Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

mama67

taurusgb wrote: »

I bought a thingie/gizmo electricity usage monitor from maplin recently and I have been checking how much it cost for various washing machine loads. I am on economy 7 and am charged a higher rate during the day for so many units then a lower daily rate for the rest of the quarter, plus a low rate overnight for 7 hours. As I am some way into the quarter I have used the lower day rate to calculate the cost (hope that makes sense!) which is 10.03 pence per unit. So obviously my usage would be much higher earlier in the quarter when the higher rate is charged. The costs came out as follows:-

• 30 deg delicates load with slow spin = 1.88p
• 30 deg delicates with fast spin = 2.19p
• 60 deg mixed fabrics (bedding in my case) = 8.17p
• 60 deg fast coloureds (white shirts and white towels) = 7.51p

Have yet to test a boil wash or an ordinary (as in non delicates) 30 deg wash but will publish my findings when I do!

Am aiming to test the dishwasher after dinner tonight, and am waiting with bated breath for the result (I need to get out more!)

I know the obvious step would be to use the machines overnight on very cheap rate, but after hearing from several sources that the two main culprits for starting house fires when asleep are washing machines and dishwashers I'm not keen.........and anyway, thinking about it I couldn't even if I want to because both of my machines need me to press a button to start, so wouldn't work on a timer delay.

I have a plugin timer which starts up the dishwasher etc at the given time. I just start thge machine as normal and then flick the timer switch on so that the machine actually goes off until the correct time.

liloandstitch

I bought all my appliances with built in timers to use the economy 7. I have used WM, DW and TD overnight for at least 3 years with no problem. I do make sure that I keep the filter free of fluff every time I use it, and vacuum out the cavity where the filter lives frequently. Hope this helps!!

tipsycat_2

fold washing when you bring it in from line. less ironing and iron pillow slips in pairs.in fact i iron as litle as possible. half of it dont need ironed.

Mike_J

Apologies if I missed this one....Keep those solar powered garden lights outside albeit during the shorter days but bring them in at night. Similiar light to low wattage bulb but no cost

Barneysmom

Good one Mike, I've been thinking about solar powered garden lights in the house. Do they look odd?

ceridwen

Well - perhaps those solar garden lights vary. I bought a set of those ones that are meant to look like rocks. I took back all of them apart from the one I had used - and got a refund. I just gave the one I had to keep a quick go in a dark room - only the merest glimmer of light from it - not enough to read by and I'm not sure its even enough to find ones way round the house by. Think I might as well chuck that one - money down the drain.

elona

ceridwen

I got solar lights but have not tested them yet to see how bright they are.

Must get round to that so I am not really disppointed if we really need them.

Have you used your kelly kettle yet and where did you get it from?

I have just ordered a freeplay wind up/ solar radio from Amazon on sale - I saved about £15 and got free delivery. I am hoping it arrives while DH is out as so far every time I order something he has been home to answer the door!:eek:

ceridwen

Hi

I got the kelly kettle from Lakeland Bushcraft Trading Ltd.

Kettle (2.5 pint size - ie the larger one) £38.95. The cookset and support for it are respectively £13.95 and £4.95. Postage £3.95. Hence total £61.80:eek: <cough>

Delivery was extremely quick - return of post type stuff. Waiting to go and fetch it from the Post Office now when its open again.

So - not been able to try it out yet - only progress on that front has been sussing out just how many weeds, etc are nearby I could use as "fuel".

It may be that other places sell it cheaper - I dont know - thats just the firm I happened to pick - cant recall why......

(hoping no-one is going to tell me I have overpaid now...:cool: )

she_grinch

We have had masses of ideas on keeping warm whilst using less electricity and gas but how do you all keep cool without plugging in fans, air con units etc especially in the evening when trying to sleep. Does anyone have any money saving tips for this?

My family have all thrown off the duvets and are sleeping under the quilt covers at the moment but my DD3 is in the tiny box room, which is like an oven at the moment even though she has the window open all day. She therefore has to sleep with a clip on fan going all night if I fall asleep before checking she has turned it off.

stilernin

she_grinch wrote: »

We have had masses of ideas on keeping warm whilst using less electricity and gas but how do you all keep cool without plugging in fans, air con units etc especially in the evening when trying to sleep. Does anyone have any money saving tips for this?

My family have all thrown off the duvets and are sleeping under the quilt covers at the moment but my DD3 is in the tiny box room, which is like an oven at the moment even though she has the window open all day. She therefore has to sleep with a clip on fan going all night if I fall asleep before checking she has turned it off.

We used to feel the heat in our caravan. Not suprising as they are just tin boxes really aren't they?

Our solution was to cover the 'sunny side' windows with tin foil. You would be amazed at the difference it made to the temperature inside. We used this system so routinely that a hot day became known as a 'tin foil' day.

You could cover card with foil to put up on really hot days if the bedroom windows are on the sunny side. It would be worth a try.