To wonder how long the no heating brigade will last when it turns cold?

[womaninatightspot]

I’ve been contemplating how much I can reduce the heating and electric throws. It’s chilly here today, sixteen degrees, but grey and drizzly. I’ve lit the wood stove, I do have a cold so maybe I feel more susceptible to chills.

I feel like I’ve fallen at first hurdle. Definitely going to be keeping one warm room in the house so it’s not just really unpleasant for the dc. I’ve recently paid 365 for four cubic metres kiln dried wood but it’s going to cost 1K to fill the oil tank for 1000 litres. Was a third of that last year.

It’s very unseasonably warmer than normal for late October, 15.5 degrees yesterday evening and it’s 18 degrees here today. Definitely helps keep heating costs low

Unseasonably warm here, so that helps a lot. I repressurized our boiler early October and set heating to timed at 18-18.5c. It came on a couple of times and DH switched it off as he said he wasn't cold (gets up before me). I've had a couple of times when I've felt a bit nippy and one day last week my hands were cold, but moving around helps or layering up in the evening. I think we've adapted as well to the fact it's a bit colder, so don't really need it on.

Supposedly it might be around 11c part of net week around here, so might feel colder then. In that case will start off with heating on for an hour or so first thing (what we normally do) before adding an hour around teatime.

Isn't it more likely that the heating will be turned on but then people will default on bills. For those without a meter, you don't pay on demand

I think it’ll be a low proportion of people who think fuck it and run up the bill. It might be ok for a bit but by next winter you’ll be on a prepayment meter paying for this winter before you can heat your home. Most people who will struggle will seek first to reduce costs.

I agree. I don't want to mess up my credit rating in case I ever need it. So I track my usage and will only use the heating I can afford. I have an electric throw and we are both healthy so should be fine.

Maybe if you were already in a lot of debt you were never going to pay off, or if you were elderly and didn't mind running up debt you might use what you couldn't afford.

We will be waiting until it hits zero outside before we put the heating on, as we usually do. Sometimes we put it on for Christmas. But our main rooms are south facing & we're not overlooked (on a hilltop, north of England), so we get a lot of sun even in winter. It usually gets to 19 or 20 by mid afternoon even on chilly days, so not too cold. And we have thermal lined curtains in each room, and blankets on the beds & chairs. TBH we still have a window open in mine & DH's bedroom as he's like a human radiator, not even switched to the winter duvet yet either. DD has a little oil filled radiator which goes on for 20 minutes before bed as her room is the only one that gets colder than the rest but she hasn't started asking for it yet. Our thermostat is set to kick in at 8°c.

"Or if you were elderly and didn't mind running up debt"
Surely elderly people are the least likely to run up debt (in my experience)

Those that will run it up up will be those with nothing to lose.

An already shot credit rating, no chance of buying a house, securely housed by the council (I only say that as in not having to worry about finding a new tenancy with a shot credit rating) or people even if they own a house are actually end of life terminal and know they won’t be around to pay the bill so fuck it.

It will be interesting to see what happens with house shares/rent a room where bills are included in the already set rents. Same with holiday rentals. If I’d booked a apartment / caravan / lodge in winter I wouldn’t exactly be worrying about how much heating I’m using.

I wont be bothering but to be fair I live in one small room. I am lucky it is included in my rent (Housing Assoc) but even still I don't put it on as I get headachey. Mind you it was already put on late September in bathroom and hall way. This had made such a difference.

Still on no heating here, although it's starting to get a bit tougher - living room was down to 16 degrees this morning.

If I can ride it out until the 5th then a strong chance of making it through to the 12th.

I've had to have heating on this week as we're drying out wet plaster. Everything is damp. Otherwise wouldn't have it on - just not cold enough (SE England).

Ours is going on tonight, the house is feeling cold and damp even with regular airing. Temp has dropped to 17 indoors and I'm feeling the difference between that and 18 surprisingly.

Our central heating is still switched off but we have had fires lit on odd days last month. The boiler was relit and tested last weekend, just to make sure it will actually work when it does get cold.

Had it on a few days ago to dry some washing but not felt the need in terms of general warmth. It will be cold Saturday morning so might have it on for an hour then.

I don’t know how much longer till ours will come on we are expecting a low of 6 and 5c the next couple of nights. We have already out lasted any other year so I’m happy.

Our house is similar, despite having windows on vent all day in the bedrooms and often downstairs / in the bathroom.

Our front room was 15.2° earlier. Chilly!

I should say though, as we've swapped our electric shower to gas, plus got an air fryer, our usage / cost was down a fair bit last month, so the bill was lower than the last few months.

Still not on here (S/SW). I work from home and my office atm is 16.5C. I have a blanket on. Our bedroom this morning was 15C. However once up we showered and got dressed so we didn't feel the cold. With the current prices, it's just madness, we feel, turning the heating on when you are in one room only. Once it gets much colder we'll probably turn the heating on for an hour here and there to take the worst off the chill.

Still not on here, house was 19 degrees inside this morning. I’d like it to be on though, it’s feeling cold.

Ive set mine to come on, day time if it dips lower than 15 degrees and for 30 minutes at 7am to 17 degrees and in the evening at 6pm to 17 degrees for 90 minutes

As we've come this far without heating, we've got used to it being cooler and using hot water bottles so Im just going to use it sparingly for now

I put the heating on today as it was 16 when I got home and it was 19 yesterday I will continue to put it on adhov when it falls below 18

I’ve succumbed and set it in schedule for an hour in the morning and from 6-8pm in the evening if it drops below 18.

It was uncomfortable cold even when wearing jumpers.

I've put mine on for an hour after work the last two days. It wouldn't have actually run for an hour as the inside temperature is only one degree lower than the thermostat temp. I'm only putting it on because the towels just aren't drying in between uses.

I’ve just put a door curtain up at the door between the boot room and kitchen to try and ward it off. Going to buy another for the front door. It’s 18c on the landing tonight. 19c in the dining room.

It came on this evening for a bit as the temp dropped to 17 inside. Smart meter says it cost 50p an hour for the heating…..but I’m still on an old fixed rate. So if I was paying current rates wouldn’t that be nearer £1.50 an hour? Can’t afford 5 hrs of heating a day at those prices!