I'm 35 live alone and I've been keeping the heating off in my new apartment. I've been layering up with thermals and winter/warm focused loungwear at home so I feel fine/warm. Average house temp has wavered around 11° past few weeks.
Just wondering if there's anything I need to be mindful of or watch out for healthwise before winter and cold truly set in.
I already know there's health risks involved but those all seem mostly for the elderly/very young and other vulnerable people.
I go in to work so get a full dose of heat for the 8 hours I'm there. I'm not in any hardship per se. I only raked in about £50k last year after tax, which isn't much hence why I'm trying to look for ways to be frugal and save.
I lived in Manchester for a bit ad a student and lot's of people made living in a colder home like this seem like the norm. I've also realised that 2/3 of my energy bill per year is just heating so I've decided to give a try to cut some expenditure.
Thanks
Advice for living in a slightly colder house UK to save?
byu/StayStrong2504 inFrugal
Posted by StayStrong2504
4 Comments
I lived in a very cold home in Scotland for a couple years, and mold was a pretty big issue. Cold surfaces (especially windows) means a lot more condensation – that excessive moisture often is a great breeding ground for black mould.
Also wonder if it might be worth getting a space heater to just heat the room you’re in for the few hours you’re home? I don’t know the numbers but intuitively it seems like it’d be more energy/cost efficient than turning on the central heating.
Electric blankets and hot water bottles were game changing for me in an old York property when the heating stopped working in Winter, but taking a shower or getting changed is always going to be a painful experience. Electric blankets are energy efficient compared with heating a whole apartment.
Dude 11 degrees is too cold for a home. You will get mold quickly. Go around 15 to 18.
I live in a similar climate to you and recommend those insulation kits you can put over your windows, they help with heat retention and condensation. I also find using the oven to cook meals helps raise the temp at night. I am about to get a rug because our floors are wood and cold.