Thinking about more ways to feel rich while surviving the cold winter....

**PrairieRose** · 10-12-2005, 10:46 AM

We are truly expecting that our winter will be a bad one and that with nat. gas prices being so high we'll be living in the cold here in the house. This weekend we're working on our final winterizing around here. Got some windows to caulk, doors to weatherstrip, faucets to insulate, etc. and so on. I've decided to work on some ideas to not feel so deprived while we shiver away in here as not to spend $500 per month on heat. (In 2001 we kept our heat down and still cost us that much! OUCH!) Sssooooo, we're gonna stock up on firewood, I'm gonna buy Gripey some slippers (he doesn't currently own any), gonna get another heating pad b/c I think we're gonna need them while we snuggle under blankets in our chairs, will make up our fav. hot drink mixes to sip on during the cold evenings, gonna stock up on lamp oil to use during power outages, am looking for a good buy on an electric blanket and make sure the freezer and pantry are stocked with good food items (to cook from scratch with ofcourse!). I want to feel rich this winter while I'm so poor....

What things are you working on for the winter?

**graci42** · 10-12-2005, 11:01 AM

Stocking up on popcorn and hotchocolate for dh, me and the kiddo's. Layers and cuddle blankets w/ heated rice bags! Love'em (rice bags!)

Graci

**marym** · 10-12-2005, 12:23 PM

I have picked up a few extra fleece throws. We will be layering sweaters & turtlenecks. Lots of hot soup, tea, cider and cocoa.

Graci, DH loves hot rice bags when his back hurts.

**Englishlady** · 10-12-2005, 12:43 PM

I wear my fleece cardigans, fleece PJ's Fleece hat, & scarves I am FLEECE WOMAN

I discovered Polar Fleece more than 20 years ago when I bought a Zip up Cardigan in the kids section of a (now defunct) dept Store.

It was multi -coloured (think Joseph's Technicolour Dreamcoat

)

I wore it for about 15 years before it died, bald and exhausted!

I now have Fleece cardigans in about 7 different colours

but I wear them non-stop from November to end of April and I couldn't live without them...........I also have fleece blankets to put next to the sheet under the Duvet to contain MAXIMUM body heat toothy: Trust me I don't just experiment with food & toiletries

If you can sew buy some polar fleece and make yourself some cosy clothes, if you can't sew like me

buy some and make a blanket/shawl............it doesn't fray and you can make a frill by cutting the edges, it drys in an hour or so and it is ECO-FRIENDLY because it is made from RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES

BTW I don't work for any one selling Fleece I just think the world would be a much colder place without it

Karen

**jlxian** · 10-12-2005, 01:07 PM

Great ideas! I really like this outlook on the situation!

Another suggestion --- stock up on nice scented candles.

**shelsmiles** · 10-12-2005, 01:25 PM

I am making lots of beef, turkey and veggie stock to keep in the freezer for soup making. I already froze lots of berries to enjoy off season. We hunt, so we'll be going for a deer in a couple of weeks to supplement what we have in the freezer. I'm also compiling a cookbook of new, frugal recipes that sound good to me so that I can try new things without breaking the bank. I haven't yet begun to winterize the house, but that will wait until DH returns to the US next week.

**YankeeMom** · 10-12-2005, 04:25 PM

I'm considering investing in some electric mattress pads....
We plan on using our woodstove more than last year. Last year was our first time having one so we were a little conservative in using it. This year we have 4-5 cords of wood and are prepared to keep it going every day.

Our stove & hot water heater are natural gas as well so we are looking at hot water heater blankets (although it doesn't get cold in the basement, every little bit helps). I'll also use the microwave, crockpot, and even the woodstove top to heat foods more than using the stove & oven.

**hollyhill** · 10-12-2005, 04:54 PM

Heather, you need to ask about the blanket for your heater. I don't think you are supposed to use them with natural gas heaters, only electric. Something to do with the pilot light. So ask first before you spend the money.

I want to add to the above.
Baking keeps us toasty too. Baking bread and cinamon buns. Yum.

**PrairieRose** · 10-12-2005, 05:06 PM

Great ideas ladies

Karen I actually have some nice fleece things too and have a fleece blanket that we may try between us and the duvet that I have yet to make....

I ditto your feelings about polar fleece, it's wonderful material.

**SHOPGIRL** · 10-12-2005, 05:26 PM

Yes, English Lady, you are correct on the fleece. I have 3 pairs of pjs made out of fleece, and they are very warm! I also have fleece zip up jackets. I like them because they are lightweight and warm! Plus, fleece is very affordable.

**AmyBoz** · 10-12-2005, 05:46 PM

Originally posted by graci42
Stocking up on popcorn and hotchocolate for dh, me and the kiddo's.

How funny! I stock up on this for the cold winter months as well! I also stocked us up on chicken noodle and tomato soup for those snow days and cold weekend days for lunches! Goes with grilled cheese or pbj!

I also broke out all of our sweats and we're currently wearing thim. We look like a cozy little family. No one wants to visit us because we keep the heat at 58 all winter, but hey, we're happy!

**joyofsix** · 10-12-2005, 06:38 PM

No one wants to visit us because we keep the heat at 58 all winter, but hey, we're happy! [/B][/QUOTE]

LOL , we have the same problem. I'm making every member their own fleece "cuddle blanket" for the living room, lots of home made hot cocoa mix. I'll make lots of baked breakfasts to warm the kitchen in the morning. I need to look for a blanket for the hot water heater and I'm going to try hanging the silver survival blankets on the curtains. Oh, and chopping lots of firewood so it warms me three times, chopping, hauling and burning.

**canadian gardener** · 10-12-2005, 06:49 PM

wool. it's wonderful. My wool sweaters itch, so I layer, keeping cotton next to the skin, but wool on top.

HOT WATER BOTTLES in the DAY TIME!!!! Low tech way to keep warm. I often park one on my lap or sit on one when I'm reading or talking here online. I usually have a blanket around my legs and feet too, and something over my shoulders. SO COZY!!!!!

and of course at night to take the chill off.

My sister swears by flannelette sheets, I swore off them, they tend to shrink right off the bed and I don't care for the texture, but she loves them.

Polar fleece booties on top of the socks.

Wear a HAT AND SCARF INDOORS WHEN YOU ARE COLD. You lose most heat thru your head, and a lot thru your neck so if you are chilly in bed, or chilly around the house, put on a sweater and wool socks, by all means

but top it all off with a hat and scarf for total comfort.

**Mamaw** · 10-12-2005, 07:28 PM

I am stocking up on flavored tea, hot cocoa and soup. I am also planning on using the trusty crockpot for soups and stews.

I am pulling out and washing all the extra blankets and throws we own so they are clean and ready to grab quickly.

I also intend to ask for slippers, which I dont normally wear, for Christmas.

I am considering electric matress pads also but dont know if they are worth the cost.

We will be covering the windows with plastic and I am trying to convince DH to check around the house to see if any thing needs chaulked or weatherstripped.

and I am packing away the flimsey nighties and going to my warm PJ's or sweatpants and sweatshirts to sleep in instead!

But best of all, I will cuddle all i possibly can with DD, DGD and DH to keep the body warmth in! LOL

**homesteadmamma** · 10-12-2005, 08:03 PM

Heather I agree with Holly. CHECK before you purchase a blanket for your gas water heater. VERY IMPORTANT!!

We are:

~stocking up on our favorite hot chocolate and microwave popcorn
~we are going to purchase 5 pairs of moccasin slippers.
~I also want to purchase a couple series of really old movies so that we have something funny to watch under quilts.
~I've purchased a number of scented candles.
~I've also purchased a number of sachets
~I'm also going to purchase a couple of puzzles so we can work on them during the evening hours.

Lisa, I too want to feel "rich", even though the heating costs are rising here.