Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

Ruby_Pudding

Jolaaled wrote:

Ruby..do you have a recipe for sausage dog draft excluder??! do i just stuff my stockings with more stockings??

Would like to have something a bit more attractive..do you have any ideas?

Do I have a recipe for it? What a lovely way of asking!!

I just measured the length of the door (because I want a snug fit) and cut some thick(ish) material to size - enough to fold over and saw up the one side. Then I'm going to stuff it with whatever I can find over the next couple of weeks like laddered tights, odd socks, old t-shirts etc until it's 'full'. My nan used to sew buttons on for eyes and use wool to form a mouth but I guess you could leave that bit out...:o

jessicamb

Prudent wrote:

I do the same - or hang the big items like duvet covers over the stair bannister. Cooking in the evening is a good tip, thanks.

I do this with my laundry too I dont own a tumble dryer.

Quasar

I just had my windows replaced. They were very old wooden ones, and really draughty. Considering that the are enormous (one is 4 yards across by 2 high, the other is a 5 yard bay also 2 yards high), you can imagine how cold my flat was in the winter. My next door neighbours who have the same window had them replaced with doubleglazing last year and said how much warmer the place was.

So now I have double glazed windows.

I also use a hot water bottle under my feet, placing it over a few layers of cardboard for insulation. When I sit at the computer for hours, that keeps me warm.

I have invested in a good fleecy long dressingown - only £10.

All my lightning has been by low energy bulbs for a couple of years now.

I have showers instead of all those baths I use to take, except occasionally when I want a treat after a long day out in the cold.

chatta

happygal wrote:

If you are E7 get a timer so you get set your washing machine to come on during your cheapo time.

Would 2nd towels as draught excluders.

My house is like a fridge in winter and when you in the bathroom you can see your breath so am going to have to fork out for a fan heater in there - are they expensive to rum?

Be careful taking electrical things into bathroom, water and electricity are not a good combination :eek: no plug sockets in them either, for that reason I suppose

jo101_2

Hi

This is a great thread - im going to get making some sausage dogs for my doors.

When my Dad comes over he always complains how cold it is in my house and goes on at me about can I not afford my electric and those poor children are perishing!!! but we have storage heaters which are not that great, but we all just put extra clothes on etc. My Dad though plants himself on my sofa in coat and hat with a huge furry throw on and gets so warm (not that he admits it!) that he falls asleep!!! But I guess as he is not worried about money or the environment he can afford to sit in his house with the heating so hot that it heats the neighbourhood!!

To save money I have thermally lined all curtains, have really cosy slippers for everyone and I boil the kettle in the morning with enough water for cups of tea during the day and put in the flask and I will try to use the slowcooker more - also we may spend more time at my Dads to keep warm!!!!

Jo

Sweet_Pea_2

We recenrly had a gas and electricity bill and it was like a heavy winter quarters bill!
I immediatey bought another clothes airer and will try not to use the tumble drier at all if I can help it from now on. Also the fleecy blankets will be used at night when sitting on the settee. I have a couple of sausages to use where we have draughts and Im going to get a couple more hot water bottles.
The difficult thing is getting OH to switch off the lights and radios he leaves on all over the house. I have got a boxful of energy saving light bulbs that I was given but only have one lightbulb I could replace as I either have dimmer switches or uplighters in the other rooms that wont go with the bulbs, it woud cost more to replace the light fittings than I would save in electricity. If I could just get OH and DD's to switch off lights, radios and TV's when they were no longer in the room I could save a fortune.

Smashing

Take a tip from the homeless and go to the library - nice and toasty (and free!) way to read/browse the net.

I'm quite fond of sitting infront of the tv, lights off, wrapped in a big duvet with my flask at hand.

Always let stuff cool before chucking it in the fridge.

Do some exercise - great way to warm up.

Train everyone to close the door behind them - especially the fridge :eek:

Shut the fridge! Opening the refrigerator door accounts for £10 - £20 of a typical family's electrical bill each year based on 40-60 openings per day.

recovering_spendaholic

This is a great thread and I have picked up lots of good ideas. I was wondering how much you all reckon you will be paying for gas and electricity this year now that prices have gone up? I have just had a letter from Scottish Power from whom I get my gas and electricity to say that, in the light of recent increases in wholesale gas prices etc etc they are putting my monthly direct debit for combined gas and electricity to £93 a month. That is for a three bedroomed 1930's semi detatched house with gas central heating, double glazing,washer/dryer (used every day for at least one load), dual fuel cooker, dishwasher. I paid £59 a month last year and ended the year £50 in debit so I think that is a tremendous increase. I am definitely going to be switching the heating thermostat down and I only ever have the heating on for about an hour in the morning and from 5.30 - 10.30 at night. I am also going to see about making some sausage dog draft excluders!!

ocemeer

Don't have gas so cant help much on that but do have electricity (currently hot water heated by economy 7 ) and that costs a fortune!!! however rayburn arrives next week so can switch off the water heating and use the rayburn instead. (even better a house with heating at long last)

so, dry clothes on rayburn
use rayburn to make cups of tea.
shower at work (saves my water bill too)
keep freezer well stocked as more efficient that way.
get some curtains
would making sure things like radios etc were switched off at the plug help at all?

all lights are already energy saving light bulbs, could do with hints on how to cut down my use of electricity though.
have noted the washing machine one

snowball2

I must say that I am really scared by the raising cost of gas and electric.

After another huge elec bill :eek: if this is a summer one I hate to think what the winter one will be like! We are really trying to cut back where possible. everything is being turned off at the wall, pc is turned off during the day when not in use, used to leave it asleep when not in use during the day time. Already have energy saving bulbs in every light fitting, have done last 8 years. Tumble dryer only used as last resort, airers/line all other times. Gas central heating & hob, so purchased a gas hob kettle when elec one stopped working. Have all 'A' rated white goods where possible. Changed my very old oven last year as i thought that it may be partly to blame but bill still no better.

I am so worried that unless we can cut our bills or at least keep them the same we won't be able to afford elec. I keep telling the kids if they leave the lights on we will be cut off! We are already in debt and on a really tight budget, everything has been cut back to the bone and these fule rises are really starting to hurt our budget. we are currently paying £82 a month for gas & elec and will prob have to increase those again soon .