We caved in this morning,……

No heating yet and its still warm and sunny. Even had to water the pots in the garden. I'm in Lincolnshire.

We're about as far south as you can go without getting your feet wet and it's still quite warm here, and bright and sunny. Still wearing t-shirts, cropped trousers and sandals most days. We haven't needed to put the heating on yet as the sun warms the house and it stays warm through the evening.

To put the central heating on we have to light the solid fuel boiler each morning and it's a few hours before the whole house warms up, so if the weather's warm & sunny we don't bother. I dread the boiler being lit because it always affects my sinuses and asthma.

If it makes anyone feel better our heater is going full bore in Australia. It is supposed to be getting warmer but so far it has been very cold except at least it is sunny. Terrible flooding across the state though.

Now Jeremy Hunt has said that current energy prices will only be held till April, we don't plan to alter things any time soon unless dictated by health considerations. Currently we have our water heating on for an hour in the morning which also heats the bathroom radiator, and the sitting room fire (gas) goes on for an hour or so in the evening - just to keep the cat warm when he's not snuggled in my sleeping bag, you understand . We use our electric duvet overnight, and blankets/fleeces/heated jackets as necessary. If visitors come, more heating will go on, but currently we meet friends at cafés, so that is not an issue at the moment. We rarely oven cook and most of our cooking is either in the microwave or on the hob!

I will now go and peg out the washing in our sunny, windy garden, and maybe collect some fir cones for our storm kettle - if we are allowed to use it!

Heating will not go on until 1 November. Looking forward to it!!

My heating is on. I refuse to be cold in my own house and dress like I'm going on an outside hike!!! I will be careful but I refuse to be cold.

We're in most of the time so ours is definitely on and has been for a couple of weeks. Definitely not going to sit in the cold.

It’s gorgeous here- a warm wind. I’ve dried two lines of washing already and walked the dogs in a t-shirt. I’m in the NW, so granted, I may be slightly hardier .

Ours has been on for a couple of weeks as and when but we’re lucky in that the Aga is on constantly all year round so the house is rarely cold. But when i have to go up to 2 or 3 layers I put the heating on and I light a fire for cosiness

In the late 1960's i went up to Stockholm for business, in the winter for a couple of weeks and was lent a bungalow with only a single fan heater to stay in. It was wonderfully warm, as very well insulated and triple glazed with good spacing between the glass. Deep snow about and it was really great. One morning is was very bright sunlight on the snow and I was daft enough to wash a blouse out and go out to put it on the line. It promptly froze solid and had to carefully bring it back in. The point is that even now builders are still allowed to build poorly insulated and single glazed windows. The builders say they cant afford to do it and wouldnt be able to sell them as they would be more expensive. It makes me so mad to see rubbish housing being built. If the law said that ALL new build properties had to be built to good standard and refused planning permission for less well insulated it would be a level playing field. Gradually all housing would improve - thus saving fuel and other costs - and different criteria obviously for older properties , but helpful grants or loans to bring them up to scratch Wouldnt it be great if you knew that if you bought a newer house you are going to have cheaper and better heating and more comfort. Perhaps I should have a go at being an MP on the idea of practical helpful ideas for all, not based on I scratch your back you scratch mine! Well cant do much worse that this lot eh?

I put oil fired ch on last night much to oh annoyance. Kitchen/ dining area is north facing and I felt cold making the evening meal so on it went for two hours. Lounge lovely and warm today as that's South facing dog is led on rug following sun round.

Our is switched off at the boiler. It all have to stay off. Wrap up warm and snuggle. I can see me in bed with all three children snuggled up to stay warm this winter. We simply can’t afford to use it. Except to heat water for morning showers. A quick one each.

My boat is so warm I have the bow doors open. Sun is shining. I don't have central heating to put on. Won't be lighting the burner...

I had guests staying last week therefore it was on. They've gone. It's off.

Yes ours on when it’s chilly in here, live in a three hundred year old house ( converted inside ) but no double glazed windows as listed building and does get very cold, even though the windows are small, I’m trying to keep a constantly warm background heat, if that makes sense
I’m not sitting cold end of! And will cut down on other things.
Reducing the use of electric and water as much as possible too.

Heating on an hour in the morning in the bathroom. Otherwise managing with extra layers of clothes, thermal socks and hot water bottles. I remember when I was a child and my mother continued to wear her coat for ages after coming back into the house. I used to think it was odd but it was because the house was freezing cold until she had lit the fire and got it going. No heating at the flick of a switch then.

We are in South Wales and are fortunate the weather has been mild. So haven't even felt a chill in the house yet. We lucky to have a south facing garden and a small orangery. We've had a lot of sun recently which heats the orangery, which in turn warms the lounge diner. In fact, the sun is streaming in at the moment. Long may it last, but I suspect we won't get away with it much longer.

i've set my hive thermostat to 20° and the heating comes on if the temperature drops below that. so far in the two weeks i've turned ut on the boiler has been on for about an hour in total.
my house is a warm one - mid terrace and properly insulated (loft and cavity) with a conservatory on the back (south facing).
so i think i'm very lucky. currently i'm sitting in a short sleeved top and the sun is pouring in.

I'm on the east coast of Scotland and have had mine on for an hour in the morning for a few weeks now just to take the chill off the house. In the evening I wear what is billed as a "blanket with arms" which I bought from Amazon. It is a soft fleecy cosy, floor length and with a hood - the best thing I have ever bought! At the moment I wear it over pjs, but when it gets colder it's plenty roomy enough to go over my clothes. Eat your heart out, Jack Frost - and the electric company!

We've settled for setting the thermostat at 18 degrees when we're up and about and 15 degrees when we go to bed. The gas 'coal' fires are and will remain off for the foreseeable. Fortunately clement weather has meant that the radiators rarely come on!. I've invested in slipper boots and warm loungewear for when the weather gets colder!

GrandNanna

Many of you mention fleece throws. I get static electric shocks when I use fleeces. How do prevent the shocks? Thanks for any advice.

You probably can't, sad to say.

All of these fleece throws and garments are made of synthetic fibres, and those of us who are prone to static electric shocks get them far more readily from synthetic fibres than from wool, cotton or linen.

Some naural materials give off static as well. Even indoors and with heating on, I cannot brush or comb my hair or stroke the cats in frosty weather without getting a shock. In the dark, both the cats and I can see green sparks flyinging when we touch each other.

Been having heating on for a few hours in the evening for a couple of weeks now. No heating on during the daytime as the orientation of the house means the sun warms it nicely. I’m afraid I do like everywhere to feel warm in the evening - hate heating just one room and everywhere else cold. Our house is well insulated so it’s keeps its warmth and the bills are manageable (at the moment?).

Since we purchased electric throws which we use in the evenings we have not felt the need to have the heating on. Thermostat is set to 19c. It has come on in the mornings on about 3 occasions so far. In the conservatory atm where it is baking hot in the sun. We open the sliding doors to let all the heat into the house.

Mine hasn’t been on yet…. my room thermostat says it’s 18c in here…. good enough!

Congratulations on your find! I love a charity shop bargain