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've got a fan heater on in the lounge to dry OH's shoes as they are soaked from working in the rain all day yesterday (putting up solar panels in the rain... so fitting) and it is just so nice to feel warm! Luxurious!

I think that drying clothes will be the reason my heating comes on as even now it's taking ages to dry indoors, thankfully we've managed to get laundry out over the last few days - so I'm off to pop a load of towels on so I can them out on the line today!

Saw a post on a Facebook nostalgia page about heating up housebricks and wrapping them in newspaper to warm your bed.

I have spent my day working from home in thick socks, trousers, two layers of tops and a fur lined gilet, sometimes under a duvet. I feel a bit dejected about it all. Its not comfortable with all those clothes on, when trying to work. It's itchy and stuffy, and rustly. And its not good for posture (or mental health) being sat in bed to keep warm, working on a laptop. I don't feel professional. And there's only so many cups of hot drinks I can manage.

I put the heating on for 45 mins this evening so that my 3 yr old DD had a warm towel for her bath and a warm room, and I just feel worried about what deepest winter is going to look like for everyone, if I'm already feeling uncomfortable now.

We have solar so I filled up hot water bottles during the day and put them in the beds, and they stay warm until bedtime.

I don't really know why I'm posting, other than to vent and send solidarity to anyone else who has found life a bit hard today.

Where do you live?!!

went out without a coat and had patio doors open most of the day. It was beautiful here in SE!

Sounds miserable snowpaw :( I hate being cold, and I feel it so much more than anyone else in my family it seems. I wear long johns under my trousers, and vest, top and two hoodies, woolly socks, often a scarf and my hood up and still feel cold and its only September. We've got our solar panels now, just started working yesterday so I've been putting the electric heaters on when the sun has been shining enough for the panels to generate but the rowen tree is blocking the sun for so much of the day (wall panels rather than roof)

Guessing Scotland? I'm in the SW and today was the first time I closed DS's bedroom door as he had left his window open for the day, so the rest of the house stayed warm. It's 19 degrees in my sitting room so not even thinking about heating yet.

I have in 🙀🙀

put mine on for 30m am and hour pm

it was cold and just a blast made house much warmer

I'm in Scotland and today was the first day I didn't light the woodstove all week. Mainly because we are out till 7pm and it takes ages to heat through and is not that cold today.

I'm hoping there is something in Fridays budget for those of us reliant on oil heating.

We're planning on jumping on the excercise bike whenever we feel cold, 10 minutes is enough to get warm.

Rural northwest - its been very damp grey wet weather today. Enjoy your sunshine!

Cold and wet here in Cheshire today, although it's warmed back up a bit this evening.

I've got exercise equipment in the living room at the mo. I'm going to do the same.

I am making myself a quilted house coat out of an old patchwork quilt I bought from eBay.

I am in the SE so we haven't needed heating yet.

I love the idea of a quilted housecoat. I bought a really nice, vintage, housecoat once it was wool and lined in silk. So warm and elegant looking. Sadly it got stored and mouldy and I'd be too fat for it now anyway but it was lovely.

My heating went on the last week of October in 2021 and I keep it down to 18, otherwise I over heat. Comes on the morning & evening for total of 2.5 hrs

i doubt it’ll get turned on much earlier this year.

extra Thin layers help and hot water bottles

@womaninatightspot I see this earlier

I did spot that story on bbc just now too. Gutted if that's all,
it's not really comparable at all. It's going to cost an extra 500 to fill the tank which normally needs done twice over winter so that's a kindly 10% contribution FFS

Sounds horrible. I don't mind cold as long as it is nice and bright, dark and dreary isn't nice!

I'm in the east, and in other years, my heating would have been on this week. I have spent some money to prepare for Sept/Oct - I think the outlay will be recouped if I can keep the heating off until half term.

WFH, I've layered with a T shirt, a thermal top and hoodie. I have ordered two nearly-new cashmere sweaters that are going to be an extra layer when it's colder. I've also got some thermal leggings to wear under trackies. Thick socks this week, but I have some heatholder socks to wear over them lined up - and some fingerless gloves.

Evenings - hot shower and into PJs and an oodie - heated throw lined up. I feel confident I will be comfortable without heating while the outside temp is in double figures. When it gets too cold, I intend to put the heating on morning and evening. Last year, it was on all day when I was WFH.

I think the trick with layering is thin layers - an oodie (I'm not a fan, but) is definitely more comfortable than sitting in bed under a duvet when working. I haven't put my electric blanket on yet, but it's on a smart plug ready, so I can preheat the bed before we go up. Also have a second duvet that buttons on to the one on the bed.

I know it's better to use what you have rather than buying more stuff, and I am wearing clothes I already have, but I calculated that a couple of hundred pounds spent over this summer is going to be recouped fairly quickly and save me feeling miserable.

I'm confused as to how people's houses are so cold. Our 1940s not particularly well insulated house in Aberdeen (where average temperature is about 14 just now) is fine.

Last weekend we were camping further north and were fine in our beds basically outside.

I've still got windows open.

We do get sun on front but I work from home in the north facing room and haven't been at all cold.

I'm in East Sussex, I live in a detached bungalow that has cavity wall insulation (apparently) it is freezing. Its always been freezing. I extended into the loft, the loft is too bloody hot with the heating on.

My gas usage is around 12000kw per year. I have no idea why it is so huge for 1 adult and 1 child and this is with the heating on for only a few hours a day from November until end of March normally. Heating on really low upstairs too.

I'm seeing others with bills of 7000kw, I jsut don't know what I'm doing wrong :(

Maybe you just run ok at colder temps? It's about that where I am and I feel chilly but not freezing will light woodstove shortly.

You both mention 14 degrees, I'm guessing this is outside from your post, but what temperature is it in the house?
Just interested

I’m presently camping and it’s been going down to 14 degrees in the early morning 5am- 7am and under canvass with pjs, fleece and three season bag it’s ok

im less sensitive to cold