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.

We have Hive so I've gone through the schedule & changed the max temp to 17' (used to be 18/18.5 in the good old days then down to 17.5' last year) & reduced the time it'll be on. Also reduced the temp overnight, we've had it on 16' since DD was born (now 10!) reduced that to 14'. Also 14' during the day whereas used to be 15/16 depending on WFH/office.

Basically it'll be on but for less time & lower temp. We've bought big fluffy hoodies, already have throws for the lounge & stocked up on coal for the stove.

@MyNoseIsCold Does your DF have an electric blanket? They are much cheaper to use than heating, then your DM could set the heating to a lower temperature. Thermals and warm bedding too if he doesn't have those.

It'll depend on whether you're working on no heating because you'd like to keep the payments down but can afford to grit your teeth and pay the bills if you're uncomfortable, or whether you plain don't have the money.

My parents haven't had central heating or double glazing for over 30 years, just a log burner in the living room.

We’ll I’m Perthshire so middle Scotland but it does get properly cold in winter. For me not sure much the cold but the damp that feels awful.

I think I’d be camping in the living room come winter if that was me.

There's an element of spite to my decision too. I know it's cutting off your nose etc but I don't care. Fuck em. I hope their profits plummet cos people cut right back. Greedy immoral bastards. Heat is one of lifes basics.

I did it last year. I put it on just before the afternoon school run and turn it off as I go to work or a couple of hours in the afternoon It takes the chill off and we have other things to keep warm in the house. I lift weights or other exercise in the morning and do the housework as I'm cooling down. I do put it on all day Christmas day though, because yanno it's Christmas.

You do have to put it on for a bit at some point to care for your house though. It's unavoidable.

I'm more bothered about next door using candles and burning our houses down tbh.

I do have warm clothes on. I think having a cold means I feel Chiller than normal. Also because it’s been so lovely and warm I’ve gotten used to a higher temp.

My house is old but double glazed. There are a few draughts but Apparently old buildings need circulating air for the lathe and plaster.

I absolutely love a shawl. Weirdly enough I think I might be fashionable this year…

I think a lot of healthy younger and middle aged people will manage just fine without keeping their heating at 21/22. We live in a Victorian house that’s pretty cold in the winter, even getting it to 18 is hard work in Jan/Feb. Thermals, electric throws and keeping feet warm are key.

Elderly people, disabled people and those with babies and toddlers are in for a rough time if they live in uninsulated housing stock.

I mean, no one's doing it for fun - are they?

I'm (like most people, I guess) on a fixed income which is rapidly covering less and less of the essentials. There isn't a way of magically gaining more money - so the only option is to cut back. I'm not intending to NEVER turn my heating on this winter, but it's probably going to be for an hour every evening rather than three, if the price has trebled.

I put the heating on three times last winter (down south). Hoping to make it 0 times this winter.

Have blankets, hoodie, slippers and keep warm enough.

I think the problem could be that too many ppl have lived with heating blasting away, sitting in shorts and anything other than that is a hardship. Too many can't seem
to cope with the slightest bit of cold, moaning that 18 degrees is chilly.
I love to be warm, but there is a balance.

No hot water to wash up? To wash hands? Dishwasher?

It would be hell for me.

This would be a real source of worry for me if my parents

I think I’d be camping in the living room come winter if that was me.
It's really not that bad if your dressed for the weather. Their log burner is really efficient and often it gets too hot in the living room.
The worst bit is getting out of your cosy bed in the morning, I used to get dressed in bed when I was living there. We always had the bedroom windows open day and night though.

This would be a real source of worry for me if my parents
What would you be worried about?

Its just not possible to not have it on at all. I am thinking one hour in the morning and two in the evening MAX, and see how we go :( octobers bill will be nothing compared to whats coming in January

I'm going to keep the sitting room warm for disabled DH, and I've got him a heated blanket to snuggle up in.

Aside from that the heated airer will keep the kitchen from being too cold, and I'll run the other heating on low for an hour in the morning and evening, to try and keep the house dry.

I don't think I can afford to do much more than that.

Cooking will be interesting - every inch of the oven will be used if it's on, and I've got a Wonderbag for casseroles, curries, porridge etc. which should save a fair bit.

Elderly parents living in a home with no heating source other than a log burner in one room.

yes, that would worry me.

presumably it doesn’t you

Wouldn't worry me, log burners are toasty.

I’m in Yorkshire, our thermostat read 22 degrees earlier, and that’s with the windows and back door wide open.

im in a tshirt and I’m the first to feel the cold and eldest DC is in just a par of pj shorts.

Our hearing is set to come on at 16 degrees, so it’s got a bit to drop yet before it kicks in. We had a multi fuel stove fitted last year and have loads of wood left from last year. I’ve been putting money away each month over the winter for fuel for it as we don’t have any more space to store it unfortunately.

I'm really worried about this oh has been off work sick since Feb pay has run out he needs to claim 77 a week esa I work part time can't up my hours as I need to care for him. Just looked at my estimated bill and its 7k a year that's about a third on the gas and electricity there's noway we can afford that and then when we get moved over from tax credits to uc it will be even worse.
I'm worried sick been telling the kids they will need to wear lots of layers and we need to be really careful