Prepping for winter 2023/24

[Diversion]

Despite the heat which I hate but will no doubt be moaning about the cold in winter I have just ordered a load of logs for winter. We have some wood left over from last year and lots of free pallets which we need to cut when it cools down (and is not raining). I also need to order a load of oil which we did not use so much of last year due to having the log burners and the cost but it is always cheaper in summer. Also stocking up on OTC meds, toiletries and household items each month and adding to the food stores a little. We are not rich by any means but hoping that our winter preps will help if the cost of living keeps rising or we have an unexpected expense. Had a clear out of the first aid kit too and will restock any gaps.

My (seconds/old stock) Oodie delivery has just arrived - matching family set though MiniFool is swamped! I need to stick up on the next size up winter outerwear as everything seems to get outgrown fast.

Would you mind sharing where you bought these from? I didn't know you could get them!

It seems to be collective wisdom on Mumsnet that the £14.49 ones are Oodies, some with patterns upside down or old stock or only available abroad: 5 Pound Stuff

Thank you! I got an Oodie for Christmas, and I loved it. Tried a couple of the knock offs but they weren't as good.

I noticed the little dehumidifiers was back in Poundland. I had somewhere damp last year and they was about £7 in pounds stretchers over winter. I was also thinking of buying a heated blanket now. My boiler needs a service and the radiators need a chemical clean and magnet. But I need to service it now, in case it needs condemning ( unlikely but who needs that in winter?) The whole system is furred up

I’m just starting my winter prep.

we are having a new boiler - I think the one we have now will be condemned.

on the nice days I have been airing out quilts and blankets.
I need to make a blind for my velux window. Mine snapped. I’m going to make a quilted one.
I bought 3 sacks of rice instead of 2 this month. (I buy something in bulk each month). I read that India hasn’t had a good year so they aren’t exporting rice. This is approximately 40% of the worlds rice so prices are set to rise.
I need to buy those dehumidifiers as they are so good in our old house.

I have also been picking up a few bits here and there for Christmas gifts.

DH has been seriously poorly this year and money is a bit tight. The reason I prep is in case of situations like this. When Dh was off work for 2 months we managed fine as I only had to buy fresh fruit and veg and dairy each week.

India has only banned the export of non basmati rice. This will probably push up basmati prices too but hopefully not by much.

Time for a Costco trip soon I think.

The hardest thing prepping wise this year has been money to buy things.

bought a steam canner. Waiting for that to arrive hopefully this week.

hitting The BBE wholesalers whenever they have beans, rice or canned tomatoes in. Last trip I stocked up on several varieties of canned beans for 30p a can or less. If worst comes I can slow cooker bean chilli.

been using scrap yarn to crochet ponchos instead of oodies for lounging. Easier to layer over a sweatshirt.
next up will be knitting up some odd sofa socks from scrap yarn. Thankfully my job commute means I can do little bits every morning.

in the coming weeks I’m going to be preparing veg beds ready for planting garlic and onions, foraging so so many blackberries for cordials to cover winter months. Then applesauce and pie filling making.

I need to get my oven repaired asap as the element has gone but it’s making me be a bit more creative with one pot meals.

Apples keep ages in the bottom of the fridge.

We've got our warm clothing sorted, we have electric blankets & hot water bottles, and I've also got a back warmer. I used the uplift money to buy those. This year I'm focussing on food preps, and alternative fuel. I'm growing veg and I bought a dehydrator. It doesn't cost much to run on the low heat settings.
I need to find out where to buy ethanol biofuel locally, its very expensive to buy online because of the postage.

I’ve done most of the Christmas present shopping in sales putting extra gas on each month ordered blankets for everyone. Going to start food stocks in September when kids back to school so I can properly stock take

Chimneys have been swept and a pallet of heat logs has arrived. Need to order the proper logs.

I've got a second hand freezer which we're using to store gluts of fruit. Some of the blackcurrants have made their way into vodka and some raspberries might be heading the same way.

The gutters need clearing and we need to get a french drain put in as we've part of the garden that turns into a lake whenever it rains heavily. Luckily our new neighbour turns out to have a handyman business so we'll be keeping him busy.

Have taken the time to give things in my wardrobe a wash and freshen up, items I'm not using have then been stored in vacuum bags to protect treasures from bugs and mildew.

I am getting the logs ordered. Chimney sweep hasn't got back to me and we won't be legal without that done, so need to find another one soon.

I have a dust mite allergy and fleece like oodies or dressing gowns set me off quite badly. I have just got a dressing gown in asda that is essentially like a house coat thst my nan used to wear, but with a hood. It is polyester fill and cotton with some polyester outer fabric, so am hoping it is better. Will buy a spare if it works.

After an abysmal year in yhe garden things are now ripening with the rain, so time to get preserving.

My tomatoes have been struck by blight so I cut away infected foliage and fruits, in the hopes of getting some to ripen as they're all still green yet. But I may be making green tomato chutney next week if that hasn't worked.

I got a pair of thermal legs and a sleeveless fleece in the past couple of weeks (thermals as I had none that fit and fleece to wear on WFH days to manage without heating).

I need to order logs and get the stove chimney swept as well. But I have cleaned out 1 gutter and I'm aiming to do the other tomorrow as well as cleaning windows.

But I need to go through some of my other general stores and see what the holes are before doing a back to school shop next week.

All the back to school shopping is done. I've checked and cleared most of the gutters; just one left to finish now. I've been though all the winter clothing, and checked sizes, so there is plenty to keep us warm though the winter. I still need to order logs and book in a chimney sweep.

Time to start on the Christmas list now.

Have done some rummaging and seasonal cleaning and checking this week. Messaged chimney sweep (although DH reckons we don't need it done but we didn't do it last year either so I think we do as we used the stove quite a bit).

I need to get a new pair of waterproof leggings for cycling to work, logs, cold and flu meds and AAA batteries. But that's not too long a list.

@BiddyPop check your home insurance, as there is a good chance it is a request. I have to have mine done annually and keep the certificate.

Got jars of apple cider vinegar on the go,and lots of stewed apples frozen. Plums will be next and blackberries.
Drying herbs for oils: yarrow,chamomile,calendula and making medicinal tinctures. Must sort out thick curtains for ds room. Cars will get a winter service and scrapers,de-icer etc put in the boot.

How do you make the tinctures and what do you use them for @Hedjwitch ?

Different tinctures for different things,depending on what herbs I'm using. I tend to macerate the plant material in alcohol,buy you could use vinegar or a glycerate if you prefer.

Thanks, will have a look at this

Hi everyone - hope you don’t mind if I contribute to this thread. I’ve started prepping a bit because I am a little nervous about increasing costs, and adjusting to a UK winter after living abroad in the southern hemisphere for several years!

I too have stocked up on cold and flu medicines, and have started to supplement our regular multivitamins with elderberry and other immune support things.

I also bought myself a £5 (possible) Oodie from the site linked above (thank you @FoolShapeHeart !). It doesn’t have a label and the pattern doesn’t join up at the seams, but is otherwise identical to my husband’s official Oodie bought last year.

I plan to rummage in the loft/drawers/wardrobe and find our thermals, to give them a good wash and dry, and have them ready to wear. I am also tempted by some of the fleece-lined leggings I saw mentioned on social media last year (for working from home) - are they actually any good? I also took advantage of the Turtle Doves recent sale and bought some wrist-warmers that I’ve wanted for years.

I’ve also started thinking about harvesting our garden apples, using a ‘new to us’ fruit and veg wooden storage rack. I’m planning on wrapping the apples individually in newspaper for storage, but am nervous that rodents will somehow sneak in to our outbuilding and munch them! I’ll try and store other veg which might keep a touch longer through Autumn eg squash, bag of potatoes from the local farmer.

I need to turn my attention to the house soon - guttering, and checking our roof for loose tiles etc, and getting the car and paths prepared eg de-icer, tires, salt etc.

Am busy stewing and freezing a glut of apples,plums and greengages. Herbs such as thyme,rosemary and oregano chopped and frozen in ice cube tray.
More prosaically, car booked for winter service.