I have a special needs child who has severe physical and cognitive disabilities. We keep an Amazon wishlist for him so friends and family can see what he needs. We started this a few years ago because while people in our lives are generous their gifts, they didn’t know what to get him. So now we have items like things he needs that insurance doesn’t cover, vitamins, supplements, bandages, also clothing items, equipment he needs, books, toys that are geared to ability instead of age,etc. Game changer for everyone.
That’s so smart 🙌👍 my nephew is disabled and I always just gifted his mother cold hard cash (I knew she’d know what he’d need best). He’s blind and people have gifted him some truly wacky things he can’t use 😂🤦♀️ they mean well but 🤷♀️
I work from home and my work uniform in the winter is the height of fashion....A knitted hat, gloves, the fluffiest biggest dressing gown I could find, double layered clothes and socks . UK 2022 eh gotta love it!
As a person who has struggled to loose weight over the last few years I now find myself looking in the charity shops for extra large fleeces jumpers and hoodies. I also have picked up 2 pairs of jeans that re a size larger so I can wear leggings and thick tights under them in winter. I also need to look for a large dressing gown or onesie and also a couple of large body warmers or quilted jackets that I can wear around the house in winter. I have done all I can to recycle and help global warming but at the rate the energy bills are rising we will all be praying for a warmer winter.
Hi Jane,. We can be on a program that we average our electric and gas bills and pay the same amount each month all year long. This really helps during summer and winter.
With the humidity here today it's +47C and we dont have aircon. 3 kids and an old house with few windows doesn't provide a lot of relief. So what we do to stay cool at bedtime is reversed from out winter hot water bottles. I freeze wet bath towels wrapped in a large ziplock bag. One towel per child at bedtime and off to comfortable sleep they go! I refreeze them in the morning all ready for another sweltering night.
Great and thought provoking video. We often sit in the warm room during winter, watching tv with our clothes airer keeping us company and the socks lined up on the radiator! I will use candles or fairy lights for light and helps the room feel cosy. Currently been adding staples to my pantry...this week it's sugar and oil. Will be buying over the coming months...airfryer, radiator reflective heat panels, hot water bottles and winter shoes. I'm so very aware of how lucky I am to be able to make/save for these extras before the time they are needed.....ensuring to share with others too.
To save money I went to a charity shop and purchased wool blankets, then I purchased wool sweaters that matched the decor of our house and my childrens homes. I took my items and made throw blankets for my family. I also made rice bags you warm in the microwave to put into the bed to warm it up before bed. We also use hot water bottles to keep warm. We also have oil lamps for light at night. Bubble wrap on the windows for insulation, the warm blanket covering the windows.
I found that putting myself dress clothes in the dryer shortened their usefulness. If possible, hang them wet and dry them with a fan or let them air dryover a vent. Saves ironing time too!
Great advice!!!! My granddaughter is starting college next month. I have been buying extra when things were on sale so when she visits I will give her Grandma's College Pack. I include laundry detergent, dryer sheets, quarters for laundromat if needed, kleenex, toilet tissue, toothpaste, etc. It helps them get started. My Christmas/Birthday shopping is done for the year 😊
I ❤️ this! So kind of you. My grandma did the same for me. She even got her best friend to bake me frosted gingerbread men (since she was a baker herself). It meant to much to me. She’s been gone for a while now but I still think of her and miss her every day 😢💔 (when I was a little girl she used to record all my favorite cartoons on vhs and mail it to me as a treat. Small gestures are everything).
Another thing I would also add to stock up on are books from charity shops, Marketplace, etc. Also games, puzzles, whatever you and your family like to do. Good to put aside for the colder weather to come.
The most valuable part of your message is that small steps is the best way to tackle overwhelming future problems. The challenge becomes doable, when you chip away at it consistently and with purpose. You are exactly right. Otherwise, people get overwhelmed, and do nothing - which is a critical error in times like these. * I have prepaid for my electric, water/garbage through June of 2023. I started prepaying in late 2019 when some weird stuff happened where my payments which were made about 2 weeks early, were not credited to my account until the due date, even though they had the money in their hand. I found that so irritating, the only way to get around it was to get a credit built up at the utilities. It has worked very well. * Basic life essentials: I have been finding other ways to have heat, lighting, and water, because my house is ALL electric, and we have experienced loss of power for many days at a time in Feb 2021, during the winter storms in Texas. I have made my best effort to address all of the basic needs. Until it happens again, I will not know how successful I have been. I have bought simple canned food that only needs to be heated (not cooked), and stocked emergency water and ways to purify water. I have a tea pot warmer that can heat food slowly. If I wanted to brave cooking outside, I now have a rocket stove, and it only needs dried sticks to work. So, I have been collecting sticks to dry and secure, if they become needed. I have worked to address how to stay warm, and keep the water running, and deal with sanitation, should the grid go down again. There is LOT to think about and plan for. Thankfully, there are a lot of smart people on TH-cam with lots of good ideas, and I have been spending time learning from them, making a basic plan, and working to address basic needs. You shine as an educator on TH-cam. Thanks!
Good for you. I hope that you never need them but it is great that you have sussed out how to manage if the worst happens. I admire you and wish you well God bless
We have been stocking up our cupboards in our kitchen for six months knowing that leaner times for us are coming. A few cans here, a few jars there…it is working!!And it is easier to make the soup or spaghetti or casserole because we already have many of the ingredients. Thank you for the video🤗 Take care🦋💗
I've started a small patio garden. When I do my weekly grocery shopping, I choose one or two things that I can use the scraps of to re-grow more of. For example, last week it was scallions. I learned how to make Chinese scallion pancakes - flour, oil, water, scallions, and salt. Super easy to make in a pinch, especially since scallions will keep growing almost endlessly. There are lots of veggies like this that I am learning about and piecing together one at a time.
We started buying a truck load of firewood each month to be prepared for winter time this year. I also want to take a moment to say I enjoy your videos weekly and today's video especially you could tell how important this topic was to you to make sure that everyone understands that there's ways to spread the cost, cheaper locations to find things, and just your overall concern for everybody's well-being touched my heart deeply!
Thanks Erika, if only it would lighten my heavy heart of the deprivations people will face this winter in unheated homes with dirty clothes they can’t afford to wash or dry.
I also always make sure I have undershirts and long underwear and sweaters. You can turn the heat down and stay warm. I also have lots of blankets and warm socks. Good luck to everyone. We will get through this.
Years ago I found a free pattern online for making a “wonder box”. It’s an insulated fabric box that really retains heat. Sort of a modern take on an insulated hay box. To use, get your soup, rice, potatoes etc boiling, place it in the wonder box. The heat will continue to cook the food, saving energy costs. Again, there are free patterns online.
I've made wool mittens from free/cheap wool sweaters/jumpers. The end of the sleeve is the cuff edge of the mitten. Trace your hand onto the sleeve, then add a generous amount for finger movement and the seam allowance when you sew the mitten shape. If you remove the rest of the sleeve, then you have a wool vest. Button-down (cardigan) jumpers/sweaters are easier to put on than pullovers. I'm praying that your viewers who live in Britain have a relatively painless winter. I know that inflation and fuel prices are hitting the UK especially hard.
We wash in cold water and we live in a tropical climate with a rainy season in summer. So we have dehumidifiers and they work wonders when we need to dry our clothes on Airers. The water that gets collected in them goes onto the garden. I also use less detergent than what is recommended and our clothes are just as clean. We have been buying extras at the supermarket when things are on sale. If you like chickpeas stock up as there is going to be a shortage due to weather events and the war in Ukraine. Thank you for your tips, great video as always 😊
Since our children are now adults we have started doing a no present Christmas, we all have everything we need and want to destress this time of year. Last year I also didn't send my usual Christmas cards, my daughter said the act of not running around the shops looking for presents was a gift. For her birthday Last month we bought her a good bicycle to ride to work as we don't own cars. Even when it rains it is cheaper to u ride to work than own a car, she can also get a ride or walk home if needed. She lives in the lower unit of my duplex so we share dinners, I tend to do week days and she'll do weekends.
Years ago when I moved out with my first boyfriend we used to pay $16/week on our power account. One month he said he would do the bills for 3 months he thought he could do it better, he wasn't putting money away it was the middle of summer in Australia we ended up with a huge power bill, car broke down same week $700 for the car and power bill, we were both on minimum wage. I never want to dig myself out of that hole again. I always put something on weekly. Even if it doesn't cover the full cost you might get a $30 bill instead of a $300 bill. Also anyone pregnant at the moment and doesn't know what they want for a baby shower gift ask for grocery store gift cards, regardless of age you'll need food, wipes, nappies something. I can't tell you how appreciative we were of these when we had our baby. My maternity leave payment was stuffed up and then hubby wasn't paid for a month, we dug all of those cards out and bought food and nappies, they kept us going.
It would be a real adjustment for me to live without my full size chest freezer and upright freezer. Here in the USA, I think we’ve taken so many things for granted. But for those of us with our eyes open we can see the changes on the horizon. Thank you.
I live in USA and don’t have full size chest freezer. If you lose electricity then all that food will defrost itself and be wasted. You won’t be able to cook food due to loss of electricity. I’m focusing on building up my pantry with assorted can goods which include fruits, vegetables and canned meats.
@@maryannrogers8675 Good Morning. Yes, we've thought about that happening as well, and I'm with you, building up my canned food pantry. To protect our investment, we have several alternative fuel/solar generators to help keep things cold as long as possible. We do have a wood stove that we can cook on, as well as several fireplaces. We're working our way through our frozen food, as well as canning, dehydrating and freeze drying foods daily now to prepare for what's to come. My full-time job right now is "food prep/preservation". I'm a senior citizen and have been at this a long time. We're all in this together.
Another great video Jane. I agree stocking the pantry and freezer and buying clothing that’s reduced or better still from the charity shops in advance for winter and new school year.don’t be too proud to accept hand me downs. I had an uncle who’s wife was a proper snob. She gave me all her daughters cloths some hardly worn, my daughter worn them, then I passed them on to a friend who used them for her daughter and in exchange she bought my daughter socks and tights which again saved me money. Make sure by winter you have plenty of warm cloths including vests and leggings to wear under your cloths to keep you cosy. Think back to how we were dressed in our younger days when we had no central heating. As a pensioner I can not raise my income so I have to do all I can to stretch it by saving pennies here and there. Last winter I use to turn the heating off after lunch and fill my water bottle and get into bed to read my book and listen to the radio for a couple of hours. Doing this every day saved me a whole days heating over the week
Hi Jane, When you mentioned fleece scarves I thought immediately of fleece blankets and IKEA, you could make fleece jackets square back, 2 oblong fronts ,2oblong sleeves, all cut from one 3.00£ blanket . Either sewn with running, back or blanket stitch! Or even stick with a line of uhu glue! This will save wrapping the blanket around everytime you move off the sofa !!
We put a radiator that you plug in inside our laundry room during extreme cold to keep the pipes from freezing. That room is always the coldest. We also have the water dripping slightly. We take advantage of budget billing. Our bill is the same each month. At the end of each term it’s reevaluated to see if the next cycle goes up or down. One of our utilities just went down by $11 while another went up by $1.
Sage advice but not addressing the problem of those who have got absolutely nothing. Not knocking because nobody has got an answer to this one. There is at least one headmaster in the midlands who is not only taking food, clothing etc to pupils families in desperate need he is also having to provide hot water. When I was a child it was perfectly normal for overcoats to be put on beds in winter. Google rocket stoves for cooking. This is only possible if you have an out door space. Can’t afford a clothes airer, brooms, mops lashed to two kitchen, dining chairs will give a bit of drying space. Parents who have got a marginal bit more if ready cash are getting concerned about constantly hungry children. Best advice is to put up a weekly menu. Back of a cornflake packet will do to write on. Write up. Breakfast lunch and dinner and then two snack times. P,leas for food outside those times will not be countenanced. Layer clothes winter. Save holed, laddered tights to go under jeans, trousers. Summer t shirts make good vests under winter tops. Big hugs to all of you who are doing amazing things in such traumatic times🤗
That’s so true, sadly frugality and good financial planning can’t help of you already in poverty but it can help to stop you going into,poverty with some planning if you can now, for example overpayments on energy bills now.
I will hang my clothes on their hanger and then use my shower rod to hold them while clothes dry. Thing that don’t hang I use clothespins on the hanger. I live in a dry humidity climate so the moisture from this is nice. Also next year my city will finally have some competition on electric companies. I’m not sure which ones or how to research them because I want to make sure if I switch I’m getting the best deals. Thanks for another amazing video! You really make me stop and think.
We have a storage room in our house which gets the sun each day. We have 3 clothes horses in there and we turn the ceiling fan on high. The combination of sun through the window and the fast moving air dries the clothes - even towels within 24 hours.
Thick wool socks thermal underwear,long sleeve t-shirts to were under your sweaters or sweat shirts to layer, winter leggings to layer under your pants etc to help keep warm,gloves, 0°sleeping bags and a tent that you can pop up in your warmest room and 0° sleeping bags that you could sleep in if you have no heat,hand warmer packs.Nice down coats or jackets and if possible any comforters that are down-filled will keep you warm aswell.
I like your suggestion about using a tent in the warmest room. The idea of camping in your living space is very helpful when trying to conserve energy. We live in New England, and we heat primarily with wood, but we also have oil heat for our hot water heater. We live in a 2 story house, and sometimes sleep downstairs near the wood stove on very cold nights. Our bigger problem is water. The water in our house comes from a shallow well that was originally meant to just provide water to cows. We also have an electric well pump. When we lose electricity during a storm, we lose all water in the house, because the well pump doesn't work. (We do not have a generator.) We can't turn on a faucet or flush the toilet. It is very difficult to get by without running water, but I eventually realized that it is like camping in your own home. Once I realized this, I was able to come up with helpful ways to deal with the problem. Example - a 5 gallon bucket with kitty litter can serve as a makeshift toilet. If necessary, people may have to think about camping in their own homes. It is far from ideal, but it is good to have a plan if energy prices continue to go up.
Look into recipes that reduce food waste by incorporating left overs into a second meal or at least a side dish. Fruit peels can be used to make jelly , light juices, fruit vinegars or fruit cordials. Fruit pulp from the juicer can be used in chutneys, baked into muffins or stirred into a yogurt . I have used vegetable pulp from the juicer as a vegetable burger ingredient, in soups and as a lasagna layer. Carrot pulp can be used in carrot cake. I save meat bones in the freezer and cook them with vegetables scraps to make meat stock. I can it for later use. I have grown Swiss chard, radishes and spinach as a winter house plant and have grown micro greens and bean sprouts in mason jars. Something green and fresh in the winter can be a nice change. Micro greens can take the place of lettuce on a salad. In Mexico, I ate sliced radishes on a street taco. It was a new but tasty option.
When I lived in Italy, my apartment was very cold. I bought shower curtain rods and clear shower curtains to put in the balcony French doors. I put rolled towels at the base of the doors and at the top of the shower curtain. I had 4 balcony doors. It helped block out the chill. A tension rod and clear shower curtain allowed in the light in and kept the cold out. In my current home, I have a clothes dryer, but, I also have a drying stand. I set it up with the fan from the dehumidifier blowing on the drying stand. The clothes typically dry over night. My perma pressed clothes dry on hangers on the shower rack. In Scotland, I saw a clothes dry rack on pullies that pulled the rack near the ceiling. I wore pantyhose under a pair of tights on a bitterly cold day. When my children were little, I used beach towels as crib and toddler bed blankets. I also used them to protect my back seat, and sofa cushions. They were handy picnic blankets at the park.
I brought some throws when they were on offer in IKEA, my curtains are lined already but I'm going to use them as another layer of lining so my curtains will be super thick. Also brought some church candles so I don't have to put the lamp on, if it's too cold downstairs I'm going upstairs into a small bedroom that won't take much to heat to watch the TV and read, such sad times ahead.
What a brilliant concept to spread the cost! Jane, I find this type of video both comforting and motivating. It's winter here in Australia and I actually ordered my firewood in the summer and so got last year's price before petrol costs went through the roof. One tip I read is that if you really cannot heat the house at all shut or curtain off most of the house and put up a tent to sleep in - it will retain body heat. You could improvise by curtaining your bed too. If we ran very low on firewood our plan is to curtain off the kitchen/living space, put a mattress on the floor and bring in the commode (a chair with a porcelain pot in it) to save freezing to death in the bathroom which can get below zero. Sounds awful but sometimes needs must. For those who cannot buy energy saving appliances, a return to the one pot meals featured in wartime cook books is a good idea. Regarding protein that doesn't need cooking, good old baked beans or tins of chick peas can fill the hungry gap.
Great topic for a video Jane and Mike! I have a dog that doesn’t handle cold weather that well so I bought him several different weight dog coats and a pair of winter dog boots to help keep him warm. I also have some lightweight sweatshirts for him for when he gets cold inside the house. If you don’t allow your pets on your furniture please give them a comfortable bed or pad to lay on. They get cold and their joints hurt just like us from laying on the hard cold floor during the winter. Don’t forget heat rises so the places they lay are often colder than you think especially overnight when the temperature drops. I even have a couple of extra blankets for my dog to snuggle up in, they stay in his beds. I hang my wet laundry up on hangers and place them on my shower curtain rod to air dry. If I know the garment might not stay on the hanger so well, I use my clothes pins (pegs) to make sure they stay on the hangers. Once they are dry I can just transfer them to the closet for storage. I have a standing rack to hold smaller articles of clothing to air dry like socks and underclothes. I have even hung my smaller washable carpets up to air dry using hangers with the clips built into them. To help retain heat in your home hang some quilts over your windows and doors. They’ll block the drafts and help hold in the heat. You can take some styrofoam insulation boards and cut them to fit into your window openings. Then take some fabric or bed sheets and make a case to slip the insulation sheets into to dress them up. They will be seen from outside your house so you’ll want them to look nice. Put those in your windows and they will definitely hold in the heat and block the cold. If you experience a very difficult time affording to heat your house and you have space in a larger room, put up a tent inside. You can sleep in the tent with your family to help everyone stay warm overnight. Indoor camping is fun for younger children. Fill hot water bottles with warm water to warm your bed before going to sleep at night. Place a bottle in the bed under the blankets and it will heat the bed and blankets so they aren’t so cold when you get into it at bedtime. You can heat a firebrick and wrap it in a towel to do the same thing. Just be careful because the brick will get very warm and could burn you. Firebricks are excellent for slowly radiating their heat into the space over time. You can heat them on a wood stove or in your oven if you are baking something. Just place the bricks in a pan or on the rack of the oven when you turn it on to preheat. After you are done baking, remove the pan or bricks and place them on a stable heat safe surface to allow them to release the heat they gathered in the oven or on the wood stove. You can also hang quilts or tarps over doorways or to divide up a larger room to make a smaller area in that room that will hold more heat in it. Close doors to rooms that you don’t need to heat to keep the heat in the areas that you do want to heat. Right now, while it’s Summertime in many places, look to purchase some solar rechargeable garden lights. You can put them in a sunny window to recharge and provide you with lights to use at night inside your home instead of using your electric lamps or lights. They are much safer with pets and children than to use a candle or oil lamp for lighting. You can stick them in a vase on the table, stick one in the bathroom etc to provide you with light to see but not increase your electric bill. Some styles of lights are designed to hang up on hooks that push into the ground so you could hang them up in a room or hallway to light those areas. If you heat with wood, take a bag with you when you go for a walk to pick up twigs, pine cones dried leaves etc. You can make individual bags of kindling to start your fires with and clean up your area as you walk. If you eat corn on the cob, save the cobs and dry them after you have eaten the corn. The dry cobs make excellent kindling.
We have put cardboard (just placed in the inside windowsill) or bubble wrap (water spritzed against windows will help it stick) to insulate the house temp. I have collected data and it will keep the room about 10 degrees different. In Florida, this is enough.
Among our group of friends and family if we find a super special at different grocery stores we send emails our immediately so others can buy the deals too. Or pick them up for those that aren't as mobile.
On the subject of washing, I’ve found you can cut the amount of washing powder in half when you are adding it to the washing machine, it will save you lots in washing powder or liquid and you still get good results with your wash. In the beginning I was doubtful, especially as I’m quite fussy about the washing and my whites have to be white, but I’ve been very successful with it so far. I also only wash towels and sheets on hot wash and everything else is washed on cold. This is the first winter in Australia I’ve not used the heater because I’m trying to cut the cost of heating, I’m using the quilts I’ve made for sitting at night when watching TV. Summer here is going to be very interesting because its hard to keep cool when the temps are 40+ degrees centigrade but I can run the split system air con a bit during the day in summer, because we’ve got solar, but solar is only good to offset costs when the sun is shining. Since I’ve been watching you, I’ve cut out a lot of subscriptions to various things like Foxtel, Netflix, Stan, the Gym, we’re looking for new mobile plans because we own our phones outright. Ive found TH-cam to be the best for me as it has all the things on it that i like to watch. Cooking, quilting, gardening, general discussions., movies. I’ve learnt to make my own bread as it is a lot cheaper than shop bought, and we are growing some of our own vegetables. So thank you Jane for all of your suggestions.
Here in the UK, our monthly energy charge has doubled and we are not in a position to increase it. Currently, we are in credit. When shopping, we literally only buy what we need, no extras or treats etc. Finally, during the hot weather, we eat more cold food but use the microwave or slow cooker for anything that has to be cooked or heated up. Stay cool.
Excellent video and many excellent comments, too. I utilize many of the ideas mentioned. Can't think of anything to add except to include dried fruits such as raisins and cranberries in the pantry stock up. And shelf stable milk. I love your sincerity.
I look for tea lights and candles really cheap in charity shops through summer so I can have a stock for winter they keep the room warm if we don’t put on the heating or light the wood burner .
Found a little oil filled radiator in my local charity shop recently Jane. £5 in perfect working order ...like new. I have it in my office now for when winter comes. I'll heat that area as I spend most of the day in there. Great video as always and some great tips in the comments.
Buy a quality thermos for storing boiled water or prepared tea and coffee. Boil the kettle in the morning and fill the thermos - it should keep water hot for several hours so you aren’t always boiling the kettle for a hot drink during the day.
I know I might look odd but I do find fingerless gloves worn about the house keep hands warm. A gillet over clothes also just feels that bit warmer. Charity shops often have cheap blankets and multiple layers on the bed keep you toasty. Hard to get out of bed though in the morning😂😂😂
Thanks for that Jane. I would add hot water bottles to the shopping list before winter gets here, they really help me when I’m trying to not put the heating on.
It’s worth buying hot water bottles now as they are hard to find in winter as they seem to sell out quickly. I use mine when working at home at the computer.
I've bought an old fashioned stone hot water bottle from a junk/antique stall in a market. It won't perish! At £3 it was worth a risk. I have tested it and it doesn't leak. So I'm all good for this winter.
I live in the Mid-Atlantic U.S.A. We have very hot summers, but this year I bought a box fan and run that and I have not used air conditioning all summer. As a result my bills have been very low this summer. I have not been using my oven all summer to keep from heating my home up and that has really been helping. I cook all my meals on the stovetop. If I can find space for it, I want to buy a toaster oven, which you can use as a regular oven to cook meat, roast vegetables or even cakes and cookies, and again, at a fraction of the cost and it does not heat your home up as much in the summer. As for winter, I like the idea of heated throws and fleece pajamas. I have a weighted blanket that was a gift from work. It keeps me very warm.
I just recently bought a counter top convention toaster oven, 1500 wats, I have baked breads warmed meals and cooked a whole chicken in it , so much cheaper and way less heat in the summer ,I also use a slow cooker outside on the covered deck so no more heat in the hot house this summer, I live in Canada 🇨🇦
Yes! As a one-person household, I haven’t turned on my “big oven” since last Christmas; my convection toaster oven does everything I need. I got one that has a bump-out in the back that accommodates round pans like a small pizza pan or large pie plate.
To keep warm ( I live in northern europe with very low temperature during the winter) I make heating pad with round ris/ cherry pit ( I have a chery tree) and tea towel from the charity shop that you can warm in a couple of minutes in the microwave you can finde how to video on YT. I have like a long sleeve poncho made out of a fuzzy blanket from the charity shop that keep me warm when i knit during the winter. Have bought a oldfashion dutch oven to be able to use on the top of our woodburning stove for baking and chili and stuff like that. I have ask my adult children for their wishlist for this years christmas and buy the stuff second hand or on a discount. I have bought dobbelt all the tin food I could for the past 6 month so each time I need bake beans, I buy to, one for now one for the longtime pantry.
We are fortunate in that there is a pallet company not far from our house. They have blocks of wood that they don't use and allow people to pick up free in the summer or $20-40 a truckload in the winter. We plan on stocking up now.
Great video! We've been preparing for winter since spring. Little by little. I've bought a heated throw (need to get another one as I will have a family member living with me over winter!) We've been buying slightly more food than normal such as rice, pasta, frozen veg and tinned items and storing away as we are lucky to have space to do so. I've also bought quite a few second hand jumpers for additional layers too. We have already agreed with family members to not buy eachother Xmas gifts. Got a few more things to prepare for but just doing these steps but by bit will make us all more prepared for winter. I always think of the Ant and the Grasshopper fable to help me prepare.
I'm super lucky. I was able to stock up bit by bit these last weeks for cupboard type foods as I saw the prices go and know that it will only keep going up. Especially in October we will see food prices go up more once thr energy price cap goes up over 60%. With my gradual stock up it means later on I don't have to spend to buy those shelf stable goods.
For those with children notebooks, pencils, crayons, markers will be needed. I have seen these at second hand shops as well as the dollar stores. Teachers gifts can be bought at the thrift shops as well. I have seen new mugs and desk sets for the teacher at great prices.
I will second your dehumidifier advice-it’s been a game changer for us. It stops the walls from getting mouldy and helps get the clothes dry, and stops the damp cold feeling in the air. Apparently it is cheaper to heat a room once it is dry. Also the action of the dehumidifier puts slightly warmer air back in to the room. It really is a low cost appliance to run-worth looking into. I paid just under £160 for a new one and i think it played a part in reducing my winter elec bill. It certainly increased our comfort.
Great! I found plenty of useful articles online to guide my purchase-there’s 2 types-a dessicant dehumidifier or a refrigerant dehumidifier. The dessicant ones work better at colder temps, and the refrigerant ones work better if you live in a warm humid climate.
I have it on a constant low setting during the worst of the winter-so from the first day when the windows show condensation. But also I follow the moisture around the house with it and have it in high in the kitchen when boilng things in pans or when using the tumble drier or when drying clothing on a clothes horse over night. If the bathroom gets steamy I take it upstairs for a bit. Mine says it is suitable for a 5 bed house and I have a 2 bed. The idea is to place it in a central position in the home and run it constantly it will suck the moisture from everywhere, over time. It switches itself off when it reaches optimum humidity-because that is excessively dry is also uncomfortable. Or to put your washing up in a small room with the door shut and let it run at the highest setting to draw the moisture out and make the clothes dry-I think it takes approx 6hrs to do this in winter and is cheaper than tumble dryer.
Wonderful advice Jane! I live in a Victorian terraced house and I dry lots of washing on the bannisters, even towels dry quickly and jeans and duvet covers don't need ironing so that is a saving too. Love your videos.
Did you mention winterizing your home? I usually put up plastic sheets over my windows and tape it down with masking tape. I also saved Styrofoam (from a TV) to place over the windows inside the house. You can also use bubblewrap to insulate windows,
Another suggestion is buying tea lights or candles with 6-8 hour burn time for nights. Tea lights just go out by themselves...no need to have to get up and blow them out. I also use small battery lanterns/oil lamps or light on my phone going room to room. I've lived in hurricane prone areas all my life and learned how to get by without electricity. If you unplug all appliances/TV's-especially cable boxes etc/lights keeping only fridges/freezers on you can save a lot of money.
We heat with wood pellets in WV, USA, primarily, with electric as a back up. We got word from a supplier friend (coal and wood) that there was a certain amount of product available now, at today's cost, but this fall's shipmentswould go up substantially due to transportation costs. We went ahead and pulled from long term savings to purchase this winter and most of next winter's pellets as well.
I discovered last winter that I could get along without my furnace, even with temperatures well below zero fahrenheit. A heater each in the living room & bedroom kept me plenty warm. I took a page from the Victorians and put drapes up over doors and between rooms. This kept the main living area quite snug. I decided to go with oil radiators this coming winter and purchased them this past spring. I'm enjoying summer more knowing I'm set for winter!! I endorse your advice 100%! PS You've inspired me to line dry (something not often done since childhood). I don't do it in the basement as it's prone to damp. I have small racks for upstairs & the patio, but have purchased a retractable line for my garage. I can open doors for a breeze, and use it rain or shine.
What a good idea about using the garage! I’ve been using a small line stretched across my back porch, but the garage would be perfect for when the weather gets bad. Thanks for the tip!
We have rolling power outages at the moment. And may continue ( South Africa). So even an instapot or slow cooker needs to be plugged in. So I start it on the stove ( or gas stove) and put my evening meal in my wonderbag that does not require electricity. Best part no liquid evaporates and its piping hot when we open it this evening.
Here in my town in Pennsylvania, for my home gas company, we can choose to have “budget” billing. Which simply means I pay the same amount every month and in the winter when we use more gas for heat we still pay the same amount as summer. Basically it’s a years cost divided into 12 months. This is so helpful on a budget and winter prices are so high but we have planned by being on “budget billing” ! Such a help.
Here in Ohio they call that "Even Billing" a good idea. It's based on what you used/paid last year. If you have overpaid, they will reimburse you in either November or December.
It’s Winter here in Australia right now, I’m a disabled pensioner and can’t afford a heater, I spend most of my day in bed with an electric blanket to keep warm on cold days. Do my washing in cold water. Have a small bench top oven like you have to cook in. Anything to save money on the pension.
something to consider instead of a slow cooker is a thermal cooker, there are a few brands on the market including some DIY options. Bring food to a boil on the stove top for 1-20 minutes depending on what is being prepared, most foods only take 5 mins, slip into insulated container and in a few hours, (up to 12 hours) you have a fully cooked meal with limited energy use. Another great option that I LOVE using is my solar oven, using the heat of the sun, again there are DIY plans online. Like you I heat my home with wood and have upgraded my wood stove to a wood cook stove, this way I heat my home and cook all my meals as well as dry my laundry on a wood rack which hangs from the ceiling, using one energy source.
@@katieq7210 yes absolutely, there are DIY patterns available online, but a quick and easy version is wrapping a cast iron pot in a duvet and putting it in a cooler
For my children I buy winter coats 2 sizes too big and get 2 years out of them. I make some of their clothes, I always use greaseproof paper to copy the patterns rather than cutting into them. That way I can use the pattern again and again as they grow. It seems I'm always mending something. I make gifts for my children's friends for their birthdays. It's much more personal and cheaper too. I feel very fortunate that my mum taught me to sew.
Lots of good ideas! I have always air-dried a lot of our clothing. It's a lot easier on clothes, especially if they have elastic, like underwear. I found an expensive brand wall hung, wooden clothes dryer that pulls out from the wall at the thrift store. It was new in the box, never used. It retailed for about $127. I paid $15 and it has paid for itself many many times! Air drying clothes in the winter also helps give off needed humidity in the dry winter.
I’m in the US and don’t have direct debit for my gas and electricity. I do, however, pay extra ahead, so I have a nice credit on my accounts. I’m single. I do buy extra canned goods (especially good soup) as I have a busy schedule and a can of soup for dinner keeps me from wanting to get carry out. I have been stocking up on toiletries and cleaning supplies as well. I don’t have a lot of storage space, but my antique bed is higher off the floor than modern beds so I have a lot of storage underneath.
Already stocking up the best i can and hopefully will be buying an air fryer at the weekend I have money on my nectar card. Thanks for the reminder..even if its one or two extra items it will help out especially when items are on special buy extra like bleach, washing detergent and even polish it will all help as we move into the colder months.
In the winter, I find it helpful to put a hot water bottle at the foot of my bed, or sometimes I use a sock filled with rice that I put into the microwave for three or four minutes. But, I found I liked the hot water bottle better because in the winter the rice seems to absorb the humidity. It keeps my feet toasty warm and I don't need to heat the room as much.
I’ve got my shed full of laundry detergent (plastic bottles so it’s safe if it gets damp) that I got on an incredible offer from Wilkinson’s. I’m not sure that it’ll last until the end of the winter but I’m hoping it will last until Christmas ish. I’ve got few cupboards but they’re large and hard to get to the back of as they go Behind appliances so I’ve filled that space with uht milk, cheap pasta sauces, tomato soup, beans and beans with sausages so we’ve got a lot to use up for the summer holidays as I know that taking the kids shopping means I end up buying loads of unnecessary items
@@FrugalQueeninFrance it has to be done! I’ve got enough basic food for us for the summer so this year I’m going to try not to buy them too much like I normally do
All great ideas and a really good video. One thing I think is shop your own house first when you think you/your kids need something especially when it comes to clothese/shoes/stationery etc. Many of us have so much that we forget what we have and everything doesn't have to be perfect. For example, my kids will want new files and pens etc in September for 6th form/school, but if we collect what we have in each of their bedrooms, I doubt we will need anything for the rest of this year. Also, when my kids identify things they need longer term I get them to add it to an online wishlist so that if grandparents ask for ideas at Christmas or birthdays, there is something useful on there. I appreciate we are lucky to have grandparents who can afford to be generous like that.
Feeling very grateful to live in Australia when I hear about the issues that winter brings in the northern hemisphere. In Queensland we are having quite a cold winter this year and I am dreading the heat of summer but we have solar to really help with our power bills. We have reverse cycle air conditioning in our home and we warm the rooms up as we need them. We are waking up to mornings of about 6 degrees where I live but the days get to about 20ish. I feel for your gardens with the heat you are having.
We took inventory of our kids winter clothes early. Winter in Alaska lasts for months. We are going to buy things on weekly basis to make sure we have what we need by end of September. We are also trying to think ahead for Christmas, buying a thing here and there. We decided on 3 gifts for each child because grandparents overwhelm us usually. Everything we would normally do in September to prepare we are doing early. We buy extra every week to put back.
Hello Jane, your tip about fleece clothing is very good and something I already do, but I would add that I also wear an old fleece knee length housecoat on top when I go about my daily routine, one I don't get the other clothes dirty and as it old it's just for keeping warm in very cold temperatures in winter around the house as here in Portugal the majority of houses don't have central heating and our radiator only goes on around teatime. One thing we are very lucky with is that we have some 2000 plus hours of sunshine throughout the year, which in itself generates heat for drying clothes on the lines and the sun taking the sting from very low winter temp.
Love your channel, Jane - Excellent tips from you and everyone else. I crocheted hand warmers/fingerless gloves so I can type and keep my hands warm when working from home or in the office. Made a few pairs for work colleagues as well as friends anc family from wool scraps. Some quick and easy tutorials here on YT. Really helps. Or you could just cut off the fingers of old pairs of gloves.
Our strategy has been to cut energy usage to the bone for spring, summer autumn when it’s easy and to save a pot of money for winter. We’re following many of your suggestions like in the kitchen using the oven as little as possible and running the washing machine at 20C. Also have turned down temp of hot water for showers to just above lukewarm. We also use a dehumidifier to keep the house from feeling damp as late autumn approaches which means we can use heating more sparingly. It’s also great for drying washing on those weeks when there isn’t a dry day.
Good ideas 💡 I have always kept my pantry stocked up with staples. Buying when on sale beans etc tomato cans .. we only keep our sitting room warm even though we have a reverse cycle air con.. as it's where we are every night no point keeping the rest of our cottage (160yr old stone ) warm.. electric blanket to take the chill of the bed . Thankyou for sharing your journey and experience 😊
But a flask, boil the kettle once and fill the flask, use for beverages or washing dishes. Also, wear a hat! Tesco have foot warmer packs for 25p each, they were great for me last winter, just stick them to your fleece socks, keeps your feet warm for 8 hours
Yes thank you this was a useful video Jane. My kind brother William has built a lovely DIY garden room along the back of our very modest but cosy home and we use it all year round to shelter the house and reduce heating costs, grow our own herbs, dry laundry and read, sew or knit in the best of the daylight. I've been feeling very nervous and stressed. I am recovering from a long stay in hospital and still find most things difficult. We have a large extended family circle and I thought one thing I could do to try to feel some sense of control is prepare for Christmas and winter. I've begun to make gifts that will be useful for those I love and this is good therapy for me right now. Love Vera in Northern Ireland
I have a special needs child who has severe physical and cognitive disabilities. We keep an Amazon wishlist for him so friends and family can see what he needs. We started this a few years ago because while people in our lives are generous their gifts, they didn’t know what to get him. So now we have items like things he needs that insurance doesn’t cover, vitamins, supplements, bandages, also clothing items, equipment he needs, books, toys that are geared to ability instead of age,etc. Game changer for everyone.
What a marvelous idea!
That’s so smart 🙌👍 my nephew is disabled and I always just gifted his mother cold hard cash (I knew she’d know what he’d need best). He’s blind and people have gifted him some truly wacky things he can’t use 😂🤦♀️ they mean well but 🤷♀️
What a great idea
I've been stocking up canned salmon, tuna, soup, tomatoe sauce, tomatoe paste, stock, canned coconut milk, tea, coffee, suger, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt & spices, oatmeal & creme of wheat....
Good ideas
@@rharvey2124 oh I always have lentils and make every other week for lunches, rest I freeze for another week; my son keeps cans of sardines.
I work from home and my work uniform in the winter is the height of fashion....A knitted hat, gloves, the fluffiest biggest dressing gown I could find, double layered clothes and socks . UK 2022 eh gotta love it!
You’ll need even more this winter
Love your fashion, Jules. I do the same.
As a person who has struggled to loose weight over the last few years I now find myself looking in the charity shops for extra large fleeces jumpers and hoodies. I also have picked up 2 pairs of jeans that re a size larger so I can wear leggings and thick tights under them in winter. I also need to look for a large dressing gown or onesie and also a couple of large body warmers or quilted jackets that I can wear around the house in winter. I have done all I can to recycle and help global warming but at the rate the energy bills are rising we will all be praying for a warmer winter.
@@patmartin9727 That is brilliant!
Hi Jane,. We can be on a program that we average our electric and gas bills and pay the same amount each month all year long. This really helps during summer and winter.
With the humidity here today it's +47C and we dont have aircon. 3 kids and an old house with few windows doesn't provide a lot of relief. So what we do to stay cool at bedtime is reversed from out winter hot water bottles. I freeze wet bath towels wrapped in a large ziplock bag. One towel per child at bedtime and off to comfortable sleep they go! I refreeze them in the morning all ready for another sweltering night.
Great and thought provoking video. We often sit in the warm room during winter, watching tv with our clothes airer keeping us company and the socks lined up on the radiator! I will use candles or fairy lights for light and helps the room feel cosy.
Currently been adding staples to my pantry...this week it's sugar and oil. Will be buying over the coming months...airfryer, radiator reflective heat panels, hot water bottles and winter shoes. I'm so very aware of how lucky I am to be able to make/save for these extras before the time they are needed.....ensuring to share with others too.
Thanks Karen
To save money I went to a charity shop and purchased wool blankets, then I purchased wool sweaters that matched the decor of our house and my childrens homes. I took my items and made throw blankets for my family. I also made rice bags you warm in the microwave to put into the bed to warm it up before bed. We also use hot water bottles to keep warm. We also have oil lamps for light at night. Bubble wrap on the windows for insulation, the warm blanket covering the windows.
Those are superb ideas Michelle
If you can at all, batch cook and freeze the meals. It takes less energy to warm it up in the microwave than cooking the dish from scratch every time.
I found that putting myself dress clothes in the dryer shortened their usefulness. If possible, hang them wet and dry them with a fan or let them air dryover a vent. Saves ironing time too!
Great advice!!!! My granddaughter is starting college next month. I have been buying extra when things were on sale so when she visits I will give her Grandma's College Pack. I include laundry detergent, dryer sheets, quarters for laundromat if needed, kleenex, toilet tissue, toothpaste, etc. It helps them get started. My Christmas/Birthday shopping is done for the year 😊
I ❤️ this! So kind of you. My grandma did the same for me. She even got her best friend to bake me frosted gingerbread men (since she was a baker herself). It meant to much to me. She’s been gone for a while now but I still think of her and miss her every day 😢💔 (when I was a little girl she used to record all my favorite cartoons on vhs and mail it to me as a treat. Small gestures are everything).
Another thing I would also add to stock up on are books from charity shops, Marketplace, etc. Also games, puzzles, whatever you and your family like to do. Good to put aside for the colder weather to come.
Boil water once for the day to make coffee and tea. Store hot water in a thermos.
The most valuable part of your message is that small steps is the best way to tackle overwhelming future problems. The challenge becomes doable, when you chip away at it consistently and with purpose. You are exactly right. Otherwise, people get overwhelmed, and do nothing - which is a critical error in times like these. * I have prepaid for my electric, water/garbage through June of 2023. I started prepaying in late 2019 when some weird stuff happened where my payments which were made about 2 weeks early, were not credited to my account until the due date, even though they had the money in their hand. I found that so irritating, the only way to get around it was to get a credit built up at the utilities. It has worked very well. * Basic life essentials: I have been finding other ways to have heat, lighting, and water, because my house is ALL electric, and we have experienced loss of power for many days at a time in Feb 2021, during the winter storms in Texas. I have made my best effort to address all of the basic needs. Until it happens again, I will not know how successful I have been. I have bought simple canned food that only needs to be heated (not cooked), and stocked emergency water and ways to purify water. I have a tea pot warmer that can heat food slowly. If I wanted to brave cooking outside, I now have a rocket stove, and it only needs dried sticks to work. So, I have been collecting sticks to dry and secure, if they become needed. I have worked to address how to stay warm, and keep the water running, and deal with sanitation, should the grid go down again. There is LOT to think about and plan for. Thankfully, there are a lot of smart people on TH-cam with lots of good ideas, and I have been spending time learning from them, making a basic plan, and working to address basic needs. You shine as an educator on TH-cam. Thanks!
Good thinking Bri A.
And I bet it makes you feel good being so prepared. Something to think about🤔
Good for you. I hope that you never need them but it is great that you have sussed out how to manage if the worst happens. I admire you and wish you well God bless
We have been stocking up our cupboards in our kitchen for six months knowing that leaner times for us are coming. A few cans here, a few jars there…it is working!!And it is easier to make the soup or spaghetti or casserole because we already have many of the ingredients.
Thank you for the video🤗
Take care🦋💗
Keep at it, you’ll need it
I've started a small patio garden. When I do my weekly grocery shopping, I choose one or two things that I can use the scraps of to re-grow more of. For example, last week it was scallions. I learned how to make Chinese scallion pancakes - flour, oil, water, scallions, and salt. Super easy to make in a pinch, especially since scallions will keep growing almost endlessly. There are lots of veggies like this that I am learning about and piecing together one at a time.
We started buying a truck load of firewood each month to be prepared for winter time this year. I also want to take a moment to say I enjoy your videos weekly and today's video especially you could tell how important this topic was to you to make sure that everyone understands that there's ways to spread the cost, cheaper locations to find things, and just your overall concern for everybody's well-being touched my heart deeply!
Thanks Erika, if only it would lighten my heavy heart of the deprivations people will face this winter in unheated homes with dirty clothes they can’t afford to wash or dry.
I also always make sure I have undershirts and long underwear and sweaters. You can turn the heat down and stay warm. I also have lots of blankets and warm socks. Good luck to everyone. We will get through this.
What an encouraging video, and the comments are wonderful. Thank you, Jane and Mike!
Thanks so much
We have put up a washing line in our garage for days when it's too wet for hanging outside.
Years ago I found a free pattern online for making a “wonder box”. It’s an insulated fabric box that really retains heat. Sort of a modern take on an insulated hay box. To use, get your soup, rice, potatoes etc boiling, place it in the wonder box. The heat will continue to cook the food, saving energy costs.
Again, there are free patterns online.
Those are brilliant
I have done this in the past and used an old comforter to line the box and insulate it. It actually worked.
I wrap pots in a towel and put them in my bed under the blanket to keep the food warm.
Saw a video where girl used an old cooler lined with blankets. It appeared to insulate very well.
@@marianlinden9736 I am German but live in the US, Marian. I don't know what you mean by "to bdob in risk Germany.
Thank you, Jane ❤
When I had a house in Ca. We had a level pay plan. It worked great.
Thermals are great even for sleeping
I've made wool mittens from free/cheap wool sweaters/jumpers. The end of the sleeve is the cuff edge of the mitten. Trace your hand onto the sleeve, then add a generous amount for finger movement and the seam allowance when you sew the mitten shape.
If you remove the rest of the sleeve, then you have a wool vest. Button-down (cardigan) jumpers/sweaters are easier to put on than pullovers.
I'm praying that your viewers who live in Britain have a relatively painless winter. I know that inflation and fuel prices are hitting the UK especially hard.
And here in mainland Europe too, thanks for watching
We wash in cold water and we live in a tropical climate with a rainy season in summer. So we have dehumidifiers and they work wonders when we need to dry our clothes on Airers. The water that gets collected in them goes onto the garden. I also use less detergent than what is recommended and our clothes are just as clean.
We have been buying extras at the supermarket when things are on sale. If you like chickpeas stock up as there is going to be a shortage due to weather events and the war in Ukraine. Thank you for your tips, great video as always 😊
We have a fireplace and we always buy and pay the woods in July or August …the oil for heat we buy in April or May,before the end of season
Since our children are now adults we have started doing a no present Christmas, we all have everything we need and want to destress this time of year. Last year I also didn't send my usual Christmas cards, my daughter said the act of not running around the shops looking for presents was a gift. For her birthday Last month we bought her a good bicycle to ride to work as we don't own cars. Even when it rains it is cheaper to u ride to work than own a car, she can also get a ride or walk home if needed. She lives in the lower unit of my duplex so we share dinners, I tend to do week days and she'll do weekends.
Thanks for sharing Dawn
Years ago when I moved out with my first boyfriend we used to pay $16/week on our power account. One month he said he would do the bills for 3 months he thought he could do it better, he wasn't putting money away it was the middle of summer in Australia we ended up with a huge power bill, car broke down same week $700 for the car and power bill, we were both on minimum wage. I never want to dig myself out of that hole again. I always put something on weekly. Even if it doesn't cover the full cost you might get a $30 bill instead of a $300 bill. Also anyone pregnant at the moment and doesn't know what they want for a baby shower gift ask for grocery store gift cards, regardless of age you'll need food, wipes, nappies something. I can't tell you how appreciative we were of these when we had our baby. My maternity leave payment was stuffed up and then hubby wasn't paid for a month, we dug all of those cards out and bought food and nappies, they kept us going.
Great ideas of grocery cards for anyone. In times like this, it helps.
It would be a real adjustment for me to live without my full size chest freezer and upright freezer. Here in the USA, I think we’ve taken so many things for granted. But for those of us with our eyes open we can see the changes on the horizon. Thank you.
Most UK and European houses couldn’t accommodate them, nor could afford to run them.
@patti McD, I have taken so much for granted. I have did an about face and am being careful with all things. This American has changed her ways.
I live in USA and don’t have full size chest freezer. If you lose electricity then all that food will defrost itself and be wasted. You won’t be able to cook food due to loss of electricity. I’m focusing on building up my pantry with assorted can goods which include fruits, vegetables and canned meats.
@@maryannrogers8675 Good Morning. Yes, we've thought about that happening as well, and I'm with you, building up my canned food pantry. To protect our investment, we have several alternative fuel/solar generators to help keep things cold as long as possible. We do have a wood stove that we can cook on, as well as several fireplaces. We're working our way through our frozen food, as well as canning, dehydrating and freeze drying foods daily now to prepare for what's to come. My full-time job right now is "food prep/preservation". I'm a senior citizen and have been at this a long time. We're all in this together.
@@pattimcd3177 I’m right there with you.
Another great video Jane. I agree stocking the pantry and freezer and buying clothing that’s reduced or better still from the charity shops in advance for winter and new school year.don’t be too proud to accept hand me downs. I had an uncle who’s wife was a proper snob. She gave me all her daughters cloths some hardly worn, my daughter worn them, then I passed them on to a friend who used them for her daughter and in exchange she bought my daughter socks and tights which again saved me money. Make sure by winter you have plenty of warm cloths including vests and leggings to wear under your cloths to keep you cosy. Think back to how we were dressed in our younger days when we had no central heating. As a pensioner I can not raise my income so I have to do all I can to stretch it by saving pennies here and there. Last winter I use to turn the heating off after lunch and fill my water bottle and get into bed to read my book and listen to the radio for a couple of hours. Doing this every day saved me a whole days heating over the week
Never be proud, it’ll cost you.
Hi Jane, When you mentioned fleece scarves I thought immediately of fleece blankets and IKEA, you could make fleece jackets square back, 2 oblong fronts ,2oblong sleeves, all cut from one 3.00£ blanket . Either sewn with running, back or blanket stitch! Or even stick with a line of uhu glue! This will save wrapping the blanket around everytime you move off the sofa !!
Good idea.
Good advice. Nothing better than hot soup in a thermos on a cold wet day.
It’s a good winter option,
For the first time ever we have bought in a new sinking fund for winter energy costs.
Sad part of life. We are waiting for the heat to subside to split wood to fill our wood shed.
I am foraging berries and greens, growing tomatoes, and accepting garden excess from friends. I eat some now and freeze the rest for winter.
We put a radiator that you plug in inside our laundry room during extreme cold to keep the pipes from freezing. That room is always the coldest. We also have the water dripping slightly.
We take advantage of budget billing. Our bill is the same each month. At the end of each term it’s reevaluated to see if the next cycle goes up or down. One of our utilities just went down by $11 while another went up by $1.
Sage advice but not addressing the problem of those who have got absolutely nothing. Not knocking because nobody has got an answer to this one. There is at least one headmaster in the midlands who is not only taking food, clothing etc to pupils families in desperate need he is also having to provide hot water. When I was a child it was perfectly normal for overcoats to be put on beds in winter. Google rocket stoves for cooking. This is only possible if you have an out door space. Can’t afford a clothes airer, brooms, mops lashed to two kitchen, dining chairs will give a bit of drying space. Parents who have got a marginal bit more if ready cash are getting concerned about constantly hungry children. Best advice is to put up a weekly menu. Back of a cornflake packet will do to write on. Write up. Breakfast lunch and dinner and then two snack times. P,leas for food outside those times will not be countenanced. Layer clothes winter. Save holed, laddered tights to go under jeans, trousers. Summer t shirts make good vests under winter tops. Big hugs to all of you who are doing amazing things in such traumatic times🤗
That’s so true, sadly frugality and good financial planning can’t help of you already in poverty but it can help to stop you going into,poverty with some planning if you can now, for example overpayments on energy bills now.
I will hang my clothes on their hanger and then use my shower rod to hold them while clothes dry. Thing that don’t hang I use clothespins on the hanger. I live in a dry humidity climate so the moisture from this is nice.
Also next year my city will finally have some competition on electric companies. I’m not sure which ones or how to research them because I want to make sure if I switch I’m getting the best deals. Thanks for another amazing video! You really make me stop and think.
We have a storage room in our house which gets the sun each day. We have 3 clothes horses in there and we turn the ceiling fan on high. The combination of sun through the window and the fast moving air dries the clothes - even towels within 24 hours.
Thanks for sharing
Thick wool socks thermal underwear,long sleeve t-shirts to were under your sweaters or sweat shirts to layer, winter leggings to layer under your pants etc to help keep warm,gloves, 0°sleeping bags and a tent that you can pop up in your warmest room and 0° sleeping bags that you could sleep in if you have no heat,hand warmer packs.Nice down coats or jackets and if possible any comforters that are down-filled will keep you warm aswell.
Good advice
I like your suggestion about using a tent in the warmest room. The idea of camping in your living space is very helpful when trying to conserve energy. We live in New England, and we heat primarily with wood, but we also have oil heat for our hot water heater. We live in a 2 story house, and sometimes sleep downstairs near the wood stove on very cold nights. Our bigger problem is water. The water in our house comes from a shallow well that was originally meant to just provide water to cows. We also have an electric well pump. When we lose electricity during a storm, we lose all water in the house, because the well pump doesn't work. (We do not have a generator.) We can't turn on a faucet or flush the toilet. It is very difficult to get by without running water, but I eventually realized that it is like camping in your own home. Once I realized this, I was able to come up with helpful ways to deal with the problem. Example - a 5 gallon bucket with kitty litter can serve as a makeshift toilet. If necessary, people may have to think about camping in their own homes. It is far from ideal, but it is good to have a plan if energy prices continue to go up.
Look into recipes that reduce food waste by incorporating left overs into a second meal or at least a side dish. Fruit peels can be used to make jelly , light juices, fruit vinegars or fruit cordials. Fruit pulp from the juicer can be used in chutneys, baked into muffins or stirred into a yogurt . I have used vegetable pulp from the juicer as a vegetable burger ingredient, in soups and as a lasagna layer. Carrot pulp can be used in carrot cake. I save meat bones in the freezer and cook them with vegetables scraps to make meat stock. I can it for later use. I have grown Swiss chard, radishes and spinach as a winter house plant and have grown micro greens and bean sprouts in mason jars. Something green and fresh in the winter can be a nice change. Micro greens can take the place of lettuce on a salad. In Mexico, I ate sliced radishes on a street taco. It was a new but tasty option.
When I lived in Italy, my apartment was very cold. I bought shower curtain rods and clear shower curtains to put in the balcony French doors. I put rolled towels at the base of the doors and at the top of the shower curtain. I had 4 balcony doors. It helped block out the chill. A tension rod and clear shower curtain allowed in the light in and kept the cold out.
In my current home, I have a clothes dryer, but, I also have a drying stand. I set it up with the fan from the dehumidifier blowing on the drying stand. The clothes typically dry over night. My perma pressed clothes dry on hangers on the shower rack. In Scotland, I saw a clothes dry rack on pullies that pulled the rack near the ceiling.
I wore pantyhose under a pair of tights on a bitterly cold day.
When my children were little, I used beach towels as crib and toddler bed blankets. I also used them to protect my back seat, and sofa cushions. They were handy picnic blankets at the park.
I brought some throws when they were on offer in IKEA, my curtains are lined already but I'm going to use them as another layer of lining so my curtains will be super thick. Also brought some church candles so I don't have to put the lamp on, if it's too cold downstairs I'm going upstairs into a small bedroom that won't take much to heat to watch the TV and read, such sad times ahead.
Heat the smallest room
What a brilliant concept to spread the cost! Jane, I find this type of video both comforting and motivating.
It's winter here in Australia and I actually ordered my firewood in the summer and so got last year's price before petrol costs went through the roof.
One tip I read is that if you really cannot heat the house at all shut or curtain off most of the house and put up a tent to sleep in - it will retain body heat. You could improvise by curtaining your bed too. If we ran very low on firewood our plan is to curtain off the kitchen/living space, put a mattress on the floor and bring in the commode (a chair with a porcelain pot in it) to save freezing to death in the bathroom which can get below zero. Sounds awful but sometimes needs must.
For those who cannot buy energy saving appliances, a return to the one pot meals featured in wartime cook books is a good idea. Regarding protein that doesn't need cooking, good old baked beans or tins of chick peas can fill the hungry gap.
Great topic for a video Jane and Mike!
I have a dog that doesn’t handle cold weather that well so I bought him several different weight dog coats and a pair of winter dog boots to help keep him warm. I also have some lightweight sweatshirts for him for when he gets cold inside the house.
If you don’t allow your pets on your furniture please give them a comfortable bed or pad to lay on. They get cold and their joints hurt just like us from laying on the hard cold floor during the winter.
Don’t forget heat rises so the places they lay are often colder than you think especially overnight when the temperature drops. I even have a couple of extra blankets for my dog to snuggle up in, they stay in his beds.
I hang my wet laundry up on hangers and place them on my shower curtain rod to air dry. If I know the garment might not stay on the hanger so well, I use my clothes pins (pegs) to make sure they stay on the hangers.
Once they are dry I can just transfer them to the closet for storage. I have a standing rack to hold smaller articles of clothing to air dry like socks and underclothes. I have even hung my smaller washable carpets up to air dry using hangers with the clips built into them.
To help retain heat in your home hang some quilts over your windows and doors. They’ll block the drafts and help hold in the heat.
You can take some styrofoam insulation boards and cut them to fit into your window openings. Then take some fabric or bed sheets and make a case to slip the insulation sheets into to dress them up. They will be seen from outside your house so you’ll want them to look nice.
Put those in your windows and they will definitely hold in the heat and block the cold.
If you experience a very difficult time affording to heat your house and you have space in a larger room, put up a tent inside. You can sleep in the tent with your family to help everyone stay warm overnight. Indoor camping is fun for younger children.
Fill hot water bottles with warm water to warm your bed before going to sleep at night. Place a bottle in the bed under the blankets and it will heat the bed and blankets so they aren’t so cold when you get into it at bedtime.
You can heat a firebrick and wrap it in a towel to do the same thing. Just be careful because the brick will get very warm and could burn you.
Firebricks are excellent for slowly radiating their heat into the space over time. You can heat them on a wood stove or in your oven if you are baking something. Just place the bricks in a pan or on the rack of the oven when you turn it on to preheat.
After you are done baking, remove the pan or bricks and place them on a stable heat safe surface to allow them to release the heat they gathered in the oven or on the wood stove.
You can also hang quilts or tarps over doorways or to divide up a larger room to make a smaller area in that room that will hold more heat in it.
Close doors to rooms that you don’t need to heat to keep the heat in the areas that you do want to heat.
Right now, while it’s Summertime in many places, look to purchase some solar rechargeable garden lights. You can put them in a sunny window to recharge and provide you with lights to use at night inside your home instead of using your electric lamps or lights. They are much safer with pets and children than to use a candle or oil lamp for lighting.
You can stick them in a vase on the table, stick one in the bathroom etc to provide you with light to see but not increase your electric bill. Some styles of lights are designed to hang up on hooks that push into the ground so you could hang them up in a room or hallway to light those areas.
If you heat with wood, take a bag with you when you go for a walk to pick up twigs, pine cones dried leaves etc. You can make individual bags of kindling to start your fires with and clean up your area as you walk.
If you eat corn on the cob, save the cobs and dry them after you have eaten the corn. The dry cobs make excellent kindling.
I get really dry skin and hands in winter so I’m stocking up on moisturer now.
Make door draught excluders and warm slippers
My employer provides showers at my workplace - I use those and not mine.
I understand saves me about £4 per week
Couple of hundred pounds a year
We have put cardboard (just placed in the inside windowsill) or bubble wrap (water spritzed against windows will help it stick) to insulate the house temp. I have collected data and it will keep the room about 10 degrees different. In Florida, this is enough.
Thanks very much
Yes, bubble wrap works like a charm.
The bubble wrap on the windows is a great help in winter and summer Texas. Hi neighbor!
Among our group of friends and family if we find a super special at different grocery stores we send emails our immediately so others can buy the deals too. Or pick them up for those that aren't as mobile.
That’s lovely
What a lovely idea ❤️
On the subject of washing, I’ve found you can cut the amount of washing powder in half when you are adding it to the washing machine, it will save you lots in washing powder or liquid and you still get good results with your wash. In the beginning I was doubtful, especially as I’m quite fussy about the washing and my whites have to be white, but I’ve been very successful with it so far. I also only wash towels and sheets on hot wash and everything else is washed on cold.
This is the first winter in Australia I’ve not used the heater because I’m trying to cut the cost of heating, I’m using the quilts I’ve made for sitting at night when watching TV. Summer here is going to be very interesting because its hard to keep cool when the temps are 40+ degrees centigrade but I can run the split system air con a bit during the day in summer, because we’ve got solar, but solar is only good to offset costs when the sun is shining.
Since I’ve been watching you, I’ve cut out a lot of subscriptions to various things like Foxtel, Netflix, Stan, the Gym, we’re looking for new mobile plans because we own our phones outright. Ive found TH-cam to be the best for me as it has all the things on it that i like to watch. Cooking, quilting, gardening, general discussions., movies. I’ve learnt to make my own bread as it is a lot cheaper than shop bought, and we are growing some of our own vegetables. So thank you Jane for all of your suggestions.
Thanks for sharing
Here in the UK, our monthly energy charge has doubled and we are not in a position to increase it. Currently, we are in credit. When shopping, we literally only buy what we need, no extras or treats etc. Finally, during the hot weather, we eat more cold food but use the microwave or slow cooker for anything that has to be cooked or heated up. Stay cool.
The UK situation really does appear to be the most expensive it’s ever been. My best advice is prepare to heat a main room only
Excellent video and many excellent comments, too. I utilize many
of the ideas mentioned. Can't think of anything to add except to include dried fruits such as raisins and cranberries in the pantry stock up. And shelf stable milk.
I love your sincerity.
I look for tea lights and candles really cheap in charity shops through summer so I can have a stock for winter they keep the room warm if we don’t put on the heating or light the wood burner .
Found a little oil filled radiator in my local charity shop recently Jane. £5 in perfect working order ...like new. I have it in my office now for when winter comes. I'll heat that area as I spend most of the day in there. Great video as always and some great tips in the comments.
Fantastic!
Buy a quality thermos for storing boiled water or prepared tea and coffee. Boil the kettle in the morning and fill the thermos - it should keep water hot for several hours so you aren’t always boiling the kettle for a hot drink during the day.
I know I might look odd but I do find fingerless gloves worn about the house keep hands warm. A gillet over clothes also just feels that bit warmer. Charity shops often have cheap blankets and multiple layers on the bed keep you toasty. Hard to get out of bed though in the morning😂😂😂
Thanks for that Jane. I would add hot water bottles to the shopping list before winter gets here, they really help me when I’m trying to not put the heating on.
Great tip
😃 Mine have been purchased and are ready for use, whenever that is 🏴
Yep we have 4 in our home ready for winter.
It’s worth buying hot water bottles now as they are hard to find in winter as they seem to sell out quickly. I use mine when working at home at the computer.
I've bought an old fashioned stone hot water bottle from a junk/antique stall in a market. It won't perish! At £3 it was worth a risk. I have tested it and it doesn't leak. So I'm all good for this winter.
I live in the Mid-Atlantic U.S.A. We have very hot summers, but this year I bought a box fan and run that and I have not used air conditioning all summer. As a result my bills have been very low this summer. I have not been using my oven all summer to keep from heating my home up and that has really been helping. I cook all my meals on the stovetop. If I can find space for it, I want to buy a toaster oven, which you can use as a regular oven to cook meat, roast vegetables or even cakes and cookies, and again, at a fraction of the cost and it does not heat your home up as much in the summer. As for winter, I like the idea of heated throws and fleece pajamas. I have a weighted blanket that was a gift from work. It keeps me very warm.
The worst weather here in Greece,in central Macedonia i live,is also January and February….
I just recently bought a counter top convention toaster oven, 1500 wats, I have baked breads warmed meals and cooked a whole chicken in it , so much cheaper and way less heat in the summer ,I also use a slow cooker outside on the covered deck so no more heat in the hot house this summer, I live in Canada 🇨🇦
Really good tip.
Yes! As a one-person household, I haven’t turned on my “big oven” since last Christmas; my convection toaster oven does everything I need. I got one that has a bump-out in the back that accommodates round pans like a small pizza pan or large pie plate.
Jane this was such a practical video. I believe many can find it very helpful. Thank you so much!
Thanks Jo
To keep warm ( I live in northern europe with very low temperature during the winter) I make heating pad with round ris/ cherry pit ( I have a chery tree) and tea towel from the charity shop that you can warm in a couple of minutes in the microwave you can finde how to video on YT. I have like a long sleeve poncho made out of a fuzzy blanket from the charity shop that keep me warm when i knit during the winter. Have bought a oldfashion dutch oven to be able to use on the top of our woodburning stove for baking and chili and stuff like that. I have ask my adult children for their wishlist for this years christmas and buy the stuff second hand or on a discount. I have bought dobbelt all the tin food I could for the past 6 month so each time I need bake beans, I buy to, one for now one for the longtime pantry.
Thanks Frenchy
We are fortunate in that there is a pallet company not far from our house. They have blocks of wood that they don't use and allow people to pick up free in the summer or $20-40 a truckload in the winter. We plan on stocking up now.
Good ideas again.
Great video! We've been preparing for winter since spring. Little by little. I've bought a heated throw (need to get another one as I will have a family member living with me over winter!) We've been buying slightly more food than normal such as rice, pasta, frozen veg and tinned items and storing away as we are lucky to have space to do so. I've also bought quite a few second hand jumpers for additional layers too. We have already agreed with family members to not buy eachother Xmas gifts. Got a few more things to prepare for but just doing these steps but by bit will make us all more prepared for winter. I always think of the Ant and the Grasshopper fable to help me prepare.
Great to hear that and always good to hear from you.
I'm super lucky. I was able to stock up bit by bit these last weeks for cupboard type foods as I saw the prices go and know that it will only keep going up. Especially in October we will see food prices go up more once thr energy price cap goes up over 60%.
With my gradual stock up it means later on I don't have to spend to buy those shelf stable goods.
For those with children notebooks, pencils, crayons, markers will be needed. I have seen these at second hand shops as well as the dollar stores. Teachers gifts can be bought at the thrift shops as well. I have seen new mugs and desk sets for the teacher at great prices.
I will second your dehumidifier advice-it’s been a game changer for us. It stops the walls from getting mouldy and helps get the clothes dry, and stops the damp cold feeling in the air. Apparently it is cheaper to heat a room once it is dry. Also the action of the dehumidifier puts slightly warmer air back in to the room. It really is a low cost appliance to run-worth looking into. I paid just under £160 for a new one and i think it played a part in reducing my winter elec bill. It certainly increased our comfort.
I run ours in unheated rooms in the winter
You sold me. We are having the dampest winter I can ever remember. Going to get one now.👍
Do you have it on all the time over the winter ?
Great! I found plenty of useful articles online to guide my purchase-there’s 2 types-a dessicant dehumidifier or a refrigerant dehumidifier. The dessicant ones work better at colder temps, and the refrigerant ones work better if you live in a warm humid climate.
I have it on a constant low setting during the worst of the winter-so from the first day when the windows show condensation. But also I follow the moisture around the house with it and have it in high in the kitchen when boilng things in pans or when using the tumble drier or when drying clothing on a clothes horse over night. If the bathroom gets steamy I take it upstairs for a bit. Mine says it is suitable for a 5 bed house and I have a 2 bed. The idea is to place it in a central position in the home and run it constantly it will suck the moisture from everywhere, over time. It switches itself off when it reaches optimum humidity-because that is excessively dry is also uncomfortable. Or to put your washing up in a small room with the door shut and let it run at the highest setting to draw the moisture out and make the clothes dry-I think it takes approx 6hrs to do this in winter and is cheaper than tumble dryer.
Wonderful advice Jane! I live in a Victorian terraced house and I dry lots of washing on the bannisters, even towels dry quickly and jeans and duvet covers don't need ironing so that is a saving too. Love your videos.
Thanks for sharing.
Did you mention winterizing your home? I usually put up plastic sheets over my windows and tape it down with masking tape. I also saved Styrofoam (from a TV) to place over the windows inside the house. You can also use bubblewrap to insulate windows,
So inspiring, keep up what you’re doing, and thank you
Draft-proofing your house can definitely help to cut the heating costs...
Another suggestion is buying tea lights or candles with 6-8 hour burn time for nights. Tea lights just go out by themselves...no need to have to get up and blow them out. I also use small battery lanterns/oil lamps or light on my phone going room to room. I've lived in hurricane prone areas all my life and learned how to get by without electricity. If you unplug all appliances/TV's-especially cable boxes etc/lights keeping only fridges/freezers on you can save a lot of money.
Great tips Shiva
We heat with wood pellets in WV, USA, primarily, with electric as a back up. We got word from a supplier friend (coal and wood) that there was a certain amount of product available now, at today's cost, but this fall's shipmentswould go up substantially due to transportation costs. We went ahead and pulled from long term savings to purchase this winter and most of next winter's pellets as well.
I discovered last winter that I could get along without my furnace, even with temperatures well below zero fahrenheit. A heater each in the living room & bedroom kept me plenty warm. I took a page from the Victorians and put drapes up over doors and between rooms. This kept the main living area quite snug. I decided to go with oil radiators this coming winter and purchased them this past spring. I'm enjoying summer more knowing I'm set for winter!! I endorse your advice 100%!
PS You've inspired me to line dry (something not often done since childhood). I don't do it in the basement as it's prone to damp. I have small racks for upstairs & the patio, but have purchased a retractable line for my garage. I can open doors for a breeze, and use it rain or shine.
What a good idea about using the garage! I’ve been using a small line stretched across my back porch, but the garage would be perfect for when the weather gets bad. Thanks for the tip!
We have rolling power outages at the moment. And may continue ( South Africa). So even an instapot or slow cooker needs to be plugged in. So I start it on the stove ( or gas stove) and put my evening meal in my wonderbag that does not require electricity. Best part no liquid evaporates and its piping hot when we open it this evening.
Wonderbags are awesome
Here in my town in Pennsylvania, for my home gas company, we can choose to have “budget” billing. Which simply means I pay the same amount every month and in the winter when we use more gas for heat we still pay the same amount as summer. Basically it’s a years cost divided into 12 months. This is so helpful on a budget and winter prices are so high but we have planned by being on “budget billing” ! Such a help.
Thanks for sharing
Here in Ohio they call that "Even Billing" a good idea.
It's based on what you used/paid last year.
If you have overpaid, they will reimburse you in either November or December.
They do that in UK too. Main problem is that it's at least doubling monthly payments ,! Often more than people can afford
In case the grid goes down, I am concentrating non things I can stock up on that doesn’t go in the freezer, canning more too.
It’s Winter here in Australia right now, I’m a disabled pensioner and can’t afford a heater, I spend most of my day in bed with an electric blanket to keep warm on cold days. Do my washing in cold water. Have a small bench top oven like you have to cook in. Anything to save money on the pension.
something to consider instead of a slow cooker is a thermal cooker, there are a few brands on the market including some DIY options. Bring food to a boil on the stove top for 1-20 minutes depending on what is being prepared, most foods only take 5 mins, slip into insulated container and in a few hours, (up to 12 hours) you have a fully cooked meal with limited energy use. Another great option that I LOVE using is my solar oven, using the heat of the sun, again there are DIY plans online. Like you I heat my home with wood and have upgraded my wood stove to a wood cook stove, this way I heat my home and cook all my meals as well as dry my laundry on a wood rack which hangs from the ceiling, using one energy source.
I was wondering could you make one from a pillow or a duvet ? Great tips
@@katieq7210 yes absolutely, there are DIY patterns available online, but a quick and easy version is wrapping a cast iron pot in a duvet and putting it in a cooler
For my children I buy winter coats 2 sizes too big and get 2 years out of them. I make some of their clothes, I always use greaseproof paper to copy the patterns rather than cutting into them. That way I can use the pattern again and again as they grow. It seems I'm always mending something. I make gifts for my children's friends for their birthdays. It's much more personal and cheaper too. I feel very fortunate that my mum taught me to sew.
Lots of good ideas! I have always air-dried a lot of our clothing. It's a lot easier on clothes, especially if they have elastic, like underwear. I found an expensive brand wall hung, wooden clothes dryer that pulls out from the wall at the thrift store. It was new in the box, never used. It retailed for about $127. I paid $15 and it has paid for itself many many times! Air drying clothes in the winter also helps give off needed humidity in the dry winter.
I’m in the US and don’t have direct debit for my gas and electricity. I do, however, pay extra ahead, so I have a nice credit on my accounts. I’m single. I do buy extra canned goods (especially good soup) as I have a busy schedule and a can of soup for dinner keeps me from wanting to get carry out. I have been stocking up on toiletries and cleaning supplies as well. I don’t have a lot of storage space, but my antique bed is higher off the floor than modern beds so I have a lot of storage underneath.
Already stocking up the best i can and hopefully will be buying an air fryer at the weekend I have money on my nectar card. Thanks for the reminder..even if its one or two extra items it will help out especially when items are on special buy extra like bleach, washing detergent and even polish it will all help as we move into the colder months.
That’s all we can afford to do so we just do a bit
In the winter, I find it helpful to put a hot water bottle at the foot of my bed, or sometimes I use a sock filled with rice that I put into the microwave for three or four minutes. But, I found I liked the hot water bottle better because in the winter the rice seems to absorb the humidity. It keeps my feet toasty warm and I don't need to heat the room as much.
I’ve got my shed full of laundry detergent (plastic bottles so it’s safe if it gets damp) that I got on an incredible offer from Wilkinson’s. I’m not sure that it’ll last until the end of the winter but I’m hoping it will last until Christmas ish. I’ve got few cupboards but they’re large and hard to get to the back of as they go Behind appliances so I’ve filled that space with uht milk, cheap pasta sauces, tomato soup, beans and beans with sausages so we’ve got a lot to use up for the summer holidays as I know that taking the kids shopping means I end up buying loads of unnecessary items
Good for shopping in advance so you don’t need to take the children with you. Good planning
@@FrugalQueeninFrance it has to be done! I’ve got enough basic food for us for the summer so this year I’m going to try not to buy them too much like I normally do
Excellent Jane
All great ideas and a really good video. One thing I think is shop your own house first when you think you/your kids need something especially when it comes to clothese/shoes/stationery etc. Many of us have so much that we forget what we have and everything doesn't have to be perfect. For example, my kids will want new files and pens etc in September for 6th form/school, but if we collect what we have in each of their bedrooms, I doubt we will need anything for the rest of this year. Also, when my kids identify things they need longer term I get them to add it to an online wishlist so that if grandparents ask for ideas at Christmas or birthdays, there is something useful on there. I appreciate we are lucky to have grandparents who can afford to be generous like that.
I use eco egg wash balls, no detergent needed, loads of money saved 👍
I use dryer balls to cut drying times
Very helpful video Jane & Mike 👍🏴
Such worrying times. Great advice, Jane x
Thanks for watching
Great tips! Scary times!
Feeling very grateful to live in Australia when I hear about the issues that winter brings in the northern hemisphere. In Queensland we are having quite a cold winter this year and I am dreading the heat of summer but we have solar to really help with our power bills. We have reverse cycle air conditioning in our home and we warm the rooms up as we need them. We are waking up to mornings of about 6 degrees where I live but the days get to about 20ish. I feel for your gardens with the heat you are having.
It’s hot, especially in the afternoon
We took inventory of our kids winter clothes early. Winter in Alaska lasts for months. We are going to buy things on weekly basis to make sure we have what we need by end of September. We are also trying to think ahead for Christmas, buying a thing here and there. We decided on 3 gifts for each child because grandparents overwhelm us usually. Everything we would normally do in September to prepare we are doing early. We buy extra every week to put back.
Thanks for sharing
Hello Jane, your tip about fleece clothing is very good and something I already do, but I would add that I also wear an old fleece knee length housecoat on top when I go about my daily routine, one I don't get the other clothes dirty and as it old it's just for keeping warm in very cold temperatures in winter around the house as here in Portugal the majority of houses don't have central heating and our radiator only goes on around teatime. One thing we are very lucky with is that we have some 2000 plus hours of sunshine throughout the year, which in itself generates heat for drying clothes on the lines and the sun taking the sting from very low winter temp.
You’re having a very hot summer this year
@@FrugalQueeninFrance yes unfortunately so, the temperature yesterday reached almost 46 degrees, it's unbearable.
Love your channel, Jane - Excellent tips from you and everyone else. I crocheted hand warmers/fingerless gloves so I can type and keep my hands warm when working from home or in the office. Made a few pairs for work colleagues as well as friends anc family from wool scraps. Some quick and easy tutorials here on YT. Really helps. Or you could just cut off the fingers of old pairs of gloves.
I used them when I was working from home too.
Our strategy has been to cut energy usage to the bone for spring, summer autumn when it’s easy and to save a pot of money for winter. We’re following many of your suggestions like in the kitchen using the oven as little as possible and running the washing machine at 20C. Also have turned down temp of hot water for showers to just above lukewarm. We also use a dehumidifier to keep the house from feeling damp as late autumn approaches which means we can use heating more sparingly. It’s also great for drying washing on those weeks when there isn’t a dry day.
Thanks for sharing
Good ideas 💡 I have always kept my pantry stocked up with staples. Buying when on sale beans etc tomato cans .. we only keep our sitting room warm even though we have a reverse cycle air con.. as it's where we are every night no point keeping the rest of our cottage (160yr old stone ) warm.. electric blanket to take the chill of the bed . Thankyou for sharing your journey and experience 😊
Thanks Freda
But a flask, boil the kettle once and fill the flask, use for beverages or washing dishes. Also, wear a hat! Tesco have foot warmer packs for 25p each, they were great for me last winter, just stick them to your fleece socks, keeps your feet warm for 8 hours
Yes thank you this was a useful video Jane. My kind brother William has built a lovely DIY garden room along the back of our very modest but cosy home and we use it all year round to shelter the house and reduce heating costs, grow our own herbs, dry laundry and read, sew or knit in the best of the daylight. I've been feeling very nervous and stressed. I am recovering from a long stay in hospital and still find most things difficult. We have a large extended family circle and I thought one thing I could do to try to feel some sense of control is prepare for Christmas and winter. I've begun to make gifts that will be useful for those I love and this is good therapy for me right now. Love Vera in Northern Ireland
Thanks Vera