Has anyone dared to turn their heating on yet?

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.

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

No it’s not cold yet

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

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...

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

White linen sheets, so cold to get into…?

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

That last us in reply to Monica. We could go down the Month Python sketch road...

I'm literally looking at a neighbour's flue spouting steam!! Wondering why? He has heatjng on already? He's at work all day (works for United utilities ...hmmm.....) But nope, I've broken out the woolies and leggings and today I'll be changing the clothes around to winter season (posh eh?!) And packing away all short sleeves and summer trousers etc. I'm determined to stave off heating as long as possible, our home is well insulated only 23 years old and always on the warm side so won't be too cold I'm hoping!

Shinamae

White linen sheets, so cold to get into…?

Ooh! You need to get yerself some brushed 100% cotton bedding it's wonderful when it's chilly!! I've got 4sets and they're so well priced, double set at maybe £30 upwards for good quality. Wouldn't be without!

What we called winceyette years ago?

mine will only be going on when i have my 2 young grandchildren to stay at half term. for myself am quite happy with warm clothing, blanket and fleece poncho and electric blanket for bed. have also invested in an air fryer. like many other gransnetters we only had a coal fire when i was growing up so the only really warm room was the back room then when it all went smokeless fuel you had to rely on gas fires or those horrible electric fires and immersion heaters for hot water.

No heating on yet as house very well insulated with double glazing and cavity wall insulation. Moved here 3 yrs ago and it's the only house I've lived in where it's nearly always too hot. Must be the CW insulation. ATM lowest it's been is 19C late at night.
In the winter we put heating on for an hour set at 21 but have to keep turning it off. We light the log burner occasionally but then it gets too hot very quickly.
Previous homes were always needing heating on to 21 or 22 from September onwards. Never had CW insulation before and was already here when we bought the house