Nobody likes a diet. But sometimes it can be good to practice restraint!

So you’ve got the gas stove to boil the kettle and cook the basics on, you’ve got the solar geyser and the old fashioned gas heaters, you even have hot water bottles and you’ve invested in a couple of battery LED’s.

If you are one of the lucky ones, you might even have that hallowed combination of solar panels, a battery bank and inverter…

Rest assured that you are a shining beacon for everyone else in your neighbourhood to aspire to!

All in all, life is starting to find a new balance, despite the rolling blackouts that are now part of our lives. (Let’s not mess around with euphemisms like “load shedding”)

In true South African vasbyt-fashion, we seem to be all mucking on – more and more businesses and homes are sorting out their own renewable power solutions and getting off-grid ASAP.

Here are a few nifty ideas to assist you.

The best inverter-proof (or totally unplugged) home gadgets for the winter:

• The Wonderbag is a magical, homegrown and truly African solution to give you slow cooked deliciousness without having to check the schedule. It’s a heat retaining slow cooker. Simply bring your food to a boil and then seal it into the bag for the rest of the cooking process.

• Keep your coffee warm through all the stages with this 2liter thermos flask that will keep you from firing up the gas stove every half an our for a fresh cuppa!

• This thermal comforter will benefit you right now but can also be used as a cooling pad in summer – allowing you to skip the AC once the summer returns.

• Yes – you might not want to take any advice from Eskom at the moment, but on one thing they can’t be faulted: An insulating geyser blanket does really make a difference…

• Make your own magic with this portable power supply that wont just give you light and charge your phone, but can even power small appliances…it’s a bit of a spend, but well worth it in the long run.

• If you already have a super-efficient combustion fireplace, but your wood consumption is bothering you, why not switch to eco logs. These “logs” are made from compressed intruder bush and are clean burning, leaving very little mess to clean up.

• If you want a warmer snuggle why not try this compact down blanket that is lightweight, easy to store and supremely cosy for those frosty winter evenings when you just want to watch one more episode…

Added bonus: The high-tech outer layer of this blanket also means that your fur baby’s fluff won’t stick to it like it sticks to standard polar fleece blankets!

• If you are ready to move this party to the bedroom, ensure that you are prepared. This luxury bed blanket promises to heat things up perfectly. Sparks will be flying!

• Finally, take a note from our European cousins about keeping warm and brew up a large pot of glühwein. Keep it on the stove and hand it out to any and all consenting adults who come through your door in the coming months.

Remember, we are all in this together!