How to afford autumn/winter

[Terracata]

Here for some tips re how to keep me and my son warm over the colder months. My rent has increased and I just about got by over summer. I can't afford to have my heating on and am actually quite financially scared waking up to these colder darker mornings.

So far I have a heated throw, heated blanket for bed, draft excluder for our very old door.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Drafted excluder for all doors - 6 gbp each on amazon

Draft things 4 windows ?

How old is your son ?

Decent slippers
Wear slipper socks to bed

Lotsa soup
And candles

Thermal vests ?
Thermal socks ?

Thanks. He's 5.

’Heat the person not the room’.

So if someone is cold, don’t crank up the heating, but put an extra layer on.

Maybe get him spiderman gloves and make a thing of wearing special gloves to get / keep coool powers

Layers are needed but keeping head , hands , toes warm is important

Speak to your local income maximisation people and home energy agency or whatever the equivalent is in your country to make sure you're getting all benefits and grants you're entitled to. There's help out there

Could u sell some stuff u dont want / need on vinted / ebay..so u can afford to put heating on - on coldest days ?

First direct have a u switch deal on bank accs - free 175 gbp

Beyond universal credit there's really not much help out there unless you're on an incredibly low income.

Be weary of just heating the person. You need to heat the house where you can to reduce damp/mould. You don't want to save by not using the heating to then have to replace items because mould has ruined them.

We have draught excluders and a curtain for the front door. I bought some sticky velcro and sewed it to the top of the curtain and the other section on the door frame as our house is terrible for drilling holes, but also cheaper than a curtain rail.

I open the curtains and blinds on the sunny side of the house, this makes a huge difference even noticeable on a frosty day. In early autumn/spring this can warm the house so I don't need to use heating in the morning when it's a bit chilly.

We also have a dehumidifier, as our house is prone to damp. It actually increases the temperature of the room it's working in.

Extra blankets, dc have some fleecy blankets for on the sofa and then a extra thick brushed cotton sheet for in bed. Dp and I have a huge heavy throw/bedspread. Stopped using the heating overnight a few years ago. I can't work out if this is the best idea as when it's very cold our house temperature drops a lot (uaually 12c ish overnight), then it takes a long time to get to a good temperature.

For a fiver, you can buy a little thermometer that will also read the humidity of a room. We live in an old house, and, if we're not careful, humidity can creep up above 70%. If that happens, we turn on the dehumidifier - it's always on if there is washing drying on the airer. Last winter, heating went on for an hour in the morning when it was cold and then again in the evening. Once we'd had showers and were in pyjamas, wooly socks and Oodie, heating off. Adult son WFH doesn't have to use video and lives in his Oodie. I hated them, but now I'm a convert. Even without heating, I didn't need a heated throw when wearing mine in the evening.

During the day when working from home, we did our best not to use the heating. Some days, it went on for an hour to warm the house. Most of the time we were wearing layers (thin wool and cashmere layers, thermal leggings and woolen socks for me). Wool is warm, doesn't need washing as often and lasts if looked after and kept away from moths in the summer.

Curtains and rugs will make rooms feel warmer. Close curtains as soon as temperature drops late afternoon. As will hot drinks, soups etc. Electric blankets on timers.

Definitely heat the person, not the house, but don't let the house get damp - dehumidifier is a worthwhile investment if your house gets damp.

I grew up with no heating, and would sleep with mum in the winter to keep warm. Hot water bottles to warm the bed.

Will he wear a hat, like beanie, and gloves as suggested? Maybe his favourite character.

Woolly hats in bed as well as socks, fluffy socks seem to work better. Fleece blankets to snuggle up in the afternoon/evening.

Cling film on windows and put fleece blankets behind the curtains.

"candles" why?? dangerous with a 6 year old I'd say.

The overhead hooded blankets are very cozy and warm (brand is Oodie but my copy from Amazon is fab). I’ve got into bed in mine tonight.

Hotwater bottles - nothing better on a cold night.

The only way I can ever warm my feet is in nice hot water. Don’t have to do full bath or shower, just a foot soak does the trick. Then put in warm socks and slippers.

Thermal curtains, thermal clothes, fleecy onesie for your child, slipper boots , hot water bottle, thermos flask to avoid having to boil the kettle every time.

Make sure you close your doors. We cut the amount of gas we used by over a third! by closing the living room door and turning the heating down by a tiny amount (21 to 20 C).

Look on Moneysaving Expert, both for advice on keeping warm, plus wider tips on budgeting to maximise income and minimise expenses, which frees up money available for heating or other things you might want or need. A few small tweaks can add up to a noticeable amount extra in your budget.

See if you can cheaply buy a gilet made from that tech fabric used by camping / outdoor clothing companies that traps the heat eg north face thermoball or rab cirrus. They can be expensive new but cheaper if old stock on sale or 2nd hand in vinted/ebay

I got a Rab cirrus gilet in a sale 2 years ago and it's been an excellent investment. I practically live in it Nov to March. It's very light and warm.

Sorry but this just doesn’t work. I lodged with a family who hardly ever had the heating on (2 hours per day and it was a huge house). However many layers I wore I still felt freezing in winter and the room was damp.

If you’re outside then yes, thermals and coats & hats keep you from being too cold but sat still in a cold room is miserable and uncomfortable. I used to sit in PJs, onesie and dressing gown cuddling a hot water bottle and never felt properly warm. It was like being sat outside.

When I finish with the oven, I leave the door open to heat the kitchen.
Wear slippers.
Rugs are good if you can afford them.
Slow cookers are useful to make a large, cheap stew/curry/spaghetti bol etc at the weekend and eat across the week. Each day have a different carb with it- mash, bread, rice for variety.

Hang a curtain over the external doors. Helps to insulate and keeps out a lot of cold.

100% agree with this. My old work office was freezing, I could literally see my breath. I would wear a hat, gloves and have a blanket!! Management didn’t give a 💩 and it was only after 2 years of this, and a phone call to the Union, that they relented and got me a portable radiator! I was still cold though and would hug the radiator sometimes 🥶 🥶 So glad not to work in the ice cave anymore.

I do think you need to have some heating on otherwise you'll get ill and dampness will be more expensive to fix .

Agree with others who say heat the person doesn't work . No matter how many layers you have on being in a cold environment makes you bloody miserable and still freezing .

OP I think its really important to have sone heating not just for comfort but health and to prevent damp/ mould. Some portable heaters cost only 45p an hour on average to run- which online seem to have a lot of info about which ones are good- Im sorry I don’t subscribe but maybe someone else on here does and could tell you which ones are best? Could you afford to have one of those on for a few hours a day?

Just put the heating on ...

There is no way I'd let my kids be cold when my house has a functioning heating system...

Id rather rack up a debt to the energy supplier.. it's just money

The health of you and your child is priceless

And I am in the same position as you by the way .. but with 2 kids .. we will not be cold in our own house, life's too short.

Unless of course you are on a meter where putting available money on may be more of a problem x