HOW TO...BEAT FREEZING WEATHER FRUGALLY

There is an updated expanded version of this post PREPARING FOR WINTER IN A COST OF LIVING CRISIS (COLC) including tips on cooking & shopping and soothing anxiety.

Layering is still the key to keeping warm and comfortable in icy temperatures or even just colder weather.  Don't turn up the heating; put on another layer!

updated Oct 2021

Primrose Hill in a striking white-out early 10/12/17

Pretty but potentially harmful for some

DRESSING FOR WARMTH & COMFORT DURING A FREEZE (stockist below)

Bottoms:

• Warm tights/leggings/pyjama bottoms beneath trousers/skirts/jogging pants
• Thermal socks or two pairs of socks, 1 thick, 1 thin

Tops (as needed):

• Dig out summer vests and use as a first layer, then..
• A close-fitting thermal polo/turtle neck then...
• Shirt or blouse, then...
• Jumper, wool, if poss, then...
• Shawl/Wrap/Blanket

Beds:

• Prevent hypothermia: if all spare blankets/duvets/sleeping bags are in use, a winter coat spread on top of the duvet is effective
• Though 67 has not not yet tested Emergency Foil Blankets (EFBs) - the kind given out during Marathons and in driving/hiking/mountainside emergencies  - they are said to be excellent at retaining heat when placed on top of the bedcovers. The EFB's are £2 for 2 and can be used more than once.  Folded in tidy packets, they take up very little space.  If you're worried about keeping kids warm at night, stock some now for winter.  
• Electric blankets/underblankets can be helpful to some but dangerous to others, even if they come with an automatic cut-off switch.  And that's presuming you have - for can afford - electricity! 
• Hot water bottles can be lovely if there's no danger of spillage while filling the bottle or warming the bed 
• If you can afford it, brushed cotton bedding (the modern equivalent of flannel sheets) is a joy to slide into at bedtime and adds extra warmth.  A double duvet cover is about £40 & pillowcases are £5 each (2021) at John Lewis.  Some (not all) brushed cotton is heavier than you think -- like an extra blanket, really -- and could take longer to dry. 
• The classic solution: share the body heat of a loved one! Have young children share a bed; they'll love it.

Venturing Out: 

• Head: hats prevent heat loss 
• Neck: Long scarves wrapped twice around the neck and chin make the cold more bearable
• Feet. Thermal socks can be found at very reasonable prices (eg £12 for 3 pairs) at camping/outdoor shops like Mountain Warehouse though prices will likely to up this year. Also Uniqlo. 
• Snow Boots: Outdoor wear shops like Mountain Warehouse (& occasionally  Blacks) stock thrifty snow-friendly wellies & other options.  Jogging shoes with a deep ridged rubber sole may be sufficient if the snow is not too deep.  Catering shoes designed to prevent slipping also have a deep ridged rubber sole and sturdy uppers. (£25 upwards at Denny's Hospitality, Berman Street, Fitzrovia - between Oxford Circus & Tottenham Court Road, London -  also phone orders 01372 377904).  

STOCKISTS:

• Fashionable Heat-tech Thermal polo necks & Jumpers (turtle neck & other designs), leggings/long johns, gloves, hats & scarves in pretty colours/designs and in various weights:  Uniqlo upwards.
• Thermal underwear at M&S; also gloves, socks £15-ish upwards
• Serviceable budget-friendly winter woolies including thermal gloves, thermal socks, scarves & hats; thick jogging trousers are found at outdoor/hiking outlets like Mountain Warehouse (& Blacks), £7-8 upwards depending on item but certain styles are often on offer.  Kids' snow boots, too. Register online for latest deals.  Budgens in Belsize Park is sells really cute kids' mittens and gloves.  
• Draft-blocking high pile Ultra Warm Hooded Dressing Gown: Futon Shop & most department stores £40'ish (Aug 22).  Or try the super enveloping over-sized ponchos with or without hoods, online.
• Reasonably priced full-length and short fashionable Thermal coats: Uniqlo. John Lewis has a good selection of must-have brands including Barbour which were on sale this summer; also have a look at H&M & Revolut.  M&S's quilted coat - if you managed to get hold of one - was a fashion winner in 2021.

HEATING

Reduce Heating Costs by using background heating only in some rooms...

• the kitchen is often the warmest place in the house; find a space on the floor for toddler playtime and/or use the kitchen table for homework (unless your child is preparing for exams, in which case, solitary work in the bedroom may be more suitable; add a small heater)
• an elderly retired but eccentric friend recommended staying in bed all day, wearing a hat, to keep heating to a minimum  
• watch telly huddled under a shared duvet (or emergency Foil Blanket??)
• if the living room is warmed by a fireplace and the cold spell is extreme, move in beds/mattresses, sleeping bags
• warm the kids' clothes on radiators for half an hour to make getting dressed more comfortable 

STORAGE HEATERS : 

If you live in a block of pre-21st century flats with storage heating, consider investing in a heater/s that provides background heating only.  The problem with storage heaters is that they belt out so much heat in the morning, windows have to be opened, but little heat is available as it gets dark.  It's a shocking waste, especially since rooms warm up at mid-morning anyway as outdoor temperatures rise.

One friend was determined not to use the storage heater and invested in the tube-like heaters that keep greenhouses warm. The model purchased didn't have a thermostat and are turned on only when needed. But the latest models have simple timers that can be programmed to turn heat on and off at times of your choice and heat up quickly.  (Note: a new model which did have a thermostat, judging by the number of complaints, was not successful.)

All went well.  The heater was turned on at 5 am for a min hour, turned off as the room warmed up with outside temperatures, and then turned on as temperatures dropped in the evening for a couple of hours.   The storage heater or a supplementary heater were used only 3-4 times when extremely cold weather arrived (which in London usually lasts only a week or two).  

Update July 2022: The friend's annual heating bill has been calculated and the amount of energy expended was 500 whatever units are used less than the previous year. 

REDUCING HEATING BILLS WHILE COOKING

• microwaves cook fastest and are cheap and reliable
• slow cookers use less energy while add to background heating 
• some brands of air fryers reduce cooking time sharply

B Lee/Bright Sun Enterprises accept no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.

Avenue Gardens, Regents Park, in winter garb, early 10/12/17