One savvy saver has shared her top tips after going a whole year without using the heating in her home.
Many people are looking to reduce how long they put their heat on for or delay when they have to use it altogether amid the rising cost of living and soaring energy prices.
Carolyn Anderson has gone a whole year without heating and has shared her advice to anyone looking to bring their bill down this winter.
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On her TikTok account @orkadian, she said: “I’m sick of hearing people who have never gone without heating in winter telling people how they are going to cope with it this winter.
“So here, from a person who has actually done it, are eight things you need to consider."
The first tip revolved around how to deal with condensation in your home. Carolyn said this was “particularly” a problem in rooms where people sleep.
She said: “You are going to get condensation on your windows and perhaps other places. You need to clean this off every morning or every time you see it.
“Having that condensation can not only make the room colder but it can also cause damp which gives other problems.”
Her second tip revolved around health problems the cold can cause. Carolyn said living in the cold can leave skin cracked and sore, so she advised people find a way to deal with that.
The third tip also touched on how the cold can leave you feeling sick and unwell. If someone’s home is constantly cold, Carolyn said it can lead to headaches, so advised people keep their foreheads warm with a scarf or hat.
For her fourth tip, she echoed the previous advice, but for your chest and throat. She said they were key to keeping warm because you “will be breathing in cold, damp air all the time”.
The TikToker added: “Maybe try to eat cough sweets as they are a little bit warming and hot drinks, lots of hot drinks.”
The fifth tip was one of the biggest issues she raised about where you dry your clothes.
She said: “Are you thinking ‘oh I’ll just put them in the tumble dryer?’
“Maybe cost that out and see if you could actually use a wee heater because you won’t have the option of putting them on a radiator.
“At least if you have one room being heated by a heater, you can have an airer in that room with your clothes.”
The sixth tip covered “the worst thing" about not having central heating - towels.
She explained: “Your towel will not dry between showers. Find a way to dry that towel. It will make your life less miserable.”
Moving on from health tips, the seventh tip covered foods, specifically spreads like chocolate spread, peanut butter and more.
Carolyn said to think about keeping them in a warm place, because in your cupboard they might “solidify”.
The eighth tip was about bedding, where she warned people’s beddings might get damp due to sweating in the night.
She said: “You need to air that out, you don’t want that to stay damp, you need to air it out as much as you can so when you get in bed again it’s a nice experience.”
Carolyn even had an extra bonus tip.
“Do not use your good mugs. If they get really cold they will crack when you put boiling water into them to make a cup of tea. Believe me that happens," she warned.
Her tips have racked up over 45,000 likes, but she also warned if people were going without heating because they couldn’t afford it to seek proper help.
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