Mollie, you want to get yourself one of those fleece thingies that have sleeves the type you put on like a back to front coat. I have heard they are brilliant. B&M often have them at really low prices.
Just a thought but do you not qualify for any of the aid towards heating and boilers etc?
Haha now then lass, there hangs a tale. This is probably one of the craziest things you’ll ever have heard, but here goes. First of all, no, I don’t qualify because, da-daaaah, I’m not receiving any benefits. So, those that do, qualify, even though they’ve probably got more in the bank than I do by receiving benefits. Not being rude, just stating a fact.
Am I receiving working tax credits, I was asked. No, says I, but I’ll find out about it to find out if I qualify for that, so I rings the Tax Office.
Sorry, says he but, if you were working 16 hours a week instead of 15, then I’d qualify but, if I were earning money for 16 hours instead of 15 on my currently hourly rate, I’d be earning too much over a year to qualify! Ha! That’s a laugh! Go figure. I’ve tried to work it out on all me fingers and toes but it still doesn’t add up! 
So, to summarise, if you’re on the pension and still working, it is assumed that you have plenty of money in the bank, but the assumption should be that if you’re still working, then it’s because you can’t afford to live on the pension and continue to work to add just a little quality of life.
I sometimes think it might be better if I gave up work, and started to take as many benefits from the Government that I can, in order to get a new boiler. Now, how stupid does that sound?
Did I just wake up and find myself back in the 18th century? 
Not sure what to say here, as I am one of those who qualify for pension credit and thus get some help towards heating bills, which have to say feel badly about cos they are minimal anyway. As for boilers and such like, well tis a housing association property so all that sort of stuff is down to them. Sadly when I was working my wage was not sufficient for me to get a mortgage.
Have to admit though these govt agencies do my head in too. Before my 60th I was signing on, but had bad back problems so job centre sent me for a medical. Result was I was put onto incapacity benefit instead of jsa. So I asked about disability benefit. They sent a doctor to the house, who sat on the sofa and chatted for about twenty mins, asked me to touch toes (big joke), to bend and pick something off the floor (again a joke) and to squat which I refused to even try because I knew that I would not be able to get back up. He left and three days later got a letter saying it had been refused. But here is the joke, the day after he had been an assessment officer from social services came to assess me for a wet room, as a month earlier had found myself unable to lift myself up and out of bath (how I knew squatting was a no no). After ten mins and asking me to do exactly the same as he had done, she told me there and then that it was obvious that there was severe weakness in my thigh and lower back muscles and she would set in motion arrangements for bath out and wet room in. How on earth can two medical professionals come to such opposite conclusions?
Well I can make a suggestion, the second persons job was to make life easier for people, while the first persons was to save the govt money.
Totally bonkers, isn’t it. Thing is, I can get around reasonably well, but I can’t walk far so have to rely on my car. I’m okay on the flat, but can’t walk uphill for more than perhaps 10 yards, then my left leg gives up on me with a lot of pain. However, my doctor can find nothing wrong with my leg and I can’t actually prove that I’m in pain, so I can’t claim any benefits for my lack of walking skills.
Anyway, we seem to be merging between Home & DIY and the Health & Fitness section, but I suppose it applies to both sections in an odd way. 
Fear not! I shall not freeze this winter. In fact, when Gordon died in July 2008 I didn’t put my central heating on because I didn’t think I could afford it, and that was a vicious winter here, and indeed the year after, but I survived, and I’ll survive again with me blankets whilst I’m on me computer. I’m never cold in bed though, so that’s a bit of a bonus!
Same here.
Absolutely agree with this. My bedroom window is always open except if the weather is exceptionally noisy. But I still have times when I toss and turn because I get too warm. Sometimes it’s like having hot flushes all over again.
yes Mollie …they don’t make it very rewarding for people to work…hope it works out for you
Thanks Lavander, yep, it will indeed. 
I feel awful saying this but, if I knew how to work the system, I’d try to get on benefits just in order to qualify for a new boiler. Since the age of 15 to the present time I’ve paid full tax, and I’m 63 now; and yet young folk who are receiving benefits get everything free. I am most definitely NOT talking about people who are genuinely in need, but the scroungers who do know how to work the system, and it’s so wrong.
Missus Annie, you must definitely not be cold this winter. Wrap yourselves in blankets to stay warm.
Without my central heating I have no hot water but, luckily I have an immersion heater and, if I switch it on for an hour say on Monday, the water is still hot on Wednesday and, as my shower is electric, I don’t have to rely on the gas for that - so I’ve decided to go mainly electric for the forseeable.
I like my bed to be cold when I get into it as I warm up within just a few minutes, so I don’t have heating on in my bedroom, and my window is open every day of the year, no matter how cold it gets.
I am still enquiring about a new boiler but, if it comes to nought, I is old pioneer woman and I’s’t get through the worst bad winter if I have to. I’ve done it afore, and I’ll do it again.
Had my boiler serviced today. A few weeks back I put the heating on. When I turned it off. It stayed on. Kept turning it on and off, eventually it turned off. So I put it on this morning to see if it would turn off. It stayed on again. By the time BG came it was like a sauna. I knew it was not the thermostat, or the timer clock. Seems it was the switch on the boiler that was stuck. Hopefully all is ok now.
I have had my woodburner on a few times, if I leave the livingroom door open it keeps the rest of the house warm. It also save us money, because OH gets the wood for free.
Mollie is it worth looking at the Johnny Ball advert, £17 a month for a new boiler over 10 yrs. I pay 13 a month for my boiler service and breakdown insurance.
Shaz I don’t have a TV so don’t see any adverts on telly. My house has never been like a sauna - if only - I could live with that!
Anyhooo to update, Wednesday evening I phoned my bank to cancel my direct debit with Home Energy Services who, in turn, told me to contact HES to let them know I was cancelling. The guy I spoke to there said that although my boiler was classified AT RISK, it wasn’t in immediate danger and advised me to carry on using it. It’s a long story which I won’t bore you with but, in the meantime, I’m going to use the old lass when and if it does get really cold.
Me reckons there’s summat not right with the system here, 'cos I reckons that anybody over 60 and who has old heating systems and on the pension should qualify. I wonder if there’s an authority I can go through to question this? Hmmm, will have to have a think.
The boiler has been running for a few hours a day now for the past few weeks. It won’t be long before it is running practically 24/7!!
Good for you owd lad, so you stay warm. I can’t put my boiler on, so let’s hope it’s a mild winter. 
I’ve never had my boiler running for that length of time as I havent needed it, nor could I afford it, but my blanket plan will work just as good, and it will save me lots of dosh.
Bit cooler this morning but quick shower and out with the dogs, by the time I got back I appreciated how warm the flat was really. The perception when I got out of bed was chilly but after a walk in the fresh colder air it was almost balmy in doors.
Still no need for the central yet - I’ve had the heater on once or twice over the past couple of weeks for about an hour or two but that’s it - this is great
Well, here in the North West we’re still at around 20C so it’s not been that cold. Indeed, it’s been relatively warm, so let’s hope the temperature doesn’t drop too much this year.
Mollie
I used to work in the energy industry.
I know that lots of people worry about heating bills, and that they can be very frightening.
The 6 big suppliers however can be very reasonable - it is not good press for them to have customers who die of hypothermia!
My advice to any customer who was worried was to put their heating on and keep it on as needed. In the event a big bill comes in, or if you are on direct debit, your payments are reassessed much higher - talk to the company. Ask for customer services and tell THEM, how much you can afford to pay.
Although they will not want you to incur further debt - they should be very reasonable about payment. We worked hard with all the big suppliers to ensure they improved their customer service and especially looked after their older or vulnerable customers.
I hope this helps.
Lia
Ophelia - when I lived in England (I left about 20 years ago), I know you’re in Wales, they had a system where your bills could be averaged out over the year and people could pay a static monthly amount throughout the year to help them budget - does that system still operate? I know it helped me when I was raising two young children.
Yes Ben, that still operates.
We call it Direct debit as it is taken monthly from your bank account.
Lots of people worry about it as the payments are based on a profile of what the supplier thinks you will use - which is hard to do unless they have a long history of your usage. Bad winters of course mean you use more fuel etc. (although they factor in long range weather forecasts)
It also means that in the summer months you are paying more than you are using - the idea being that you amass credit then to cover the winter. It is the cheapest way for the company to bill you so offers the lowest tariffs.
I think people have been frightened when the annual review puts the price up high. (the suppliers simply look at the years usage and divide by twelve). Obviously, if they had estimated readings, or had them last year, the price can vary, (sometimes dramatically) but customers should not be afraid of ringing up and talking to them. They can be very reasonable. They do not of course want to lower your charges so much you are incurring more and more debt - but they can talk you through and if a debt has accumulated, agree to claw this back over 2 years. (they will suggest 1 year first).
Companies also have schemes for insulation, boilers etc…they also have a Priority Service Register for any pensioner, but you have to tell them you are one!!
I get very upset at the thought of anyone being unable to stay warm in this country. Please - keep the heating on and get help if needed with the cost.
Lia
Many thanks for responding Lia - there was also Economy 7 which was brilliant, I had the washing machine and dryer set to come on overnight which saved a small fortune especially in the winter months. Is that still going?
I do miss the benefits of systems like those, they are not available on the Isle of Man 
Well I don’t think economy 7 still exists, but it is some years since I was in the industry!
The biggest problem has been the large price increases in both gas and electricity. Electric heating is not much more expensive these days - it used to be much higher.
Newer flats cannot have mains gas heating any more because of the explosion risks.
There is lots of information on energy efficiency.
A couple of points that may be helpful. It is heating that uses power. Cooking with gas uses a very little amount, as do lights etc. with electricity. (Dryers have a heating feature of course)
Lots of people used to ask if they should have their central heating on constant or timed - i.e. which would cost the most.
This can be different even in the same street.
Basically - if your house is very well insulated, and not in a location were it gets severely weathered, leaving the heating on can be cheaper, as otherwise - to reach the thermostat temperature, the boiler has to work really hard to warm the fabric of the building. It is the gas you are using every time the boiler fires. If the property is well insulated it holds its heat once it reaches temperature and only needs to top up occasionally.
If the house does not “hold” its heat, then timed will be cheaper. However! the ONLY way to really know is to test it in your property.
Here’s how:
Do this is winter.
Put the heating on Constant and take a meter reading. Read it again in 48 hours and note the units used.
Put the heating on timed, and take the same readings - try to ensure the weather is as similar as possible.
Which ever used the lowest units is the best one.
Oh Dear, I had better shut up - I will boring everyone senseless!! :!:
Lia
Some residents here still have economy seven meters, we had ours taken out a few years ago and went back to a normal meter as it seemed unfair to us running a washing machine over night in a flat. Not that it has stopped some neighbours in any way.
