Has anyone dared to turn their heating on yet?

Every household is getting financial help with fuel bills Blondiescot. Some qualify for a higher level of help. The cap is being frozen. It’s likely that further measures to help people with the cost of living will be announced in the next few days. Interest rates are not ‘about to shoot up’.

Yes karmalady, when I was a child there was an open fire in one room, no central heating. We dressed accordingly, day and night. We survived.

karmalady

Blondie, how do you think people managed in the 40s and 50s? They cut the cloth accordingly and wrapped up better, made hot soups etc and were frugal in their shopping, always preparing a meal from scratch with no choices for fussy individuals. We went to bed with a coat on the top and socks on our feet and a small paraffin heater in the outside lav and one coal fire in one room in the house

JE yes I agree about the good financial help for energy, applicable to everyone

The 40s and 50s was 70 to 80 years' ago - I would have hoped we could have progressed since then!

I'm wearing all my winter layers now, and even sometimes wear a beret indoors, I have cut down on daily hot showers.

I have not used the CH but I use a HWB under my rug for sitting reading or watching TV. I also use a small fan heater only for getting dressed for the day or for bed.

DH thinks we’ll feel the cold quicker this autumn because of the really hot summer. He was going to put the heating on yesterday, but I suggested the fact that he was cold was because he was only wearing a short sleeve shirt and perhaps adding a jumper would help.
I’m trying to avoid putting it on just yet.

Blondie, how do you think people managed in the 40s and 50s? They cut the cloth accordingly and wrapped up better, made hot soups etc and were frugal in their shopping, always preparing a meal from scratch with no choices for fussy individuals. We went to bed with a coat on the top and socks on our feet and a small paraffin heater in the outside lav and one coal fire in one room in the house

JE yes I agree about the good financial help for energy, applicable to everyone

JenniferEccles

Ours is always on, controlled by the thermostat and when I woke this morning after quite a chilly night, the heating had come on.
It has been a lovely sunny day today so it didn’t stay on for long. Then at some point this evening it cut in again.

Fortunately we are still on a fixed rate deal which comes to an end next spring, although with the financial help and measures already announced by the government, most people should be ok this winter.
Even lowering the thermostat by just one degree can result in quite a saving, without having the misery of a cold house.

I'm not sure how you come to the conclusion that 'most people should be ok this winter'. Many people are already struggling just to make ends meet as it is. Interest rates are about to shoot up, energy bills are through the roof (not everyone qualifies for help), shopping bills are increasing on a weekly basis, so if you are already finding it hard to make ends meet, this winter could tip you over the edge financially speaking.

No. Still warm here in North Wales - hopefully won’t be any need till October. Summer quilt still on too. Only concession is a cardigan and socks in the evenings for the past few days.

We turned ours on last evening to check all was well with the system and then turned it off.
At the moment we can put on anextra layer and when sitting I have cosy blankets to use.

Yes, it's currently set at 20C and has come on so taking the chill off. I will turn it up to as and when it's needed.

The fleece lined long sleeved thermal vests from M&S are wonderful and very cosy. I bought 2 last year and wore 1 for the first time yesterday.

I do feel the cold due to health problems and usually put the heating on if the indoor temperature dips below 18, but yesterday and today it was 17, and I'm still holding out.

My furry throw is great to wrap around me while watching TV (and the cat loves it too) and I will tuck a hot water bottle inside it next. The only thing is that my face, especially nose, gets very cold, and I don't know what I can do about that!

I don’t have a time for putting the heating on.
If it happened to turn cold in July, August the heating would come on.

Not yet! but definitely feeling an Autumn chill wrapped myself up in a throw yesterday evening.

Just ordered some thermal vests from M and S!

No heating on here yet. As we are away from later this afternoon until 29th September, there will be no need until then! Usually, we have had it on by middle of September, but it hasn't been cold enough here yet. (West Midlands)

No heating on yet. I try to get to October before giving in. I sat sunning myself in the garden in shorts/Tshirt until 5 yesterday and felt a bit chilly later in the house which always feels cold (400 years old !) so I threw on a jumper. I use the same duvet all year round and just use a throw when cold. My ch is oil which has doubled in price so I am quite frugal in its use ?. Im soon moving to a slightly newer property with gas which could be interesting, although the seller assures me they rarely use the ch as the woodburner heats the whole house. Time will tell

It is 4 out in s somerset, the whole house is still 21 inside but it now does feel chilly when I get out of bed. I have set all underfloor heating downstairs to 18 24/7. I will not go below that.

Upstairs is a different zone, all radiators, I need to tweak that today. 18 24/7 for health but a 20 minute higher boost so that I can shower and get dressed in comfort. I am thinking just a manual boost because I cannot pinpoint the exact time I will be awake. Maybe on the way downstairs to breakfast

I have also started to wear two thin layers on any day that is not sunny

No not yet but its still not cold where we live and wouldn't usually put it on this early. Most years it's mid October before I think of putting it on.
We are still on a fixed rate until the end of September so is not yet expensive.
Noticed good old British Gas have started increasing our DD in anticipation of how much it is going to be but have left it at the increased amount as it will even out over the winter.

I started to wear a vest over my bra this week and a jumper. Switched from summer trousers to my thicker ones and autumn/ spring pj top. Have to change my summer duvet today to 10.5 one. Not warm enough with 4.5 and thick fleece.

Holding out putting the heating on until October. Then it will only be set at 20° instead of 22. Just have to pile on the clothes and get a pair of fingerless gloves to wear inside.

Never thought I would come to a stage where I am frightened to put the heating on. Due to health problems and I should have it on all day in the colder weather but won't be able to this year. Which I know will effect my health. I am dammed if I do and dammed if I don't.

I dread to think how many people will die from the cold this year all because energy companies are so greedy and still want to make huge profits.

henetha

I'm trying not to put any heating on yet so just wore my fluffy dressing gown over my clothes this evening.
It's darned chilly...

Me too Henetha. I've lasted one chilly day but not sure I can keep going, so may switch the heating on tomorrow but only to 18C. Still, that could make a difference between feeling warm or not.

Ours is always on, controlled by the thermostat and when I woke this morning after quite a chilly night, the heating had come on.
It has been a lovely sunny day today so it didn’t stay on for long. Then at some point this evening it cut in again.

Fortunately we are still on a fixed rate deal which comes to an end next spring, although with the financial help and measures already announced by the government, most people should be ok this winter.
Even lowering the thermostat by just one degree can result in quite a saving, without having the misery of a cold house.

No heating for me yet - but I’ve thrown another dog on the bed!

DH was chilly this morning and pressed various switches and fiddled with the thermostat. Turns out that the boiler just needed re- pressuring. So then we had to go and see if the radiators needed bleeding.
Timers all set and should kick in now if the mornings are colder. Have to keep DH happy, I do need my morning cuppa.

We shall see if it all works, but we do need to book it's annual service.

I can’t bear the cold. I have lung problems. So yes, my heating is on.

I'm trying not to put any heating on yet so just wore my fluffy dressing gown over my clothes this evening.
It's darned chilly...

We have decamped to our holiday let as we had a cancellation, we awoke at 6.30 this morning as we were so hot, the last guests had set the heating to come on to a temperature of 23 degrees for 6 hours a day, they place must have been like a sauna!