Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

she_grinch

monkmorency wrote: »

I think I will be buying one of these this year, although last winter I used to stuff an old teatowel inside the letterbox to keep the draft out which worked a treat - wait until after the post has been delivered though!!


My letter box cover was knocked off this week :eek: by the young girl pushing the unwanted blooming free paper through the letter box arghh:mad:

orangesmartie

SusanCarter wrote: »

The trouble with these low income energy efficiency grants is that if you are on a low income you can't afford to buy a house so you are stuck with whatever your landlord has put in (or not put in).

You can still get them if you're in rented property. Just talk to the landlord and tell him it won't cost him a thing.

In my previous flat, it was freezing cold and we had stupid storage heaters that i never got the hang of using. I got a phone call about loft insulation. Spoke to the landlord. Said we had to pay the first £50, but that i would pay that if he'd pay to have the loft hatch enlarged it wasn't big enough to get in) and he was quite happy with that and i noticed the difference straight away.

Primrose

Can I please flag up a warning to anybody who uses oil for their heating. In the area where we live there have been lots of thefts from oil storage tanks because of its high cost now so if yours is easily accessible, do review your security arrangements. It's very easy for thieves to follow oil delivery trucks to properties, wait until there is nobody around and then come a steal it.

calleyw

Husband manged to cook the pasta for his lunch yesterday in his wide mouth stainless steel flask in 20 mins.

He boiled the kettle which he was doing anyway for a hot drink and popped the pasta and the boiling water in the flask.

What made me think about doing that was they have something from betterware for about £12 :eek: to cook pasta etc in. Yeah like I am going to pay that when I have flasks at home.

So that saved me gas.

Yours


Calley

[Deleted User]

I did a `roast` chicken in my pressure cooker today. Put a lemon and bay leaves inside the chicken. Fried it a bit on all sides in olive oil. Took it out. Added chopped dried mushrooms (I dried my own) and streaky bacon and fried a bit. Put chicken back with pepper and 11 oz mix of white wine and mushroom water. Cooked 25 mins on high pressure. I used my trusty induction hob and total energy cost was under 5p.

I took the chicken and sauce out. Put potatoes and carrots and a little water in the pc and chopped chard in the steamer basket. 5 min at high pressure and was done to perfection. Thickened the sauce and job done. Meal was fantastic and total energy cost about 6p

Granted using the pc needs more thought but the results are good and the energy saving is excellent

ps: ok changing ways of cooking is a potch and I wish we didn`t have to but blow me if I am going to throw my money at the energy companies

and another ps: thanks for the bath costing, that was a real eye opener. I think I have had 3 baths here in 3 years as the bath is very deep and a struggle to get out of and that has turned out to be a mixed blessing

FrugalFriend

MIRRY wrote: »

so far I have thought of the following;


I will never use my tumble dryer again, I have purchased a BIG clothes horse today to hang all my washing on.

---

Yep, I've been doing this for ages, I haven't used a dryer in years. Saves a packet. This can even be done in winter by leaving a window slightly open. Clothes horse/dryers are cheap in Argos.

Gigervamp

calleyw wrote: »

Husband manged to cook the pasta for his lunch yesterday in his wide mouth stainless steel flask in 20 mins.

He boiled the kettle which he was doing anyway for a hot drink and popped the pasta and the boiling water in the flask.

In a similar vein, I have a ceramic hob and it stays warm for a while after it's been turned off. I discovered that when cooking potatoes, if I just bring the water and potatoes up to the boil, then turn off the hob and put a lid on the pan, they finish cooking in the residual heat. Same with pasta and rice.

Teria

I've just received letters from EDF saying that they've raised my gas DD from 42.00 to 55.00, and my electric from 25.00 to 43.00.
I really don't see how I can use less fuel though.
I've never owned a tumble drier, I only have the oven on a couple of times a week, do all my baking etc in one go, and cook most of my meals on the hob, I only use the washing machine at night, and have reduced that to 4 loads a week (darks, lights, delicates, partner's). The hot water is on constant, but I have the thermostat on the lowest setting (40), and I only put the heating on for about an hour every other evening, for the littlun's bath time. (The cold doesn't bother me anyway. I grew up in an old, draughty Victorian house, with no central heating, so I've always been used to piling on jumpers, and my little girl seems to be the same, she hates being too hot.)

Any suggestions what else I can do? I'm not sure I can afford these price rises, though I know I'm going to have to somehow!

Gigervamp

Teria wrote: »

The hot water is on constant,

I'd suggest only putting the water on for an hour or so in the morning, and again in the evening.
I use the hot water several times during the day, but only have the water on as I've suggested and I don't run out. The only time there's a shortage is when my 16 yr old son decides to have a bath and fills it up with just the hot water emptying the hot tank in the process. :eek:

Teria

That's interesting, I thought I was saving energy by keeping it warm, instead of having to heat it up from scratch each time. I'll definitely try your way though, see if it makes a difference