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Original poster

Inspired by the saving money on food/heating thread (and because its blooming freezing here) I have started my winter preparations!

29 replies

virgiltracey · 30/08/2011 16:33

So far I have:

Checked wood situation and stocked up
bought cheap ikea fleeces to line curtains in the DCs rooms
put up the thicker curtains in DS2's room since he just had voile panels over the summer
bought fleecey pjs for the DCs in the sales
ordered new slippers for the DCs
started making heated wheat pack thingies
dug out the hot water bottles and higher tog quilts from the loft

DH thinks I've gone mad given that its still August but I'm feeling good knowing that I'm going to be organised this year!

OP posts:
Canistaysane · 30/08/2011 16:42

It is definitely colder today in my house and we can't have the heating on either as we are having water pressure issues due to a minor leak. (they are meant to fix it later this week.)
We have put a warmer blanket on dds bed. Just having to wear warmer clothes at the mo.

Original poster
virgiltracey · 30/08/2011 17:12

The DSs are currently watching old Tom and Jerry cartoons wearing my dressing gown and DH's dresisng gown over the top of their clothes for extra warmth! Temperature has plumeted here today and we have leaves all over the garden already!

OP posts:
AngelDog · 31/08/2011 23:07

Where was the thread please? I was looking for it but couldn't track it down!

GypsyMoth · 01/09/2011 00:59

I have stocked up on salt/grit mix I used last year

New shovel

Wellies in larger sizes for the teens

Getting a bird table for garden

Cleared out garage so I have room for rabbit hutch and Xmas pressie storage

Stocking up on tinned soup and soup/casserole ingredients , buy in a bit more rabbit food/straw etc with each shop

Original poster
virgiltracey · 01/09/2011 22:43

Angeldog it was something about best tips for saving on food and heating. It liked to a moneysavingexpert thread on wnter preparations.

GRIT! Ilovetiffany you're a genius. off to the wickes website to order!

OP posts:
AngelDog · 01/09/2011 22:50

Thanks - I'll have a hunt around.

Poodlehorse · 02/09/2011 10:23

Me too! I keep hearing we are in for another bad winter and last year was hell, we bought a 4wd a week before the snow came so i was unsure what it could do, as it turns out i could get out if i had to but it wasn't clever, our old car would never have made it. We didn't see a snowplough in 2 weeks and the heating oil I ordered the day before the first snow came took 3 weeks and that was after a lot of begging as we were on fumes. I don't want to be so ill prepared again, if the snow comes that early. So i have bern to the eholesaler and stocked up on tins, coffee, pastries for the freezer for some winter stodge breakfasts, i have lining ready to line DS curtains. I need to get some bread, candles and toilet rolls still. I have Ribena for hot juice and G&B hot choc for those post snowman-building moments. We have wood but need yo chop and pile it, job for Dh next week. We bought a new logbasket which holds2-3 times as much as last one.we have a few leaks need fixing on DH's return too, the storm at the weekend highlighted that. I need to get grit. It is finding storage for it all that is the problem, and replacing anything you use meantime. Costs a fortune to buy it all but i am sure it will be worth it, oh and DS needs a new snowsuit. I need to lose weight to fit into mine too.

Dorje · 02/09/2011 10:29

I got extra dishwasher salt in for paths last year - was vry cheap.
I think I'll plastic wrap some windows this winter also (old draughty house)

I have lots of cans of tomatoes, and beans, pulses, lentils etc in the pantry, and bags of flour for bread and pasta making...

I'm not normally "the end of the world is nigh", but last winter is fresh in my mind.

Good idea about wellies, and fleeces.

AngelDog · 02/09/2011 12:38

Was last year bad? I don't remember it at all! I know the year before there was lots of snow, but I was holed up at home with a newborn then so I remember that much better. :)

Canistaysane · 02/09/2011 12:48

Yes, it was very cold and icy in the north of England. We had sow and ice in December as I remember trying to go up town to do Christmas shopping.
The pavements were like an ice rink.

AngelDog · 02/09/2011 12:58

Ah, I'm in the south east - maybe it was a bit better down here. :) It all feels like a blur really!

Canistaysane · 02/09/2011 13:05

SNOW not sow

herbietea · 02/09/2011 13:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SeniorWrangler · 03/09/2011 19:00

I did a blog post on this, in case it's helpful to people.

austerityhousekeeping.wordpress.com/2011/08/27/preparing-for-a-cold-winter-ten-top-tips/

Autosocks are great for tyres by the way - less difficult than snow chains to put on, and allow you to travel at up to 50km/hour. £80 a set but well worth it IMO.

monahue · 03/09/2011 20:07

senior Just had a quick look at your blog and it's great! I've saved it to my favourites so I can read it properly at a later date! Smile

KatyMac · 03/09/2011 20:14

Any ideas how to temporarily insulate a conservatory roof?

I have to use it during the winter & it's electric heating Sad

Do you think it worth putting temporary curtains over the blinds at night?

I have loads of wood ready & a whole shed full of kindling (which we will have to burn as well as use to light the fire)

I put the phone chargers on timers so I am only charging them for 12 hrs & I have put all the AV equipment on bars with switches so I can turn them on/off individually.

I empty the hot water cylinder 3 or 4 times a day, so I'm trying to decide whether to have the thermostat higher so the water lasts longer or if that would cost more money

Original poster
virgiltracey · 03/09/2011 20:20

My snow shovel arrived today!

OP posts:
Original poster
virgiltracey · 03/09/2011 20:23

Is there any way you could not use it katymac? It would be far easier to shut it off. When we had a conservatory we bought some of those electric panel heaters which only cost a few pence an hour to use. It did help.

Can anyone see it from the outside? Could you put fleece behind the blinds and keep the blinds drawn? The ikea fleeces are only £1.59.

OP posts:
Original poster
virgiltracey · 03/09/2011 20:25

I'm sending DH into the loft tomorrow to finish the additional insulation!

OP posts:
SeniorWrangler · 03/09/2011 20:35

AusterityBlog has a solution!

  1. Cut wooden battens to fit each side of a conservatory roof panel, i.e. two per roof panel, left and right.
  2. Sew slots down either side of fabric pieces cut the same size as each panel.
  3. Slide each piece of fabric onto two of the battens.
  4. Tack or screw the fabric panels onto the conservatory roof (or possibly glue if it's a plastic one).
  5. If you like you can make the panels a bit bigger than the roof panel so there's a ruffled/gathered effect when you put them on the battens.

Monahue, glad you like it! Grin

KatyMac · 03/09/2011 20:35

I run a 12 place nursery in it, so probably not

I have cavity wall & good loft insulation tho'

I could put fleece on the back windows.....but the roof???

KatyMac · 03/09/2011 20:36

I have ceiling banners (cotton)

AngelDog · 03/09/2011 22:58

Any suggestions as to how to fleece line curtains? Would you make separate linings, or sew it onto the existing lining?

SeniorWrangler · 03/09/2011 23:06

It needs to be separate linings unless you are going to remake the whole curtain.

AngelDog · 03/09/2011 23:17

Anyone know where I can get a pattern, or at least a rough idea of how to do it? I've shortened curtains but never done linings before.