Tips on how to save money when it comes to heating over the winter months are all well and good but can you endure some of the ideas suggested? One woman went for an entire year without putting the heating on and while she is in no way recommending adopting such an experiment, says she wanted to share what she had learned during her research for a book.
Carolyn Anderson went a whole year without flicking the heating switch on. While she makes it very clear that she does have heating and is not advocating living without it, she says, her video is there "to show people what they are in for if they decide to turn their heating off to save money".
Highlighting potential problems with condensation, staying warm and protecting your health, she adds: "Unless you absolutely cannot, unless there is absolutely no way around it, you should turn your heating on".
It was Nottinghamshire Live's parent publication, the Mirror, that spotted Carolyn's TikTok account and her experience. Posting as @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."
Numbers one to four
The first observation revolved around how to deal with condensation in your home. Carolyn said this was “particularly” a problem in rooms where people sleep, saying: “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.”
Step two focused on health and wellbeing. She said that living in the cold can leave skin cracked and sore, so she advised people to find a way to deal with that.
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The third point she made 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 keeping foreheads warm with a scarf or hat.
Moving on the fourth problem, she echoed the previous advice but focused in on the chest and throat. She said they were key to keeping warm because you “will be breathing in cold, damp air all the time”. She added: “Maybe try to eat cough sweets as they are a little bit warming and hot drinks, lots of hot drinks.”
Considerations five to eight
Explaining further, Carolyn's fifth observation was one of the biggest issues she raised. This was all about laundry and 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 laundry theme continued and the sixth item noted 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 and laundry to number seven on the list - food, and specifically spreads like chocolate spread and peanut butter. Carolyn said to think about keeping them in a warm place, because in your cupboard they might “solidify”.
Coming in at number eight was bedding. The frugal living observer warned people that bedding might get damp due to people 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.”
Unexpected additional advice
Carolyn also pointed out an expected impact of not having heating on. “Do not use your good mugs" she said. "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" .
Her video has racked up more than 613,000 views, but she also warned if Brits were going without heating because they couldn’t afford it to seek proper help.
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