Avoid using Gas and Electricity

DebtFree2012

angelaloveschocolate wrote: »

This thread has been bumped up at a very good time for me as I'm in really motivated to reduce electricity this year. I've read the whole thread and I've decided to take on board these tips that you've all been good enough to share,

'Make some pelmets for the windows it'd save an awful lot of heat. You can make them from firm cardboard [v strong delivery boxes are good for this, the big ones from electrical shops ... just a though], and then cover them with matching wallpaper or curtain material.'

'I do ALL our things on the coldest (and conveniently also the shortest!) wash of 30degrees. i only use about 1/3rd of the powder suggested, 1/2 if it's really dirty but that's rare and our things come out just fine'.

When existing supply of laundry powder runs out I'm going to buy the tesco value shampoo at 22p a litre, as its been recommended as a good and cheap alternative to washing powder.

'Starting with blocking the draughts, making curtains, draughtexcluders, and getting socks.!'

'just an easy quickie: defrost everything in the fridge as it saves the fridge compressor going on so saves energy as well as wear and tear.'

Use tealights on the hearth as heat and light.

I have a timer so I am going to use it for the washing machine / dishwasher overnight at cheaper rates.

On my shopping list I've included a Dehumidifier to reduce condensation when drying clothes indoors, a hot water bottle and a slow cooker.

Thank you to all of you who originally posted these tips, I just wanted to collate them for my own benefit and for any others coming behind who may find them compiled together useful. Great thread and thank you




'

Thank you for taking the time to do this

x x x

Ben84

I think electric and gas are exceptionally useful things that are in many cases well worth the money and free us from time intensive tasks that are poor value for their effort. I know some people shut off the hot water and use a kettle to make it as needed, but how much time does it cost compared to keeping the tank hot for when you need it? Same for heating, burning wood can save money but the gas fire in my sitting room costs roughly 4p an hour on the low setting (1.6 kWh), which is plenty for me when I'm sat by it, so I question if wood, even if it's free, is worth the time and effort of using it to me. I just have to turn a dial, it takes a few seconds. With wood you have to collect it, possibly chop it, bring it in the house and clean it out. How much time does that take? Even assuming it takes just five minutes a day to do all this stuff (it's almost certainly much more in total), that's roughly two and a half hours a month. If you were paid minimum wage at £5.93 for that time, that's enough to run a radiant gas fire like mine on low for about 350 hours. Even as someone who likes to sit by the fire I'd struggle to use it that much if I tried. I probably use it 4-6 hours each evening in the cold weather and spend ~£6 a month on it.

annie123

Ben84 wrote: »

If you were paid minimum wage at £5.93 for that time, that's enough to run a radiant gas fire like mine on low for about 350 hours.

And what if you're not even paid minimum wage?

I understand where you're coming from but there are many on here that do not have a job at all, are clearing debts, need every penny to avoid getting into debt or are now working part time rather than full-time just to have some sort of employment.
They may only have night storage heaters or GCH with no option of choosing alternative heating source eg, a low cast heat source but do have an open fire that they can fill for free with a little time and effort.

If you look to save every penny or pound, anywhere you can, it's amazing how much can be saved over a year.
This is enough for some to stay out of debt or to pay off some debts or just to free up money for other areas that may be more important to them.

I find wood, chop, store and burn it, because I like an open fire and if I didn't do that I'd have to pay out my husbands hard earned cash to buy logs or coal.
So not only would I not be saving money buy getting free heat source I'd be paying out extra cash to provide it.

Ilona

I have started to measure one mug of water and heat it in a small saucepan on the gas ring for one drink, rather than using the electric kettle. My jug kettle needs two mug fulls to cover the element, so one is always wasted. I know I could pour it into a flask for use later, but by the time I get round to making another drink, it would be cold, I only have one or two hot drinks a day.
Ilona

dom300186

I have started to do the following.........

put all of my washing on a quick wash extra rinse which is 15-20 mins

use 1 tbsp of wash powder

use 20ml of fab conditioner topped up with water when i put it in the compartment ( i always find its a bit to strong for so dilluting its better)

have a bath as the water is on a timer for 2 hrs a day
share the bath water fiance goes in first, then me and my son who is 3 and if the dogs lucky he goes in after us, or in winter i fill our hot water bottles up with any remaininghot water.

when heating is on in winter its on at 18c if we go out it gets turned down to 16 so its not an ice box for when we get back.


i love baking with my little boy so i always turn the oven off 10- 15 mins before its ready, i do the same with meals and pasta/rice on the hob.

every morning i fill my thermos flask up with coffee so i dont need to keep boiling the kettle.

Widelats

I will invest in some candles or tea lights i have a marble hearth.

So far i have not had my heating on for nearly a week, no gas or electric used.

Washing goes always on economy to wash everything.

Cooking i usually cook rice and turn off the heat around 4 or 5 mins before its cooked and let the natural heat from the electric ring cook till finished.

I never use a oven, mine is still brand new.

Widelats

I will invest in some candles or tea lights i have a marble hearth.

So far i have not had my heating on for nearly a week, no gas or electric used.

Washing goes always on economy to wash everything.

Cooking i usually cook rice and turn off the heat around 4 or 5 mins before its cooked and let the natural heat from the electric ring cook till finished.

I never use a oven, mine is still brand new.

freudianslip

Come autumn this year my youngest will be off to nursery for 3 ours on a morning. I will not be putting any heat source on while I'm in the house myself studying. I'll have to be well wrapped up with some fingerless gloves as it can get so cold.

I'll be spending this year running around the house turning different radiators on at different times.

Timer on bedrooms only at 6 - 7
no heating till 1pm, only one rad in living room if it is very cold
if ok no heating till 4, again one living room rad
6 i'll turn bathroom and bedrooms on
9 will turn everything off and snuggle in.

Still seems like a lot of usage to me.

My usage this year compared to last was way down and cost us much more. I am very nervous about the sheer cost.

No more washing dishes as and when I use them either. I will have to have a stock pile and use one load of water on an evening.

Depressing times but as a previously 'closet' oldstyler I will remain in control of my finances and my family.

A tough time for a homemaker

LittleBrownFrog

Ilona wrote: »

I have started to measure one mug of water and heat it in a small saucepan on the gas ring for one drink, rather than using the electric kettle. My jug kettle needs two mug fulls to cover the element, so one is always wasted. I know I could pour it into a flask for use later, but by the time I get round to making another drink, it would be cold, I only have one or two hot drinks a day.
Ilona

I do this too - with a lidded saucepan it's quicker than our kettle as well.

the_cat

freudianslip wrote: »

Come autumn this year my youngest will be off to nursery for 3 ours on a morning. I will not be putting any heat source on while I'm in the house myself studying. I'll have to be well wrapped up with some fingerless gloves as it can get so cold.


A tough time for a homemaker

Is there a library close enough to either nursery or home to go in there to study instead? I find I can put up with the heating off when I'm pottering around doing jobs but sitting for any length of time in the freezing cold is miserable:(