uzubairu's Mortgage Free Journey

THRIFTY_GIRL

uzubairu wrote: »

Gas bill arrived from EON yesterday.

The gas bill that came yesterday was an estimate of £58 for the quarter.
I checked the meter and rang them back with a true reading (because it was out by 65 units in our favour) and the new bill is £24. :j

We have used 43 units since the 13th May.
13th May = 3153 (read by EON)
14th August = 3196 (read by me)

We have gas central heating, gas hob and electric oven and we live in a 4-bed, 3 storey house. I know the figures are correct (I always phone with an accurate figure when the bill comes if it is an estimate), but can we really have only used £8 of gas (avg) for the last 3 months?

We were in New York 11th -18th May, so we also saved some energy by not being at home.

Glad its sorted. Wish ours was that much:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
If you said £240 we might have a chance. Lets hope we have a mild winter!!!

uzubairu

I've been watching the World Athletic Championships in Berlin for most of the day and I can sense that there will be a new world record in the 100 metres.
Surprisingly Dwain Chambers has made the final.

Usain Bolt is amazing (even more so in HD at 80 inches).

Only listed 5 things due to the distraction of the athletics, but I have taken a 20 photos and will be listing some more items on Tuesday (5 day listings).

Must get back to the athletics.

Queen-Bee_2

uzubairu wrote: »

Gas bill arrived from EON yesterday.
The gas bill that came yesterday was an estimate of £58 for the quarter.
I checked the meter and rang them back with a true reading (because it was out by 65 units in our favour) and the new bill is £24.

That is amazing. Reducing energy spend is my next big project in my home expenditure overhaul - please... share your secrets!
QB

uzubairu

uzubairu wrote: »

I've been watching the World Athletic Championships in Berlin for most of the day and I can sense that there will be a new world record in the 100 metres.
Surprisingly Dwain Chambers has made the final.

Usain Bolt is amazing (even more so in HD at 80 inches).

Must get back to the athletics.

9.58 secs - A New World Record :T

Amazing race - Well done Usain! :beer:

uzubairu

Queen-Bee wrote: »

That is amazing. Reducing energy spend is my next big project in my home expenditure overhaul - please... share your secrets!
QB

I've been speaking to the OH today, because I still couldn't understand why it was so cheap.

It turns out that since I haven't really bothered with the Gas usage until recently (the issue at the time was the £73 a month we were paying to NPower and that consumed my interest in energy matters), my OH was taking care of the gas.

He has a very simple system.

Autumn/Winter - The gas central heating is on all the time, with the thermostat set to about 18 and he turns it up a little if it gets really cold.

Spring/Summer - The gas central is turned down below 18 or he switches it off dependant on how warm it gets.

Once he has switched the central heating, it stays off until it starts to get colder.

He turned the heating off about 8 weeks ago, and I haven't really noticed a difference. :eek:

Last year (2008) he switched it back on after we returned from our holiday in Florida in mid September. He can't remember if he switched it off in mid June or ealy July.

So he has made an extra contribution to the overpayment pot indirectly, by the energy savings he has made for us.
I'll give him a gold star. :rolleyes:

taka

Yep you can really spot when I have the heating on or not in my Gas readings! My bills are just out so I was looking at them last night. Looks like heating went on late Sept, spiked horribly over December/ Xmas/ New Year as I was at home lots (my work closes for almost 2 weeks over Xmas/New year + I had a week off too in early Dec) and off again in mid April for me. My bill for the quarter May to Aug (I pay by monthly DD though) was £10.89! :rotfl: Wish it was that in the winter! :rolleyes:

setmefree2

YaY well done on the OP and Well done on the energy savings:T

uzubairu

As part of my training for the 10K race next month, I've been doing some cycling recently.
I own a mountain bike and only recently found that the ride (on roads) would be much better if I changed to slick tyres.

Last week,after loads of research and checking cost options, I settled on some tyres that cost £50 including new thinner inner tubes. Went out and bought them from a shop because I just had to have them that day.

I couldn't find my bike pump when I got home so I couldn't put them on, so went for another ride on my knobbly tyres and it was quite a workout. :mad:

When I got home and was surfing the net, I accidentally came across a site which had Continental slick tyres that came with free inner tubes and a 1 year puncture guarantee.
Cheapest price for 2 was £34 with free delivery. :j
The other tyres have gone back for a refund. Lucky for me that I couldn't find my pump.

My bike goes like the wind (I can go further with the same effort), and if we had showers at work I could quite easily leave the Mini at home and take my bike. Sadly there are no plans at work to encourage staff to cycle, although I do know some newer/greener stores do have shower facilities for cyclists.

I paid for the tyres with the proceeds from my eBay sales last week (£69).

setmefree2

Happy Days

uzubairu

We go on holiday next Monday, so I am busy making lists of jobs that need doing before we leave.

• Currency has been sorted out (CaxtonFX moneycard $1.8:£1 with free ATM withdrawals).
• Passports have been located (don't laugh we have got to the airport in the past without them and had to travel the next day).
• I've even managed to get a free meal at a posh restaurant (in Naples), because we went last year and got (IMHO) poor service, so I emailed the mananger and he offered us a free meal next time we visited, but we got the email when we got back to the UK. I emailed him yesterday and he said the offer still stands and we can have whatever we want from the menu. :beer:
• OH to cut grass/weed before we go if it is at all possible.
• Check Slingbox is set up correctly
• Chase up work expenses - I get paid whilst I'm away
• Complete holiday handover for work - nearly done
• Update mortgage stats first thing on 31st August - we fly at 09:25

My OH has just told me that there is some sort of strike with some baggage handlers at Manchester airport on Monday.
I hope we aren't affected.

I'll just stick some essentials in my hand luggage.