Hello!

My daughter is on limited income and she has pay as you go power. To avoid using too much power, she doesn’t use her electric heater. It’s pretty cold here over winter, so I’m wondering if you might know of alternative, non power using heating option? When I was a kid, we had kerosene heaters, can you still get them? If so, where from? Also, are there any inside, portable gas heaters on the market?


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  • Slippers and an oodie (or the cheaper versions of it) They’re like wearing a big warm blanket! So cosy.


  • Anything that’s gas or solid fuel is going to be super expensive. She might just need to invest in a hot water bottle and some hospital type blankets.


  • Happy to report my daughter has just about survived winter. She ended up getting more work then she thought she would so she could use her electric heater, just carefully


  • Fabric snakes on all door frames, keeping curtains closed to hold in heat rugs even in kitchen areas helps. For kids I usually give them a extra blanket and a few teddies the smallest thing can help and its cost effective. I also line cotton wool in the window frame to block cold air in the gaps.


  • I had no heater for 3 years. we put extra clothings on, slippers or socks. blankets on the couch for all of us 4 to use. when I’m using the oven, finished with it, I leave the oven opened a bit just to get the warmth out. warm food is a bonus too. I do have a split system now, I always feel guilty when I turn it on, so to feel better, I put a load of washing on the camping clothesline and put it in front of it, close the doors that are not being used. before bed time for the kids, I open the hallway door and open only the kids bedroom. they have a heat pack taken into bed with them. extra blanket thrown over and a good tug in bed which my kids loves. last week, my daughter was cold after her swimming lessons, I told her to jump into the spa. my friends and families do complain when they come over the house is cold when I can put the heater on, but its the cost that cost us. I tell them to bring extra clothings!


  • Does she have a gas baYONET IN HER HOME?


  • A good power rating heater i meant to say in previous post…


  • Yes they are still avalible but i wouldnt consider them a safe option or cheaper if their are kids in the house. All i could say is to rug up with extra blankets, dressing gowns (good gifts for thoose to proud to ask for help).. Make sure all doors have the little draft stoppers below them if in a older building..Or any that have a small gap below and to keep the doors closed later in the day after 3pm or so when the temp starts to drop… At the hottest time of day to have all windows and door open to let the heat in.. Other than that hot water bottle can work a treat if your daughter is on her own or only with a partner. ( I would not trust them around kids)… ( look into it with out her knowing but is pay as you go power the best option? they might have higher pices but seem like a better option but might not be) I have never herd of it before. I just pay the base fee and what ever we use on top of it. A power friendly with a good rating (good star rating)might also be a better option.. ( also a good gift)


  • Hot cup of tea, blanket, hot water bottle and ugg boots are my only suggestions sorry!


  • Does her house have a fire place ? When I lived in Holland I had a very old bad heated and bad insulated house. I had a gas heater downstairs but aw going upstairs in the night was a pain and don’t talk about going to the toilet…so cold. I had a wee old fashioned heater lamp in the bathroom (which I only had on when changing) and an electrical blanket to pre-warm my bed (they don’t take much electricity). And for the rest it was thermo underwear, jumpers, hats, gloves, ponches and warm warm slippers and not to forget warm water bottles !


  • Your so right, the cost of running a heater is so high! Heavy window coverings, snakes( those long stuffed things) behind the bottom of the doors to stop wind getting in is all I could recommend.


  • I believe the kerosene ones are illegal now due to setting on fire and putting poison in the air good luck


  • We have great heavy curtains which keep the heat in and act to keep things a bit warm at night.


  • I agree with thick curtains and rugging up, beanie hats, knitted blankets if you’re sitting for a long time, keeping doors closed to stop cold air. But since your daughter is young she could also try some indoor exercise…with just 5 minutes of lifting some small dumbells you can get so hot you want to strip to shorts and t-shirt; also other on-the spot strength movements, leg raises, glute bridges, planks can all increase your core temperature. If you have access to space for skipping, steps etc. then you can keep even warmer. So a few minutes movement here and there during the day when she is at home can do wonders for keeping warm. But can’t think of any non-electrical appliance that you can buy. We don’t use electric heating either because it is so dear, so she isn’t the only one.


  • Warm clothes, rigging up on couch, thick curtains, door snakes, window seals are all being done. For winter in Tassie, we need more. I saw something on the net the other day. They had a terracotta pot turned upside down on some big bricks with a gap between the bricks and the pot. Then they have tea light candies lit under the pot. I realise it wouldn’t be a good long term thing, and not something to be left unattended. But I am curious as to if it actually works. Thoughts fellow MoMs


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