Has anyone dared to turn their heating on yet?

Didn't say it was always burning did I? ! Only turned on occasionally as it stank the house to high heaven. New wicks were expensive. My mum was frightened of pipes bursting so that was its purpose, not to keep us warm.

Yes, we've had ours on for an hour on the last 2 evenings as it's felt really chilly. We never have it on in the mornings, whatever the weather! It's a quick leap out of bed & downstairs to light the logburner. Unfortunately, said logburner needs a new back plate which we've had for 18 months, waiting for 'someone' aka DH, to put it in! Managed without doing it last year but this winter, it really has to go in before we can fire it up for the first time.

I don’t use a timer, just switch on and off when neeeded.
I have large lounge dining room, so takes a lot of heating.

Every year something goes wrong with our gas CH, so last night we thought we would switch on and run it through.

Luckily, it seem to be working so far. Definitely needed for a few hours in the evenings.

Mines on just fir a few minutes on a morning and evening.

8 degrees out but dual aspect east/west and the sun comes in downstairs either one side or another as long as the sun is out. The whole house is still at 21/22 degrees, no heating is needed yet, insulated new build

I did cover close all blinds and shutters as soon as it was dusk yesterday, it is warmer if I do that

Government grants are generous this year and will help a lot of people. The £400 will be dissipated via the energy provider, an oap household will also get £300, those on certain benefits will get another additional sum and those in A-D bands had £150

CBBL, I am 74 and also living alone. What is the EPC on your new home?

EPC was the first thing I looked at once I decided on location, it is a good guide on the energy efficiency of your home and there are guidelines on how to increase energy efficiancy

It's been around 13 to 14 degrees here in Co. Durham for a couple of days. I've dug out the Thermal leggings. My heating hasn't been put on yet. If the sun comes out, it's warm in the Conservatory. I have lots of jumpers and a fleecy (Christmas themed) throw folded on the back of the Settee, and use that if I'm cold.
Having just moved, I still don't know what my heating (or Council Tax) costs will be and worried that it might be more than I can afford. I'm 75 and living alone.

Bluecat I have asthma and I need a warm house, at any cost. As soon as the cold air hits me , I start to wheeze and cough

White linen sheets, so cold to get into…?

Yes Norah -just one heated room, though the kitchen was warm when cooking was going on. Frost on the windows and getting dressed under the covers. No tights, just the misery of the gap between socks and trousers for boys and socks and skirts for girls.

I have bought heated throws for myself and DH, and a couple for my daughter's family. They are supposed to cost a couple of pennies per day to run, but I tested mine, using the display which we've got now that we have a smart meter. It was about 10p an hour. Still pretty cheap.

Our bills have always been high, so we have to cut down. We can wear more clothes, use throws, etc, but my worry is my DH's health. He has severe asthma and I am worried about him breathing cold air.

M0nica

Fifty years ago you did not have to be poor to be cold, even the well off froze. My parents were never in fear of the breadline, but in all the houses I live in as a child, not to mention my grandparents and relations houses i cannot remember one that ever had more than one room at any time that was truly warm.

Ice on the inside of the bedroom window was the norm. Aneebe your home had a paraffin heater as well as a coal fire? You lived in luxury. All I can remember is a coal fire.

When I was a child we only had a warm kitchen. Ice froze inside our windows. My brother was born in 1955, he slept in the kitchen his first winter.

No and it won't be going on until it has too. I'm not giving those robbing ** anymore than I have too.

I have bought electric heated throws earlier in the year, before they shot up in price, or/and out of stock. I already have normal throws I use anyway.

One hour in the morning when I get up and one hour on a night when I get in is my aim, depending on how cold it gets.

I'm using the slow cooker and air fry,/rotiserrie cooker more. Yes I've to pull my belt in however its not all to do with cost

Fifty years ago you did not have to be poor to be cold, even the well off froze. My parents were never in fear of the breadline, but in all the houses I live in as a child, not to mention my grandparents and relations houses i cannot remember one that ever had more than one room at any time that was truly warm.

Ice on the inside of the bedroom window was the norm. Aneebe your home had a paraffin heater as well as a coal fire? You lived in luxury. All I can remember is a coal fire.

Seems to warm the cockles of our trusty Tory grans' hearts that the paltry offers made by their worthy leaders will melt the icicles dripping from the less well off this winter. Sorry, but not good enough. I'm lucky enough nowadays to be able to put my heating on without worry. Lucky me hey? I remember my childhood when we were frozen, warmed by one coal fire and a paraffin heater, fifty five years ago. I would have liked society to have become more fair and for everyone to be warm enough if they wore a jumper and winter clothes, without having to go to bed with a hot water bottle because it was the only way to keep out the cold. BTW EU capping energy companies' profits by billions so their people don't freeze. Sounds sensible to me...

Holding out. Thicker fleeces and fleece throws over legs and feet.

No it’s not cold yet

I will see how long i can hang it out with no heating, worried about cost but health above all.

We’re hoping to be ok at 17 degrees all through this winter. (Cold and damp North East Northumberland ) Going with the the advice to heat the person not the room, so digging out wool blankets, fleeces and thermals. (Already in short sleeve thermal t shirts) and am repurposing the wool picnic rug as a throw. I’ve replaced all my cushion pads with blankets so there’s extra to hand in the main room so we don’t need to go looking elsewhere in the cold.

Mine has come on in the mornings. I think it is set to come on at 18 degrees , I must check. I have turned down the individual radiator controls down. My husband and I had to put an extra jumper on because we felt cold.

My DH would have a fit! Heating before the ice is on the windows! No, he's not that bad really, he just has that"look" when I mention it. You know, the one that says'do you know how much thats going to cost us?' Having said that September is early even for me and I have water in my veins apparently. Pity I cant have hot flushes to order!

Never turn my heating off, it is set at 22 degrees so switches on as soon as the temperature drops.

Not yet, but wearing loads of clothes. Not sure how long I can cope like this, so hoping for warmer weather soon.

33 today in this Great Lakes State in the Midwest U.S., with humidity at 73%, and storms predicted. Air Conditioner is still on. Temperatures will go down significantly afterwards,
into the teens, 14 to 15, so may have to have the heat on after a few days of that. I have my sweaters ready.

Got mine on low now, have a 17 year old dog, who I’m keeping in comfortable warm especially overnight, as well as for us, the en-suite gets very cold for morning showers brr
I do admire all those in The Que who braved the cold this last few days.