How are keeping warm?

Jeanathorne - I read somewhere that is better to keep heating on constant rather than turning it on and off. Don’t know if it’s true. That’s what I tell myself anyway. My heating is on all the time.

Meant to say; Nordic socks round the house and when walking. Brilliant and very jolly!

I’m another who is lucky enough to have a large credit balance on my energy account so I’m not too worried about having the heating on as and when. Being parsimonious by nature I used to be obsessed with watching the smart monitor, but I don’t now. To hell with it. This house is well insulated and once it’s warm it holds the heat, but I have a fleece blanket that I put over my legs if I need it. A 13tog quilt on my bed does the job at night.

We have the heating on at 19-20 degrees all day (we pay £150 a month but are in credit). At bedtime, I wear fluffy socks and the sheets are "teddy bear" fluffy ones. One of our sons bought me a heated throw, so I use that if I feel really cold.

I don't know whether I am making things worse by having the heating on at set times and allowing the house to be cold in between times. My reasoning is if it's not on, I'm not paying.

Love my oodie !! Wear it most of the day,heated throw at night. But since new years eve have been ill with flu and asthma,so heating on 24/7 . Will sort out bill when able . Refuse to be richest person in the graveyard !

I'm sure most people know about this but just thought I'd post this info here:

www.gov.uk/cost-living-help-local-council#:~:text=Who%20the%20Household%20Support%20Fund,a%20Household%20Support%20Fund%20scheme.

It's the Household Support Fund.
Each council operates differently but you don't need to be in receipt of benefits.

Vinted is very good for second hand woolen items.

I have a cheaper, but highly recommended Oodie, and apart from washing up, its fine to wear for doing chores.

It seems to trap warm air inside it, so its like having a tent around you, rather than a cumbersome jumper

Georgesgran Like you, I decided to leave my money in situ rather than earn a few pence interest, and I am so pleased I did. If it hits -2C or lower during the night, I leave the heating on low as that is cheaper than sorting out a burst pipe.

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 keep going to bed!
Not a good idea, because I think I'll just put my legs under the quilt, and then

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Like others on here I am lucky that I can have my heating on whenever I want - I do have a reserve built up with my supplier over the year, but think that will quickly diminish - my smart meter shows I was "over budget" by 8.30 this morning! My thought are for those who are not in my position, who can't put on the heating. There was a couple on TV the other night who are £5 above the cut off for pension credit, they have no idea how they are going to keep warm. Starmer and Reeves should be ashamed of themselves.

Over recent years I’ve been treating myself to wool jumpers, merino vests, thermal footless tights, gloves made from suede with fur inside, wool hats, and a couple of real wool throws. If I decide not to get fully dressed the synthetic, fluffy dressing gown and Ugg like slippers do the trick. “Nordic socks” are my go to socks in the winter as they are super thick. It does mean that I have to be careful about footwear.

I always buy a new jumper in the Woolovers sales. They aren’t as good as they used to be but the outlet store sales can be relatively affordable. I only buy what I really like.
My daughter bought be a heated over blanket for Christmas. It’s excellent. It can be used as a throw, either on or off. I recommend this in the short term.

I’ve given up jeans in the winter and prefer cords for going out but pull on trousers indoor.

Comfortable is the name of the game. It’s been with me for sometime. My winter wardrobe is rather boring but as we don’t go out much I’d much rather be warm than pretty.

Well, despite some criticism of letting my credit balance with Octopus rise to £700+ it’s going to pay dividends and now I don’t give a monkeys and the heating will be on ‘whenever’.
A delivery of logs between Xmas and New Year will fuel the wood burner in my lounge if I decide to light it.

I know I’m lucky, but it was tempting to take the money and run, but so pleased I didn’t.

I do keep a beady eye on my smart meter, but I have £300 in reserve in my Octopus account, and I refuse to be cold.

When watching TV, I have a small heated pad that sits across my tum with a thin blanket on top. I do have the central heating on because I refuse to freeze when making a cup of coffee or having a shower.

I do feel sorry for those who cannot afford to switch on the heating. Keir and Rachel are undoubtedly cosy, and our rich pensioners, us, are subsidising their bills.

MissInterpreted

Can't afford to have the heating on, so I wear my Oodie hooded blanket most of the day, but I have to admit that one day last night, my feet and hands were so cold they were almost painful. Temperatures here have been below zero for the past few days.

It's so dispiriting to be cold somehow.

I'm fortunate to be able to have my heating on as I need it.
Shall put fleecy leggings on today, long sleeve thermal top, jumper, and shall put my fleece hooded top on.
Just having a hot chocolate!
Have decided not to go and sit for two hours this afternoon in a cold and damp rugby stadium! The match is on tv anyway.

MissInterpreted

Can't afford to have the heating on, so I wear my Oodie hooded blanket most of the day, but I have to admit that one day last night, my feet and hands were so cold they were almost painful. Temperatures here have been below zero for the past few days.

Same situation.. my body goes into spasms without contact heat and it’s bloody painful …so no heating on as yet .. I’m having a coffee in bed - have kettle upstairs now ..
My heated blanket is downstairs on recliner which I use daily and will put my scandi long dress jumper on when I’m vertical 🤞🏻

I have the heating on but quite low, today its raining so im keeping my pjs and oodie on unless it dries up and I can take a walk.

long sleeved thin pure silk vest, cotton long sleeved turtle- neck, hand made soft cabled merino jumper, warm tights, brushed cotton comfy skirt and hand made woollen socks. I am lovely and warm.

This is my go-to during cold winter days, in different colours. I lowered the heating a notch the other day as I was too warm

Can't afford to have the heating on, so I wear my Oodie hooded blanket most of the day, but I have to admit that one day last night, my feet and hands were so cold they were almost painful. Temperatures here have been below zero for the past few days.

Lots of layers. You can buy heated blankets to wrap around you when seated on sofa.

Lots of layers and cups of hot tea!

The heating is on and to hell with it - I'll deal with the consequences later, but at my age I refuse to be shivering in my own home. I'm also quite happy eating porridge for every meal if I have to. Of course I may have to if Octopus send a terrifying bill...