NO MORE COLD MUMSNETTERS!

[KungFuBustle]

Right, don't really know how to start this but I'm raging. I see over and over on here people struggling with heating, sitting cold after kids have gone to bed, waking up in cold houses and it makes me want to stamp my feet and scream. Apologies if I'm not articulate or organised. I just want to do something.

No judging, please share anything you feel may help, no matter how small. Also feel free to have a whinge. DS is at school and I'm cold now, and I'm fucking miserable. I don't mean to patronise, some of this may seem so obvious to some, but if one person is a wee bit warmer I'm a happy bunny.

Here goes.

U Switch We might as well be getting the cheapest deal.

Warm Home Discount You may be surprised by who can apply for this. A lot of providers have their own criteria and it's broader than you think.

Which Guide to Free Insulation Self explanatory but also has some information about DIY.

Draught Excluders - I have these on every door now. If you're turning down radiators or trying to save by only heating one room they are brilliant. You don't have to buy them. I cut up old trousers up the crotch. Stuffed with old sheets and sewed up. You can use newspaper at a pinch.

Curtains - Thick lined curtains on windows are great. They are also expensive. If you can forgo colour scheme charity shops have AMAZING deals. They might not fit in with the room but lord they keep the heat in. I've also fixed them over front and back doors. Our kitchen has no heat source but since covering the back door I can no longer see my own breath when I walk in.

Tinfoil - Wrap in round cardboard and whack it behind your radiators. You can buy special stuff for this, but if like me what wasn't an option this is better than nothing. We noticed a real difference. I did downstairs, doing upstairs today.

Builders Plastic - Not cheap but cheaper than double glazing. Tape it over windows and it can keep the heat in and the cold out. I haven't been able to do this but another MNer mentioned it and it seemed a very clever idea on a budget.

Cashmere - I wanted to laugh when someone said this, like I can afford cashmere. Keep an eye out in the right charity shops and you will. I've not been so lucky yet but I know other MNrs have. Real wool jumpers and throws are a great find too. Doesn't matter if it's not our colour (Don't tell the S&B board!) warm's warm.

Candles Heater Instructions in the link. Building mine today. Candles in a room can also give an impression of warmth. I pay £1 for 100 tea lights at ikea.

Slow Cookers - I made porridge in my slow cooker last night. Soon as we got up I had a bowl of porridge in DS's hands and some hot squash. He also gets a hot squash as soon as he comes in from school. Cheap and warming.

Hats - I'm not much of a knitter. But if you want a hat making PM me. They're usually wonky, not stylish, but if you're cold and want one for wearing around the house I'll make you one. I can also make little ones for children.

Crikey, this was longer than I expected. Please share any warm tips you may have. I'm sorry so many of us are cold, and I'm sorry I can't just pay all of our heating bills and we all have warm Winters.

[teenagetantrums]

I want to try the flower pots but i don't have any pots and im worried about the stupid cats knocking them over. Its freezing here, i don't normally put the heating on much anyway as am on a prepayment meter and cant afford it, so its only ever on for a hour a day, but this week we have a broken boiler so not been on at all.

[misdee]

Sainsburys do lovely thermals. £7 for leggings, £6 for a camisole, £7 for a long sleeved top. I use them for layering in winter and they also get used when we go camping in the summer.

Any cheap rug on a tiled/wooden floor makes a lot of difference.

Sorry about half message, dd5 pressed send

[SpookyRestingFace]

Oh, thought of another one re: high cost of wool clothing. If you are smallish, look at children's clothing. I bought myself two Mini Boden lambswool jumpers recently, which with various offers and codes came to £15 and £17 respectively. The largest size, 11-12, easily fits size 10.

[KungFuBustle]

Hmmm, DH needs to know what I would like for Christmas. Thermals sounds good.

[misdee]

I am sensitive to wool sadly, and end up an itchy mess.

Fingerless gloves are also good when at home. I don't like gloves with fingers as constantly dealing with small children, so find fingerless long gloves ideal. Keep the chill off hands and lower arms.

We are lucky to be able to afford heating but don't want it to be like last winter with massive bills which were hard to clear after the cold weather had gone. Made harder by dh not being able to regulate his temperature easily.

[aliciaflorrick]

As others have said, layer up, starting with thermals and finishing with a fleece and scarf.

I can only afford to use the woodburner in one room on an evening, I've bought a fan that sits on top of it (about £50 from Amazon) so rather than the heat rising up and sitting at the ceiling it pushes the hot air out to you where you're sitting and I find pushes it further around the house. My house is normally freezing and even with the fire on I can feel cool, since I've had this fan I've been very hot. I have the living room door closed when we're in it, but then open it when I go to bed and the hot air then goes through the house.

I don't live in the UK, but anybody living in France and need new windows, insulation, etc apply to your local commune for a Pact grant. I've just been given a grant to insulate the walls and ceiling of my kitchen and garage, new kitchen windows and doors and a new wood burning boiler. As long as it increases the environmental efficiency of your house by more than 25% you should be good to go (and I think you may need to be on a low income, I'm not sure I just automatically fell into that part). My grant is very large and it's going to be sorting out the two areas of my house that make the rest of it cold. The thought of not having a gale blowing through the back door (when it's shut) makes me so happy.

Big rugs on my tiled floors have made a big difference as well.

I have the heated over blanked from Lidl that sometimes I use rather than lighting the fire.

I also bought the slippers that had the wheat heat pads in them, so I wore them last year and the DCs had some as well, but I'm liking the look of the croc ones very much - I might try them this year.

[MissMarplesBloomers]

Worth asking around oil suppliers Marcelline. Mine (Watsons) runs a budget account tou pay a set amount each month (I pay £40 pcm) & they do regular top-ups. Never run out of oil & if you have a good tankful in the spring I just ring up & put the top up on hold till I use up the reserve.

[QuietNinjaTardis]

Dh has just bought a thick jumper from the charity shop. £2.99. I wear my dressing gown and I have fleecy pj bottoms which are warmer than normal pjs. This thread has made me feel sad for everyone who's cold this winter. It's lovely to have all the ideas to keep warm but I got a email from our energy company saying they were putting their prices up and we've just moved into an old house with an inefficient crap heating system that throws money out the window before the radiators have even heated up.
I'm worried cos my baby is due on the 2nd dec and I don't know how I'm gonna keep the house warm enough for her. Will follow these its for a start.

[misdee]

I have been buying hats whenever I see them cheap in shops and charity shops.

I do need to get new hot water bottles though as we don't have enough now the family is huge

Trying to get my 2 year old to keep his clothes on annoys me. It's cold, his skin feels cold but he strips off all the time. It's not warm in here as heating has been off since kids left for school. It's not freezing but its not warm. And he is just in a t shirt and vest, after removing his shoes, socks, legwarmers, trousers and jumper and coat after going for a walk earlier.

[MarcelineTheVampireQueen]

Mrsmarples, am in ireland so that won't apply. But thanks! Ive tried them akl but no joy. Its all the one in this cold damp house! I promised myself last year I wouldn't be here at Christmas but still here. Ive gotten baxk on to all my housing contacts so if anyone knows anyone high up in the councils here!

I was just looking online for other properties to rent so heres hoping. I really can't stay.

[SolidGold]

Good thread

I agree with those heated pads you heat in the microwave, and then wrap up in a blanket. Also thick socks and a scarf seem to help keep me warm when it's really cold.

[IamInvisible]

I often wear a vest top under my pyjamas. Our bedroom is freezing, but that makes all the difference.

Tights under trousers. Primark have some fab tights atm. As well as their fleece lined ones, they've got wooly ones and velvet lined leggings for £6 a pair.

I wear fake Uggs as slippers. Mine are from Next kids range (adult size 5). Because they are leather and have a hard sole they are really warm.

We've all got fleeces for the sofas. Primark have some lovely Christmas/Wintry ones atm.

The kids have got fleecy throws on the end of the beds they can pull up in the night if it gets chilly.

Make stews and soups for dinners, they warm you up.

I collapsed al the boxes I had the delivered yesterday to put out for recycling. I am going to cover them with foil and put them behind the radiators.

Make sure you air your house. If the air is dry it is easier to warm up than if it is damp.

[MarcelineTheVampireQueen]

Mrsmarples, am in ireland so that won't apply. But thanks! Ive tried them akl but no joy. Its all the one in this cold damp house! I promised myself last year I wouldn't be here at Christmas but still here. Ive gotten baxk on to all my housing contacts so if anyone knows anyone high up in the councils here!

I was just looking online for other properties to rent so heres hoping. I really can't stay.

[MarcelineTheVampireQueen]

Oh sorry dunno what I am doing!

[MsPickle]

Warm underneath as well as on top. On the rocking chair I use when settling dd at night I have two very cheap fleece blankets. One underneath, one on top of me. With my dressing down on over my pjs and sweater (I'm cold when tired!) I'm warm even at 4 am. Comfortable? I'd rather be in bed but...

Snuggling on the sofa? Put an extra blanket underneath you. It makes such a difference!

[DoctorTwo]

Aldi sell Merino wool base layers. They're fantastic.

[Dontlookbehindyou]

Owever wrapped up I get my ankles are always cold and when I get cold it hurts, I had a pair of woolly knitted socks that were really good but they wore out massively. I need to find someone who can knit socks, it's amazing how much warmer you feel when your feet are warm.

Cuddle lots! Ds usually has his nap snuggled up against me abd for however long he's asleep were both snuggly warm.
I've taped plastic over the fireplace to keep heat in and we wear onsies far too often.

[misdee]

Legwarmers. My family may look like throwbacks to the 80's at times but they do make a difference when outside. And baby/toddler sized ones can also be used as arm warmers on bigger kids/small adults.

[RevelsRoulette]

I'm planning on getting thick floor length curtains and two little rails so I can have thick curtains to draw across the front and back doors. The cold that comes through the doors is unreal. There's no draft to speak of, but the area is really cold and I'm thinking thick curtains will really help. Has anyone done this and did it make a difference?

[misdee]

I have curtains by front and back doors and they do make a difference. I am saving for carpeting in hallway and living room as the tiles are so cold

[SolidGold]

Also check out this if you are in receipt of benefits and have school children:

freeboilerinstallers.co.uk/

[KungFuBustle]

I did it last week Revels very happy with the results heat wise, the 70s vibe not so much.

[SolidGold]

(Sorry if that had already been posted, I haven't checked the whole thread.)