Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

Magentasue wrote: »

My grown up sons now iron their own shirts but I insist they do them all at the same time - can't be warming iron up every day.

My OH would look at me as if I'd gone mad at the suggestion he even picked up the iron,let alone iron a shirt.I think it's too late to suggest it now after 36 years of having it done for him.

cw18

My DH irons anything he wants/needs, though it isn't often wanted/needed these days. But like sb44's DH, mine is also ex-forces (Army) which accounts for that. When DS(19) is home for a visit he also does his own if anything needs doing -- he's in the Army now, so things have to be done a 'specific' way for him too!!

Magentasue

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

My OH would look at me as if I'd gone mad at the suggestion he even picked up the iron,let alone iron a shirt.I think it's too late to suggest it now after 36 years of having it done for him.

I've always done the ironing because I'm better at it - OH does most of vacuuming, a lot of tidying and things like the bins, dog walking etc. When I went to work full-time and he stayed home, he did the cooking too. Therefore, I don't mind doing his ironing!

Grown up sons are brilliant in many ways but spend their evenings and weekends sleeping, playing games and socialising. I figure they have more time than me so they can do their own ironing. I also feel they should be able to cook a bit, food-shop and know how much the bills come to.

I just don't like the iron being on every day because 't'is my way to iron two big batches a week, starting with the light stuff working my way up to jeans. Most times, they come in as I'm finishing and do theirs - sometimes I do theirs if they're working overtime. They certainly appreciate it more now!

bertiebots

I have just checked my meter readings after finding my last statements from aug (makes note to be more organised!) anyway our gas is fine at the mo as we have only used the heating a couple of times and I have decided to do a weekly check on that just in case it goes up with a wollap!
My major worry is how much leccy we are using as we seem to be using loads and I have no idea why..based on the last 8 weeks I have worked out we are using 52 (average) units per week. Does this sound like a lot?
I have all energy saving bulbs...switch everything off and use candles on an evening in the lounge. Even our tv is on the power saving setting! The kids are really good and unplug everything they use now after weeks of me pestering!
I am going to try not to use my old oven for a week to see if thats the cause as its really not working properly! But what else can I cut back on?.
Dont use a tumble dryer,all washing is done at 30 degrees, no heaters etc.....

Magentasue

bertiebots wrote: »

I have worked out we are using 52 (average) units per week. Does this sound like a lot?

No, not at all. Well, not to me, we use that in four days.

bertiebots

cw18 wrote: »

My DH irons anything he wants/needs, though it isn't often wanted/needed these days. But like sb44's DH, mine is also ex-forces (Army) which accounts for that. When DS(19) is home for a visit he also does his own if anything needs doing -- he's in the Army now, so things have to be done a 'specific' way for him too!!

My dh is also ex-forces and does most of the ironing...he wont let me do it! What a shame:D

nicki_2

I've just got my bill from E-on and I'm £158 in CREDIT with them! :mad: My gas/electric consumption has dramatically dropped since ex moved out in March. You can see a major difference on their energy tracker, so I'm going to leave it until after winter before I request a drop in my DD payments as I know I'm going to be using my new tumble drier. I'm hoping that since I'm out at "work" (on a placement for a course) for 3 days and spend the other 2 child free days running errands etc I should be able to cut back even more :j

cw18

bertiebots wrote: »

My major worry is how much leccy we are using as we seem to be using loads and I have no idea why..based on the last 8 weeks I have worked out we are using 52 (average) units per week. Does this sound like a lot?

For three people in a 4 bed-detached (water and heating is by gas), running 3 rooms pretty much all the time (different interests than encroach into each others), some energy bulbs (haven't yet found the money to change the 7 spots in the kitchen, so we're running with only two of them working on standard bulbs!), tumble drier on a couple of times a week, and using the oven (but mainly the micro combi as an oven) most days, our averages are

6/10/2007 - 6/10/2008 (incl) : 14 units a day / 98 units a week (366 days)
30/08/2008 - 6/10/2008 (incl) : 13 units a day / 91 units a week (38 days)
23/09/2008 - 6/10/2008 (incl - I'm now reading weekly and watching like a hawk for things being left one!) : 12 units a day / 84 units a week (14 days)

Primrose

bertiebots - do you have old fridges or freezers? We have a 30 year old upright freezer in our garage and I suspect that even though it's crammed full, it is probably needs a lot more electricity than modern day energy efficient appliances.

Primrose

I normally cook caseroles in our electric oven but in future want to try putting my Le Creuset pan on a low simmer on the gas hob as I think it might use less fuel. However, I find that this method has a tendency to burn the base of the pan so need one of these low simmer protector plates to put over the hob. Does anybody know where I could buy one and what their proper name is? Thanks.