Frugal prepping for Autumn/Winter

[kat360]

As its getting colder I thought it would be a good idea to share how to prep for colder weather frugally.

MSE Winter checklist

Warm Home Discount Scheme - Not everyone gets it but its worth a try

Which guide to free insulation - Not everyone gets these either but there is some interesting links on there

*I got some radiator reflector foil quite cheaply from lidl last year, it was on a roll so you could cut it to size. Ideal for our unusual shaped rads.
Found this in screwfix direct Radiator reflector roll
I'm sure you can make your own but I think the backing makes a difference.

*Checking the sealent around windows and doors, I didn't realise how much I needed to do this

*Hang a door curtain if possible, This makes a lot of difference

*Layering, I mostly have my dressing gown on in the house in the winter. So do my kids, Slippers or slipper socks also help keep you warm.

*Hot water bottles in beds before bed, pop the kids pjs on top and it warms them up too.

Thats all I can think of for now but feel free to add.

What a great idea for a thread!
I have found my electric under blanket invaluable in previous years, I find the central heating can be turned off in the evening if I can get into a warm bed.
Also second slippers, cosy fluffy socks,or those 2 tog socks.They really make a difference in an old, cold house like mine.

Oh and launder any throws,jumpers, cardigans now,while it's still nice drying outside weather(depending where you are).

Inexpensive fleecy blankets for round the knees when we are watching telly!

Extra duvet on top of the bed when it gets really cold.

It's also a good time to go through the existing stash of coats, hats, gloves, scarves, wellies etc.

See what still fits, what is still in good condition, what repairs are feasible or what needs replacing.

Wash everything if you didn't do that before putting away for summer.

Make a list of needs, and keep an eye for sales or charity shop options.

Perhaps, if you think there might be a few who would have some things to get rid of or swap, have a gathering in school or in a house. You might get a few things in return for what you are getting rid of yourself.

I bought an electric blanket in June in the clearance. It's the first Autumn and winter we will live in this house so curious about how warm/cold we'll be. I'm crocheting another blanket just in case!

Draught excluders for doors. Buy or make one. Makes a huge difference. Make sure you've got blinds or curtains at every window.

Change to higher tog duvet. If no electric blanket, put a blanket under the sheet.

Porridge in the morning, warming, healthy and cheap. Delicious with enhancements ( possibły a little less healthy). Esp if you put the oats on to soak the night before, just as fast as cereals ( well, not quite, but only 1 minute longer). And real porridge, not the microwave rip off stuff.

Starting to fill freezer with fruit. And make the Christmas presents, plum vodka or gin.

Last of the blackberries being picked and made into jam or being frozen for free winter puddings. Anything left in the garden being made into soup and frozen. On cold days wear 2 pairs of socks inside slippers and a scarf to keep the warmth in if you're in a freezing house like mine.

This is a brilliant thread.

We've loved in our house almost 2 years and have only bought 1 pair of curtains so far! The blinds arent cutting it in winter so will need to buy at least 1 pair from ikea. Theyre about £45 and will go on pole or track and are so long that you just hem to the length you want.

Much cheaper in the short term than the £13k for new Windows!

You can quite easily put together draft excluders from old duvet covers or cheap fabric from offcuts at the haberdashers and a little filling too.

As daft as it may sounds too I used to iron in the bedroom in the early evening with a DVD on and that used to heat up the room a bit!

Marking place for tips.

Yes to hot water bottles, not just at bedtime but also when you settle down in the evening on the sofa, make sure the bottle has a cosy cover on as they stay warm for hours and hours then.

Much cheaper in the short term than the £13k for new Windows!
I paid £1700 for my new windows, used a local company rather than one of the big rip-off merchants (Anglian type companies)
Before I had the new windows, my bathroom was icy so I put bubble wrap over the window, with drawing pins and it helped a lot to keep the chill out ( you couldn't see it as it was hidden behind a blind and from outside it just looked like frosted glass)
Candles add a tiny bit of warmth but also make a room look cosy and warmer.
I have freezing feet so wear a very thin pair of socks then a pair of fluffy ones over those, keep feet really warm. I have loads of pashmina type shawls to wear around the house.
I always keep the oven door open a while after cooking to let the residual heat around the kitchen.

That £13k does include new conservatory glass work and doors too

I love Yankees in the winter, a little bit of extra warmth is always good - plus they smell so good (cinnamon stick and spiced Orange are my fave winter smells)

I'm going to do the oven door one! Thanks

You can store summer duvets under the bottom sheet during winter. Toasty and easily washable.

We will be using clear film over the patio doors this winter. It's a brand new window but still cold down that end of the room due to the size of it.

We've put clear film over one window in our flat - it's the only one which isn't double glazed but it's in our hallway so not an area we spend a huge amount of time in. The window also can't open. But again not a huge issue.

We put summer duvet under the sheet on our bed to keep things toasty.

Just a quick reminder for people to check their heating is working before it gets cold, it's going to cheaper if it needs fixing now.

If anyone is looking for a deuhumidifier, I can recommend this one:
Dehumidifier

I'm thinking of making some quillows for our sofas but I'm just beginning to learn to sew on my sewing machine

Really good point about the heating Kat
I also give the radiators a good dust behind them and move any furniture around so they are not blocking heat from the rads.
This is a good time of year to check if anyone needs scarves, gloves, new wellies etc.
I now get free electric on a weekend day - it's a deal through british gas so this will be used for batch cooking and I plan to use electric heaters rather than the central heating to take full advantage of the deal.

Electric heating on the weekend is a really good idea.

The radiator foil rolls mentioned in OP are coming into lidl 25th sept, £4.99 a roll x

Hi, please can you explain the clear film over windows and patio doors ? How exactly is it done? I have cold draughty patio doors and the whole house needs new windows so I need to draught proof the lot.
And the foil for radiators? Do I put it on the wall behind and above? Help please?

The threads about prepping for winter on the money saving expert forum are epic. This is the latest one.

Have made loads of blackberry jam also bought 4 raspberry plants from lidl last year they were reduced to 50c each planted them and they have self seeded and now I have a massive clump so loads of raspberries which I use to make jam,freeze for smoothies and also eat fresh. I also make hedgerow jam using all sorts of berries found in most hedgerows.Have an apple tree in the garden so make loads of jars of apple sauce and my mil makes lots of apple tarts and freezes them.If you have any rose hips growing near you you can also make a lovely oil that's really easy to do and is great for face&body for all the family.

Now is the time people start thinking about buying winter clothes, especially coats.

If you have any that anyone had outgrown or doesn't wear anymore, pop them on eBay. Coats, jumpers and jumper dresses are fetching really good prices at the moment!

I was watching a George jumper dress yesterday for a 5 year old - somebody ended up paying £9.61 for it! It probably cost less new!

that anyone has outgrown

Had a long message typed and it has disappeared 😠 If you can't afford to replace draughty windows a great tip is to replace the handles and the black foam insulating tape .My husband does that a lot for people who can't afford to get new windows.We rent so can't replace ours crappy windows and he did it to ours last winter and it made a huge difference for very little cost. Yes to draught excluders very easy to make from old jumpers just cut off the arms and stuff with newspapers or if your anyway crafty they are easy to knit too

Can someone tell me what the radiator foils are supposed to do? Do they make The room warmer?