I plan to be snug and warm with a hot choc in hand instead of trapsing to the shop for the meters.

This year I shall be making more hearty comfort food such as stews soups, broths and casseroles. I do make them but not so often.

Im going to bulk buy dried goods cans ect to get us through the winter. I tend to go out to buy fresh every other day/ week but there more expensive in winter so i'm going to buy seasonal and keep loaves in the freezer and long life milk just in case.

Im defo not spending lots on xmas this year cutting back drastically most people seemed to forget I existed at xmas and they didnt seem to appreciate all the effort I went to making hampers for them.

Xmas and Bday presents for my Dd are going to be things she needs. She has enough toys and Im sick of plastic tat that seems to break when I accidently stand on it as she has so much.

I'm going to start saving now so that I can have a nest egg incase I need to use it. seemed to be skint most of the time and january bills were hard.

With our filled stomachs of homecooked food and Our thermal clothing we will be able to venture into the unknown (wink) i.e long walks to jump into the crisp snow and to crunch on the autumn leaves to collect pine cones and such to decorate and we will come home to a warm house freezer and cupboards full to snuggle by the fire with a hotchoc and a family film.

Snowie....how about a rug rug type thing? Til you can make the quilt/tapestry?
Dh says that he would be too hot even if I had an electric blanket just on my side :(
I have thermals but Dh and dc don't..they don't seem to need them!
One thing I will do this year is get them snow boots again rather than wellies...no wet feet :)

Normally in the winter I sit under a duvet in the evenings and have a hot water bottle, but I probably won't need to do that this year because of woodburner. Thought it might be good tip for someone else though! It used to keep me toasty warm.

My living room is always cold in the evenings (in winter). I will be doing as always - curling up on sofa until a crocheted blanket, wearing my slipper socks and a jumper. I may put on the electric "wood stove" heater sitting in my fireplace just to take the chill off the room. Or I may light a few candles - just seeing the flickering candles makes me "feel" a bit warmer.

alice we live in a drafty terraced cottage with sash windows, we usually freeze in winter. I think it was the breeze through the sash windows that was the worst.

Snowie2, the heating on constantly thing is an urban myth.

I read about it on the energy saving trust website ages ago.

I recommend blankets with sleeves, I feel like I'm going to combust when I snuggle up in mine.

Slankets

Last winter I didn't have my house insukated and it was freezing, before I went to bed I would put the heat on in my bedroom an hour before I went to bed, It was just a little electric radiator the room was so toasty. I also noticed a difference by putting a thick woolen blanket on top of my matress but underneath the bed sheet keeps the mattress warm and a chill of your back.
I've been stocking up on things over the last week for my store cupboard to spread the cost :). I also noticed that primark have got in theyre stock of cosy socks I've bought a few already and plan to by more there so warm.

fluffycloud I'd heard it too, but am relieved to hear it's not true. I'll stick to my timings then.

it 's an urban myth about heating on low all the time is kore efficient,

what is not an urban myth is that if houses have inadequate heating and no ventilation it can cause massive problems with damp and condensation if really cold can lead to frozen pipes, if houses get damp you then need a humidifier type heater on constantly for weeks

I would set a thermostat for something like 14C just to make sure it doesn't get too cold

when at work the lowest legal temperature is 16C within an hour of work startingwhen most work is sitting down ie office

at many work places you could get into trouble for charging tablets or phones

Last year we tried the heating on low all the time, our bill wasn't pretty but it also wasn't hideous. Once it became obvious that the weather had turned we put in place Operation Polar Bear.

The doors got curtains (need to re line them as think they could be better), and I made a series of thermal lined blinds for.our old sash windows. I swear they are the best bloody thing I've ever made. Made a massive massive difference to our living room. We also have an open fire although we use it infrequently with small children very useful at weekends when we want some extra heat in the house.

Also a big fan of throws, blankets, onesies, hoodies and slipper socks. Older DC has cerebral palsy and suffers with the cold but we keep her reasonably warm.

Also make sausage dogs for doorways. On sunny or dry winter days we do open windows up to air the house because I hate the feeling of damp in the walls.

So going through the checklist Alice posted here is what I need to do.

Winter Checklist

Clothes
Wash all coats, scarves gloves
Wash and mend jumpers and cardigans
Buy new socks
Go through clothing checking what you need and what you need to replace.

Food
Make a start on your Christmas food shopping list, allot of it can be frozen.
Create a 'stash cupboard' or area where you can put all of your extra buys
Make jam and preserves

House and garden
Snow Shovel - get one.
Clean out your guttering and facias
Clear away all fallen leaves
Clean windows inside and out
Launder all your throws
Buy in cheap white candles in case of a power cut. Also keep a torch on standby and use in emergency.
Buy in Flannelette sheets.
Repair your shed, check the felt lining for splits/tears and wood preserve it. The same goes for all your garden furniture and fences.
Decorating - do it before middle of October so that you can air the room and let the paint dry.
Tidy your shed up to make more room in there.
Put all garden furniture away (either in shed or garage) by the second week of October.
Cut back everything in the garden late October to give your garden a big boost the following Spring. Roses love this!
Wash curtains and cushion covers
Clean Your carpets on a good warm day so that they have a good chance of drying quickly
Oil all shed and gates locks, it will prevent rust and stop them seizing up when you most need to open them.
Drain any outside taps and protect and cover either with an old towel and then covered over with plastic or buy a proper outside tap cover.
Re-silicone shower areas where the silicone has turned black or mouldy, take it out and redo it.
Wash your vacuum cleaner filters out.
Check lightbulbs and outside security lighting if broken replace or repair.
Buy in batteries now.
Put food out for the birds they will so thank you for it. Buy in their food now while it is plentiful.
Buy paracetamol, throat lozengers and cough medicine now.

I've managed to stock up on new slippers socks and pjs and jumpers in the sainsburys 25% off today.
I have to buy all new winter clothes loosing weight is great but not when you have to buy all new.

I need to purchase some throws as well as get one taken to the laundrette that's to heavy for our washer.

I've been reading this thread with interest as I think this winter is going to be harder than usual for us. My best buy has been a fleece poncho which I got for about £10 in the DP sale.its warm and snuggly but can be put on top of my usual work/ weekend outfits, so more practical than a dressing gown.

I have also been buying a few bits and pies for or Christmas every now and then. Studio 24 has lots of things on offer from on last season and some good deals on new things.

I have to buy new slippers for both dcs. Heaven only knows what they do to them, but every year, without fail, new slippers needed as they are worn to shreds.

I need to start buying foodie bits and bobs for christmas we £188 on asda cards saved and that's always a big help we save all our £2 coins and add them each time we shop.

Can I point you in the direction of Reastie's Christmas bargain thread?
Here

A frugal Christmas doesn't have to feel like one. Remember, it's the tradition, the memories and the surprises that children will cherish, not the expensive gifts.

Here here Keepcalmanddrinkwine!

I'm torn on the bargain thread. For me, if I see a lot of bargains everywhere, I tend to buy more, even things that I hadn't planned on buying.

I am looking at making some Christmas gifts. I'm going to knit each of the dcs a new winter cap. And I'd like to make them each a nice quilt for their beds - however, my sewing machine has died and I can't buy a new one until next month. I've done some hand sewing last week, but I am not even considering hand sewing an entire quilt.

I don't mind paying a fair price for a nice present. I think I'm going to keep my Christmas costs down by being more choosy with presents and buy only buying a few nice presents for the few people on our list. I also have a Christmas card list, and I'm planning on making my Christmas cards this year. I used to make them every year, but got out of the habit when the dcs were smaller, as I just didn't have the opportunity to sit down and do crafts much. Now that they're in school, I should be able to free up a bit of time to do that.

I have picked up a few items for Christmas gifts as they were things I was going to purchase but chanced upon them on sale when I had some vouchers as well, so it worked out they were free. Couldn't really pass up that opportunity.

OMG!!!!!
I have been given the warm house discount!!!!!
OMFG!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats Evilwater!! May I ask please what company you're with and how long it took for you to find out? I really need to check into that....

I have british gas pre payment meter. I phoned them up, done there and then. Plus adivce about heating this flat, and instructions on how to use my storage heater too!
Wow

Oh! That's what I have too. I'll ring them then. Thanks!!

Evilwater thank you so much for posting that. I've just rung them and I have been given it as well. Huge relief that will be! Thanks again!

Also today I've poured water into my fabric softener. It's lasts longer, still smells nice. I usually use about 1/3 of the small bottle when I get it, then fill it back up with water so it's about 1/3 water. Gives me just a few more washes out of it that way. Small savings, but they all add up.