I have been reading a few sites regarding how to keep warm with fuel rates rising. An interesting one that I hadn't thought of, was an electric blanket/back warmer/knee cover.
They cost very little to run and will help keep you warm in a cool room if you are having to be careful with fuel costs. We also set our thermastat to 18C. Hot water bottles, microwavable hot pads are also useful. Next year, we plan on using our wood burner far more than we have done this year.
Layers of clothing we probably all know about but some days, I have been unable to keep fully warm despite layering. We haven't really had a freezing cold winter either to test things out. I have used fingerless gloves and a scarf/shawl to keep my neck warm which helps greatly.
I also read that the price of a British barrel of oil, was £85 dollars in early January, but today is £92. Doesn't sound too much until taxes are added. Driving to do shopping the other day, we noticed fuel has gone up by 2p a litre again.
Our prices equate to $5.36 USD for an American gallon or $6.39 dollars per a Canadian gallon. Wonder what it is elsewhere as I don't think Americans are paying anywhere near that rate at the moment.
In the kitchen, only put in the kettle the amount you need to boil. We have ours marked for 2 cups, enough to fill our small teapot. Some people prefer to boil a whole kettle and store the unused amount in a flask for later use.
I have just made us a pea and ham soup to eat over the next couple of days. It was done in my pressure cooker.
Elsewhere, we haven't used our tumble dryer for ages now. We bought it as a replacement for our old one, but it has a built in lock to prevent using a timer overnight, most annoying.
I'm sure lots of you have other tips on how to keep warm if we have to start using a lot less fuel.
Re the dryer - is it possible to use a timer plug (rather than the dryer itself) and use that to delay the operation? We use them for lights - but no reason why some other appliance can't be given the same treatment? I think the previous owners of our house did this with their washer.
ReplyDeleteThat’s what we tried but didn’t work with the new one despite working with our old one.
DeleteA little more here as we have to pay transport costs. However we do get concessions from the government. I am so thankful for the peat that we have as gifts from neighbours that keeps the stove burning, we are certainly blessed.
ReplyDeleteMust be nice and thank heavens for it.
DeleteI would encourage you to go for a heated fleece. I feel the cold quite a lot and it's absolutely lovely and keeps me cosy warm.
ReplyDeletexx
Might give one a go or might look for fleecy top and bottoms.
DeleteI do wonder what is going on with fuel prices seeing as the big companies such as Esso and BP have just announced record profits. I've never had a tumble drier as they use an awful lot of electricity, just a washing line and or over the Rayburn when my family were at home and now an old fashioned airer hanging from the ceiling. To add to the insulation we've put in I've made lining curtains from wool blankets for all the windows that face into the wind because even double glazing lets the heat out. Fingerless gloves or mittens are great and in the evenings we change into comfy wear and fluffy dressing gowns with hoods keep us warm without having to turn up the central heating. Unfortunately cold air entering the lungs isn't good for anybody with chest conditions which those stupid politicians ignore when they advise elderly people just to put on a woolly hat and jumper to keep warm but what are people supposed to do with their bills rising by 50%?
ReplyDeleteHeaven knows. They hopefully will find out when it’s their turn. We have thermal blinds on most of our double glazed windows but they can hold onto our breath overnight if we have them fully closed, causing condensation. Lifting them about a foot seems to help.
DeleteI like to wrap a scarf round my neck, even indoors. And I sit with a blanket over my knees in the evenings. I knit whilst watching TV and I'm sure that movement of my arms/hands/fingers is good for my circulation and helps keep me warm. Lined curtains at the window help. I totally agree about small teapot/boil less water. We drink a lot of tea - but I reckon we save at least £1 a week by making this simple change in brewing habits. I use gravy granules - but mixed with the water drained from cooking the veg, not freshly boiled in kettle. And if the oven has been on, I prop the door open so as it cools, it warms the kitchen (NOT when toddling grandchildren around tho)
ReplyDeleteWe leave the oven door open as well when it’s cooling. The tea towel or hand towel sits on it to dry those out. Washing is dried outside, on a rack or on the radiator.
DeleteAldi are selling heated robes with sleeves and I think a rechargeable battery which lets you walk about at £35.
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting as long as the cost of the battery isn’t too high.
DeleteWhen I did the supermarket price comparison last week lots of people from the US said our food is cheaper, So maybe it's the best way round
ReplyDeleteHow strange. I look at a lot of US sites and their prices can be high but for far larger amounts.
DeleteYou are right that we don't pay as much for gasoline in the USA. This morning prices in my town in S. California range from $4.50 to $4.75 or possibly higher. It is really sad that people around the world are having to struggle with being cold due to costs.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Must be just as bad in super hot weather. Our houses are not really built for extreme temperatures.
DeleteThose electric blankets for putting over you in the living room are fantastic. My friend has one and I used hers and now I want one. Hers said on the box that it costs about 1p per hour to run. Well that is a jolly sight cheaper than central heating!
ReplyDeleteCertainly is, even if it would now cost say 5p!
DeleteI use the top of our wood burner for warming tinned foods and boiling the kettle. The top of it isn't very big but certainly worth considering.
ReplyDeleteCertainly will think about that thanks.
DeleteOur dual fuel bill has just gone up from 130 a month to 183! I'm hoping it doesn't go up again in April. Our little semi-detached house is quite warm all the time as it's south facing. I close the curtains as soon as dusk falls to keep in the warmth. I always feel warm with a small scarf and usually wear a fleece in & around the house. I also have an electric blanket on the bed.
ReplyDeleteWe normally top up our oil just as winter starts then again late Spring. We are just about to top up again, earlier than normal. That shows we have been using it more.
DeleteI wear a lot of layers, and often put an old dressing gown over my clothes, I wear a hat because I feel the cold due to my short hair, and a scarf if I'm not wearing a polo neck. I wear thermal long sleeved tops as one of my layers, thermal socks and warm slippers, and have plenty of blankets for when I'm watching TV.I've even been known to hop on the exercise bike to warm up!
ReplyDeleteI have slept in hat and gloves when very cold. During the day thermal short sleeve vests, tee shirt, jumper and gilet. Must have my neck covered. Some I know just keep turning up their heating and say “well, we will just have to pay the bill”, heads in the sand.
DeleteOur gas prices have gone up in Pennsylvania to around $3.59 per gallon.
ReplyDeleteGoodness knows if they will recover or go up further. Our domestic fuel is estimated to be rising by 58% come April. It really will be a choice of eat or heat for many. Only hope they can get something worked out ready for next winter.
DeleteI love my heated throw. It is getting older now and I may just have to break down and purchase another. Keeps me toasty warm when the weather cools down.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Really must look into those.
DeleteBlankets on every chair, lots of layers and I wear leggings under everything.
ReplyDeleteI have a wood burner and am able to cook on the top, dry all laundry around it and use my slow cooker as much as possible. Wool socks all the time. We are having a very cold icy winter.
Yes, you seem to be having a hard time from things I have read. Good use of your wood burner. It’s such a shame that they are or will soon be banned in some states.
DeleteI've read posts and watched Youtube videos about the fuel and electric prices in the UK and they are truly shocking! With our bitterly cold weather I am very lucky that my heating is included in my rent - quite usual here in large apt. buildings. I live in an old building and we have hot water rads - I only turn them on in the living room and the bathroom or it would be too hot. It is the law here that heat cannot be tuned off for non payment in the Winter as it would be too dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI don't drive but I was with a friend when she stopped for gas the other day and at Costco - the cheapest place - it was $1.45 per litre but it is up to $1.65 per litre at most places now - which is a big increase. My monthly electric bill is around $67 at the moment - $47 of that is delivery fees - I only actually used $21 worth! I use the laundry room in the building - $2/wash and $1.50 for one hour's worth of drying. I use the dryer for sheets & towels only and use a clothes rack for everything else.
Very interesting. Our radiators are hot water but run by an oil boiler. The whole system is very weird so can’t risk turning even one radiator off otherwise the whole system goes even more weird. It was put in by the previous owner who didn’t really know what he was doing!
DeleteI put washing on an old fashioned wooden clothes airer in the conservatory and then put the dehumidifier on - it soon dries the washing without using the dryer and it keeps the conservatory aired and stops condensation and best of all, it doesn't eat the electric. Lidl have more of the heated blankets in on special offer next Thursday x
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info on both counts.
DeleteI bought my mum the Lakeland heated fleece when I had a £10 coupon off a £50 or more spend and she used it twice and then put it back in it's box. She says it's too much bother to plug in and to move it off her knee when she goes to brew up and she's back to moaning about being cold and having her fan heater and dressing gown on ... meanwhile I'm sat with my little blanket dreaming of heated fleeces.
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