Cold spell predicted next week and im having the heating on

[whatsthestory123]

hi just a heads up a cold spell is predicted next week and i have just seen i have £400 combined in credit though with the colp £200 a month paid monthly 3 bed detached 3 adults im already using £60 a week but have the heating on about 4-5 hrs a day

i also have a real fire and thats on daily,im still going to have the heating on maybe more as i cant bare the thought of being cold (disability) but i know im going to really eat into the surplus and normally i would be concerned but not this year i will just have to ow Eon but i will just use the open fire in the day when its only me

anybody else have any plans for when the real cold weather hits it may be handy to others

OK, if you want the heating on, put it on. I'm not really sure what your trying to get from this thread? Sorry if I've missed the point

Ok sounds nice

Understood OP, very important to keep warm and these cold spells do hit hard.

i get your point lol

but as much as i say im having the heating on i know at the back of my mind it will worry me,i dont do debt thankfully but know if i ow it will bother me
maybe some good tips and to let others know cold weather is upon us and maybe they can prep if possible

just light hearted if thats possible with this subject🙂

I may work overtime if available so I am home less. We have an electric blanket, two hot water bottles and two cats. Wool blankets, hats, and jumpers.

I'm getting the sleeping bags out for the day time. My feet are getting too cold with a blanket cause of the draught getting behind it! Gonna have to keep my compression gloves on too, as my hands just aren't getting warm.

And this is with the heating on morning and evening, and the gas fire in the day, and wrapped up in a gazillion layers.

Failing that, we'll have to visit MIL - runs the house at about 30'c I swear! My own parents are miserly with the heating, always have been.

I'm also disabled, so I understand how frustrating it is to not be able to get warm so easily

I'm still paranoid that I'll use up all my credit on heating when it's 3'c outside, and then we'll have a particularly cold start to 2023 and I won't have the money left for it. But needs must, I guess.

i hope the visits to the relatives are worth it lol

so daft having to plan for cold weather in this day and age really feel for those on key meters that dont have the money to top up

atleast with a DD you have the option and try to play catch up later

It's saving me a lot on gas to not use any heating in the morning, only evening (I don't wfh). Setting the thermostat to a lower temperature also saves gas, the bigger the difference between inside and out the quicker the house loses heat.

I've been in debt to the energy company before though (ex pocketed the bill money for over a year without telling me!) so I'm especially paranoid about that too. Terrified of being changed to PAYG.

i said to my mum that we will probably have the coldest winter for years,im in the south and we have had mild winters in general for a long time apart from the beast from the east

If you have wool blankets then one under the bottom sheet makes a difference at night. I've also slept with leggings under pyjamas, hoodie on top, and sleeping bags over the duvet.

The problem with most of the keeping warm solutions is that most of them restrict your movement. You can't carry on doing jobs/cleaning/most tasks if you're under a blanket, wearing one of those oversize plush things or only heating one room.

There are so many of these threads that I don't think there is any shortage of information or tips. And people have different needs/resources. I can afford to put on the heating - years ago, I couldn't, so I know how miserable it is, but also how quickly a house can get damp. Right now, I have the heating on for an hour or so every evening, but am layering up the rest of the time. Any colder than this and the heating will go on in the morning for an hour too.

I wouldn't rely on a £200 credit balance, but then we are high users. I would suggest regular meter readings, or using the information available from your smart meter. Work out your average electricity usage weekly or monthly. Then the gas you used in an average week in September. Cost that at current prices, and then work out how much heating you can afford.

I'm fine if I'm moving around. As long as it's double digits that is, single digits isn't fun. It's when I'm sitting still or in bed that I need the solutions.

Warm yourself not the room. Hot water bottle

You shouldn’t be cold in bed though. Wear pyjamas and bed socks and layer duvets and blankets. Electric blanket are amazing but if you don’t have one then a hot water bottle does the job. If necessary keep on your dressing gown too. It isn’t yet that cold at night

If cost is an Issue just out the heating on to the level you paid last year. Better than sitting in the cold

Thanks, I know what to do. I was just pointing out that I don't need the solutions when I'm moving about. I've lived in without heating overseas where it could get to single digits inside.

My boiler ancient boiler packed up a week ago and it's not going to be replaced for another couple of weeks as I'm having the whole system changed. I'm more worried about damp than warmth. I go out to work 2-3 days a week and leave a few windows open to improve the airflow. We have electric blankets and hot water bottles, oversized hoodies, a couple of fan heaters dotted about for a quick blast of warm air and an electric fire in the front room. The heated clotges airer also helps. I've thermal lined all the curtains and picked up a couple of rugs from family and friends to go on the tiled floors.