Any DIY experts or builders out there can give me some short term, workable solutions on how to insulate my home.
I have used temporary insulation [plastic double glaze] but my house does not stay warm...unless I keep the heating on all day, and that still provides only temporary relief. Any suggestions?

Make sure your loft is well insulated - assuming you have one.
Use draft excluder on doors.
Keep curtains closed - they also act as another barrier.
Make sure your means of heating is effective - no good chucking money away if its not working right.

Other than that you are talking expensive measures to improve the situation - New windows, cavity wall insulation, underfloor insulation etc etc.

Dependant on your house you could always get a real fire going, we had a open fire once and we used to chuck logs on and allsorts and keep it going all day and it certainly kept the house warm.

Other than that wrap up warm and wear a hat.

Stick that silver insulating stuff behind your radiators, make a cup of tea and put your feet in a basin of hot water - pre-pedicure. Or move to a terraced house as they are always warm.

My house has no double glazing and only 2 nite storage heaters - been mighty cold the past couple of winters !

Visited www.house.co.uk [british gas site] a few weeks back, and they had a sale on cavity wall and loft insulation. British Gas contacted a company called Millfold and sent a bloke out for a free inspection for both.

Turned out I had cavity wall insulation already and just needed a top up of my loft insulation [old house so only had 4 rather than the modern 10 inches of insulation, and in places there was no insulation ! The pipes were not lagged and neither was the water tank. No insulation on loft hatch either !!!]

Had the insulation installed a couple of weeks back and house getting warmer already. The 2 guys took about an hour to do the job. Seems to be less drafts [they draughproofed the hatchway as well as insulation the back of it] and warmer now.

Cost me 250 quid as I got less of a grant as there was some insulation already - if there were none or I removed it before they inspected it they would have charged just 120 quid...

And in a couple of weeks I'll be getting 6 free low energy light bulbs from them :o)

FYI - British Gas have the offer again until 9th Jan - see the house website for details [improve your home > energy efficiency]

Hoping you have a warmer new year !

Rudi