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Original poster

For those who can't afford to use central heating this year - How are you going to cope?

511 replies

mama2moo · 18/10/2011 20:06

We have 2 dd's - 3yo and 20mo and already owe money to our suppliers. We are going to have to be careful with not using the heating too much but our house is feeling cold already!

We have bought thermal vests, fleece pjs, fleece tops and extra duvets.

What else can we do?

TBH Im dreading it. By the 3rd week of every month we are skint at the moment.

OP posts:
IfAtFirstUDontSucceed · 19/10/2011 21:46

I've been sat reading out these suggestions to DH. After being stung with a huge gas bill for last winter we are conciously trying to reduce what we spend on heating the house.

Unfortunately, this house is probably the most uneconomical house you can imagine and as we're renting at the moment we can't do anything about the major problems . A plumber who came to repair our boiler recently said it was the one of the least efficient on the market. The windows are supposedly double glazed, but have wooden frames and are so bad that the curtains literally move with the draught.

We have put the heating on only a handful of times so far this autumn/winter just to take the 'chill out of the air' and are getting used to cosy fleecy jumpers and extra socks. The cats are probably feeling it the most as they're constantly coming over for a snuggle. :)

VivaLeBeaver · 19/10/2011 21:50

F you can't get cardboard or a bit of wood up the chimney could you fit some sort of rug to the wall, covering over the actual fireplace? I've seen that done before.

Tianc · 19/10/2011 21:56

Stopping the window drafts should make huge difference, IfAtFirst.

Definitely use the clingfilm-like glazing and draughtproofing strips (both just stuck on so landlord can't reasonably complain, even if s/he cared).

If there are drafts between the frame and the wall, or where pipes come into the house, or round the edge of the ceiling into the loft (mine were awful), get yourself a tube of decorator's caulk from B&Q. The landlord is still not likely to notice, and I'd imagine it would come under keeping the place in reasonable repair.

Tianc · 19/10/2011 21:58

draughts

mumslife · 19/10/2011 22:09

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ImDreamingOfACheapXmas · 19/10/2011 22:11

We've never had heating in our house. And it never really bothers me but then I have a high body temperature.

Some ideas:

PJ's, bed socks, winter weight duvets ( from 12.0-13.5 tog), extra blankets, wheat bags or hot water bottles, thick curtains (with blanket lining), thick dressing gowns or fleece night dresses to wear over PJ's when downstairs, slippers and thick jumpers when around the house.

twinklytroll · 19/10/2011 22:14

We can't really afford to put the heating on until we really need to.

We have been sat this evening under a duvet and this is a well uninsulated house. We have hot water bottles, extra blankets ready.

I may have to buy fingerless mittens as I have been struggling to get my work done this evening.

Gotarty · 19/10/2011 22:14

Energy suppliers are obliged by the Gov to help vunerable groups - although often aimed at pensioners it also includes other groups - it's worth checking with your supplier about what discounts are available for which groups - ask about their "Warm Home Discount Scheme".

Warm Home Discount scheme

MooncupGoddess · 19/10/2011 22:17

I don't think this is a sad thread at all, it is fascinating reading everyone's ingenious tips. I have just moved into a Victorian lower-ground floor flat with wooden floors which is lovely but bloody freezing, so I am making notes.

Actually I am contemplating a mediaeval-style approach of hanging tapestries (or rather thermal fabric) everywhere (any tips welcomed). Rushes on the floor and random livestock might help too - maybe I should lure next door's cat in :)

twinklytroll · 19/10/2011 22:18

We are not classed as vulnerable or poor. We just can't afford to put the heating on until it is absoutely necessary.

AblativeAbsolute · 19/10/2011 22:18

Tianc thanks for that about room vents. I'm now doubly cross if the stupid thing didn't need to be put in at all (they didn't do any calculations, just said 'you've got a woodburner so you need a vent'). It's bloody ugly, too. And the casing is an atrocious fit. I'm definitely going to tackle it this weekend!

Re the cling film stuff - is it visible once it's on? I have a fairly flimsy internal glass-panelled door that leads from my house to my porch. The porch itself is absolutely freezing (single skin walls, flat roof, no insulation at all), so I'm sure a lot of the house heat goes out through there. I could put some of the cling film stuff on the glass panels in the door, but if it's visible then it would look pretty crappy.

twinklytroll · 19/10/2011 22:20

We do use our animals to keep warm. In the winter I encourage the dog to sleep on my feet.

Peachy · 19/10/2011 22:21

'There is no way when we both work that I am prepared to be cold in my own house

that#s it really, I don't work (Carer and PT student) so I have to suck it up (DH works obviously)

fridascruffs · 19/10/2011 22:21

Last year I left the heating on 65 degrees permanently, and I spent £1200 just on heating oil- electric, and gas bottles for cooking, were extra. I've had a woodburner installed in the living room this autumn, I hope it makes the place warmer for less money. I work from home and I have taken to using a hot water bottle for when I sit here; fingerless gloves might be a good idea as my hands get cold. Till a couple of years ago I lived in a house so cold I used to put DD to bed in a ski suit; it's not so bad in this house. i will see about cavity insulation and plastic window film for the rear extension, as that never really gets warm. Have done loft; the original house
is solid wall and can't really be insulated (for less than £10,000).

ChickenLickn · 19/10/2011 22:23

Im going to cope by burning tories. lol.

mumslife · 19/10/2011 22:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AblativeAbsolute · 19/10/2011 22:23

Lovely new heating tip from today: remove baby from cot after nap; unzip sleeping bag; place warm snuggly baby on chest; wrap sleeping bag around both of you. Smile

mumblechum1 · 19/10/2011 22:27

I like reading this ideas too, and don't see why anyone should be expecting the government to step in to pay people's bills. When I was growing up we didn't have CH and I remember doing my homework in fingerless gloves and seeing my breath, but it didn't kill me and my parents wouldn't have thought it was up to the Government to pay to heat their house.

This is the first winter in three that our CH has worked properly, I'd given up on various so called experts coming in, faffing around and charging me up to £1k at a time and the bloody system still made lots of noise but virtually no heat but have finally found someone who has got it sorted.

TBH for the last two winters it's been fine, we have a log burner in one living room, open fireplace in the other, towel rails in all the bathrooms and ds has a fan heater in his bedroom. The only problem was in going down the corridors, landings etc which were bloody frosty.

Am happy now that at least when it gets really cold I can put the heating on, but as I'm used to not having it on all that much I suspect it won't be every day.

mumslife · 19/10/2011 22:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumblechum1 · 19/10/2011 22:28

Oh, and electric blankets are the most wonderful invention in the history of inventions.

mumblechum1 · 19/10/2011 22:29

The reason people can't afford heating so much these days is because the price of fuel has gone up worldwide. Not sure what the government is supposed to do about that - wave a magic wand?

mumslife · 19/10/2011 22:30

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LynetteScavo · 19/10/2011 22:30

There is warm, and there is warm

It is 17.5 in my living room right now. I would love to put the heating on. But am watching the pennies, and have got away with not having it on today.

It is not dangerously cold. We will live with no heating. It always seems to be 10'C warmer inside than out in winter, with no heating on.

Peachy · 19/10/2011 22:31

mumslike not heating alolowances, they sued to do cold weather payments but they stoped them for disabled famillies. I do get CA, the DLA legally is for the boys though so is spent on them: if it drops too far I could look at heating but mainly goes on special diets, accessing clubs etc.

We are Ok though; we would not freeze if it got too cold or anything

Tianc · 19/10/2011 22:31

The clingfilm is slightly visible in some lights, but actually less so than glass. To the point that I need to redo mine where someone put a hand through not realising it was there!

You do need some sort of air-input for burners and open fireplaces, so the installers aren't completely wrong ? but perhaps it could have been solved better.

Iiuc, there are actually two issues. One is that the fire needs an air supply for its normal operation. With woodburners, the clever thing is to pipe the air directly into them from outdoors, so you're not using your nicely warmed room air for that.

Then there's the issue of safety if the thing isn't burning properly and you don't want CO to be able to build up. Eg there's a big difference between room-sealed boilers and non room-sealed ones. Apparently.

But my open gas fire has no clever piped air from outside and required no room vent to the outside, as the room was deemed sufficiently large and draughty. So I'd call another installer and ask a second opinion if I were you, asking if there are other solutions to your particular situation.