How are keeping warm?

I stay in bed for much longer! Have an alpaca wool duvet, very toasty. I wear M&S Heatgen thermal top and leggings. Cord trousers, thick wool socks and a woollen jumper, gilet or cardigan worn on top. I always wear a pure silk scarf around my throat- find that really helps. If I am sitting still, I have a wool blanket over my knees. I try to manage without the CH for most of the day, but keep an eye on the temperature gauge and will switch on the heating if I feel the house is getting too cold! I also like a cup-a-soup and a round of buttery toast for a quick interior warm up!

M&S thermal tops and leggings under my top and trousers

Bea65

Pascal30 I’ve not heard of this type of e-blanket ..would love to know where I can purchase 🙏

Hi Bea it is by a brand called Dreamnite and the model is DN480002 it costs £79.99 but is kingsize and has 4 separate parts each with 9 settings.. I think I bought it locally but I have found one offering online from a place called BJ's Electricals

I am only a few pounds over the income limit to be able to claim pension credit.
However I refuse to sit in my own home half freezing to death. Like other poster's on here I intend to stay warm regardless of the cost.
I'm not excessive at all but my heating is on day and night at 18° which is OK for me. I have built a decent credit up in my energy account and will use it and more if necessary to stay warm and healthy

Only have the heating on in evening for couple of hours, in the day wear warm clothes, do have a halogen heater that we use in afternoon if really cold, also have an electric throw and blanket, sad though that we can’t afford to have heating on when we need it, just over the threshold for pension credit so get no winter fuel allowance, thanks to Mr Starmer.

Shivering 🥶@72yrs I never ever thought I would be going back to been 5 when we had to make do and mend .
But thanks to the party that fights for the working man ( not no more) I can’t rack up a good old fashioned fire 🔥 and leave it on till morning ….
The whole lot need to disappear down ths so called Blk Hole …. While we are shivering they are having there heating paid for….

pascal30

Bea65

Pascal30 I’ve not heard of this type of e-blanket ..would love to know where I can purchase 🙏

Hi Bea it is by a brand called Dreamnite and the model is DN480002 it costs £79.99 but is kingsize and has 4 separate parts each with 9 settings.. I think I bought it locally but I have found one offering online from a place called BJ's Electricals

🙏🙏 will research in my toasty bed … my bed is a queen but ally my duvets are king… so this type of ‘blankie’ might be suitable

I am lucky that we can afford our heating bill, though we have oil which is expensive through the winter. But if it feels chilly (our house is draughty) I have an electric throw. I also often have a hot water bottle on the sofa with me, I love to have hot feet and it keeps the rest of me cosy too.

Outdoors: Big 100% wool scarf, LAYERS always, and a wool hat, either a beret or a ski type ..

Wool socks and boots.

Indoors: Gas Natural Heating / radiators in every room and put the heat on .. Radiators in bathrm and kitchen too ..

Log fires and Oil central heating, have a store full of logs fortunately, we also have single daytime quilts for warmth & feeling cosy if my husband wants the fires to cool before bedtime
Do live in the countryside but it’s not too bad here ( get the weather from France not from up north ) where it’s looking quite bad.

I try to keep moving doing chores, cooking, cleaning in the morning. Heating on a timer so I know when it will be warm enough to sit and read. I wear layers, thermals, thick jumper, leggings and good socks. We put throws over our knees 2h3n necessary and beg the cat to sit on us. 😹
Good, solid food and warm drinks are important. We are in credit with octopus as well plus we pay our council tax over 10 months so I add to the energy pot for the 2 months we don’t pay. I go without new clothes, I don’t wear make up, don’t smoke, drink little so my pension can be spent on keeping warm . I find knitting helps as well with my arthritic fingers. But I am going stir crazy staying safe at home as I am very cautious about falling, had a nasty one two weeks ago culminating in my first black eye in 74 years plus £300 for new specs. Hey ho!!

I didn't feel the cold for many years but having lost over 6 stones I really do now! I used to dread the heat of summer, now I dread the cold!
I have a wheat filled tube which I heat in the microwave and have across my tummy. I have my laptop on my lap much of the time on a cushion, so that keeps me a bit warmer. I wear lots of layers including a padded gilet, though that had to go in the wash yesterday but will be dry soon. I can afford to put the heating on but try to keep to a minimum.
I have been home a lot over Christmas as I caught covid so couldn't visit family as planned, though they did come to me briefly on the way to other relatives. The money I saved not driving 400 miles to their house will have been spent on the heating I guess! Once normal life resumes I'll be out and about and attending things in warm spaces which also helps. I go to a 'knit and natter' group once a week in the local library and one person says she stays after the meeting time sometimes as it is a warm space!
I haven't built up credit with my energy provider as I pay for what I use by variable direct debit so I'm aware the cost this month has gone up quite a lot! I feel for those who really can't afford to stay warm. I turned the screen of my smart meter off as it uses electricity and I don't think it helped me save anything anyway. I'm well aware of which appliances use most power and am very careful about every bit I use. I take advantage of the half price electricity offered every Sunday and try to use more during that time, with wash loads etc.
I notice when people come here that they always overfill the kettle and boil more than they need. I've got putting the exact amount in down to a fine art! I survive on my limited income on the basis of 'every little helps'!

Marks & Spencers long sleeved thermal vests are great, and I love my heated throw when I'm just sitting down reading or watching TV

Fleecy leggings, cotton vest, long sleeve tee shirt and thick jumpers. When I'm not moving about I have a fleecy zip up jacket on. Sometimes I have thermal leggings (like tights really) underneath joggers. Again when sitting I have an electric throw for wrapping round. I do consider myself fortunate in being able to have heating on but not all day long. Do wish I was a member of Parliament though with my £3.5k energy allowance for my parliamentary accommodation.

Luckygirl3

Tell me about an oodie - they look cumbersome and as if they would get in the way of normal house activities - am I wrong!?

I keep my main CH thermostat on high, but the radiators turned off except for in the room I am using. So when I flick on the rad in the room I'm in it warms up very quickly. I have one of those combi-boilers that fires up when needed and heats the water via the rising main - I have no tank.

Because I am in a new build my home is very well insulated indeed so every therm gives value for money.

I wear lots of layers and am lucky not to have felt cold this winter. I am sorry for those who are feeling the cold - arthritic bones do not need this.

I have a proper Oodie and a knock-off one. The regular one is very warm, I can do most of my chores in it and the big pocket comes in handy. Although I have found that occasionally I will knock things as it's bulky.
The other one is just 1 layer so not so bulky and is good when I'm not quite so cold.
I did buy an electric mattress cover with my Christmas cash this year. It's nice to crawl into preheated flannel sheets.
Although it hasn't gotten really cold here yet. It's usually just around zero.
I keep the house at 18-21.

I too am just over pension credit as I get a full state pension but nothing else.
I go to my local Asda , for the over 60's you get a bowl of soup, buttered bap and endless hot drinks for £1.
And I pray to God for help with the bills ! !

This morning I went to a legs, bums and tums class at the gym, that certainly warmed me up 🥵. Mr H also went to the gym....for a shower as our boiler is caput. This afternoon we took the dog for a good long walk, left gas fire on while we were out so at least livingroom felt toasty when we got home.

Cooked 2 tins of tomatoes, an onion, 2 carrots, some garlic, plus herbs - tomato soup. Baked brotchen - pleasant cosy kitchen and gathering spaces.

I've tried to keep my heating at 17. So I wear layers. I seem to feel coldest at around 3-4pm I don't know why. I tend to turn my heating on around then. It goes off at 9 that's when I clear up and go to bed. Not always to sleep though. Unless I'm out in the evening.

I am still battling my husband who cut the CH pipes last Sept and has not rd unstated it at all . No hot water either . Using a kettle and my dishwasher . I go to a local health club for a shower and hot sauna ! I have threatened to leave big that doesn’t do any good and I can’t afford it either . Not looking for sympathy but there are people who are far worse off - so put the heating on I’ve you have it x

Sorry for the typos Hands must be cold .

So sorry for your situation Nannimo, that is truly awful.

Currently cooking tea...tatties, mince and dumplings. Four gas rings and oven have warmed kitchen a treat!!!

Whoops Nannimo the lack of hot water would do my head it I love my hot shower as soon as I get up in the morning can manage everything else with hottie bottles and throws and oodies
I m another just over the pension threshold

Nammimo That is appalling. Is it possible for you (just you) to move out of your house for a month, and possible more?

Do you have children who you could stay with for a week or two? or a friend? perhaps bein left behind in the cold while you keep warm, will encourage your DH to repair the heating.

Alternatively, just get a workman in to repair the heating and disregard anything your DH says. In fact, do not tell your DH until the repairman is at the door.

I suppose if you have a partner/lover you can cuddle to keep each other warm...i'd love a dog but have been told i'm too unstable/unbalanced to keep a dog i couldn't walk a dog daily or keep healthy in safe conditions..

Have cooked a casserole enough for 3 days...
Use washing machine once a week
Use candles in the evening for light and ambience
Wear outdoor clothes indoors...
Remember all this from the 1950s at home ... how depressing!