Avoid using Gas and Electricity

Gigervamp

If you don't use the hot water in the tank, switch it off and just boil a kettle when you need some for washing.

It won't cause a problem with the appliances.

You might find however, that the water comes on anyway if you have the heating on. Ours does that, but we can have only the water on and no heating.

jackieglasgow

Gigervamp,

if you cant have heat hot water seperately, you've got a fault. They should both work independently of one another. Maybe a motorized valve is stuck or broken - get it checked out next time you get a service.

Gigervamp

Thanks. It did seem odd, but it happened like that in our last house too. They're oil fired boilers, so I don't know if that makes any difference.

frogglet

winniepooh wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I've not been on this board for ages but i've really let my budgets/money slip and as i'm not working at the moment we really need to tighten our belts.

So i've been thinking ahead. Last winter I used my tumble drier and the electricity bill was scary. So my thought are to dry the washing in the garage and radiators, but I worry about putting the drying in the garage I was going to put it on a clothes horse but do you think they would dry nicely in a dark cold garage or would they start to smell :think:

Thanks in advance

I got one of these
http://www.rotaire.com/
and it is brilliant, you can hang things out in any weather and it dries and stays dry if it rains, I find it especially good for towels they only need a very short time in the drier to air them. I can hang things out at night with no worry about it raining overnight or bird poo getting on it,

Patchwork_Quilt

What a brilliant idea! We have an airer in the porch. With the window open, the washing does dry off but it takes a little longer than outside

The other way to do it is to hang the clothes in the garage with the door open. It does depend on what else is in there, of course. A friend of mine used to use her carport this way

London_Town

missychrissy wrote: »

I am trying to set my house up for survival if gas and electric were no longer available. I know that sounds a bit extreme but it would mean that I could survive without switching anything on. My attidude to rising fuel prices is that I will not use them and will find an alternative source.

What an inspirational paragraph missychrissy! This is my ultimate aim, but it remains a big challenge.

Gigervamp

frogglet wrote: »

I got one of these
http://www.rotaire.com/
and it is brilliant, you can hang things out in any weather and it dries and stays dry if it rains, I find it especially good for towels they only need a very short time in the drier to air them. I can hang things out at night with no worry about it raining overnight or bird poo getting on it,

I could have done with one of those today. 20 minutes after getting the washing hung out, it poured down. The washing's still out there as I've already got washing hanging up indoors so there's no room for anymore.

Just hoping it stays dry tonight!

xnatalie81x

Just to show ppl how it works. Previously i was with npower but 2mths10 days ago i tranferred to british gas - kept same direct debit payment to see how it fared and also put into place LOTS of energy savings (my partner has been away for this time also so some affect by that)

My bill came today for 18 june-28aug - so say 9 wks. Gas usage worked out at 4.50 week (71 in credit - but paid 3mths used less) - i have GCH so hot water........

Electric same period - 9 wks - usage is £9.40 week (128 in credit)

Very pleased as i am hoping to leave heating off till nov/dec and even then i should not use up all i have managed to get in credit and from next year will bring payments down - very pleased!

BigMummaF

frogglet wrote: »

I got one of these
http://www.rotaire.com/
and it is brilliant, you can hang things out in any weather and it dries and stays dry if it rains, I find it especially good for towels they only need a very short time in the drier to air them. I can hang things out at night with no worry about it raining overnight or bird poo getting on it,

With a four-adult household, drying space is at an absolute premium as you can imagine :undecided Guess what I've just asked the offspring to put on the top of my Gift List for my [Nov] birthday/crimbo
Some folk think I'm strange to ask for things like breadmaker [two yrs ago] or number plates [this years MaDay] for the car, but with cash being in such short supply, I would rather have stuff I need as opposed to a bottle of perfume that makes me sneeze

Confuzzled

BigMummaF wrote: »

With a four-adult household, drying space is at an absolute premium as you can imagine :undecided Guess what I've just asked the offspring to put on the top of my Gift List for my [Nov] birthday/crimbo
Some folk think I'm strange to ask for things like breadmaker [two yrs ago] or number plates [this years MaDay] for the car, but with cash being in such short supply, I would rather have stuff I need as opposed to a bottle of perfume that makes me sneeze

i wholeheartedly agree with you on that one. i think to put it in perspective for those that might balk at buying you something so practical you could say something along the lines of 'if you really want to pamper me, the stress relief i'd get from Xproblem being solved or Xexpensive but necessary bill being paid is far better and longer lasting than Xgadget/spa trip/knick knack etc etc' and then maybe they'd understand

i find it so hard to ask for anything for christmas because honestly all the things i want are things i've been saving up for so generally more expensive than i'd ask for, usually i just ask for cash or vouchers so that i can then use that alongside my savings to buy those few things... and most of mine are terribly practical, i prefer peace of mind knowing something i need is sorted

actually the best present i ever got was my then boyfiriend sealed up all my very draughty windows and bought me a snow shovel then shoveled my drive all winter long... he knew i was so cold and couldnt' afford to heat the house and also knew i had problems with my back, to me that is far more thoughtful than perfume!