Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

mirry

Hows it going with the heating ?
I had mine on this morning , it was all frosty outside and so cold.
In total we have had the heating on 6 times this winter , mainly bacause our washing machine broke down, so had to dry clothes on raidiators.

I am sitting here with the candles all light, in the day ,lol.

I am def getting more hungry the colder I am, but am having more tea

keep warm!

stilernin

I have just moved into a new (1896) house. The combi is relatively new and is upstairs outside the bathroom.

Can someone tell me if it is cheaper to boil a kettle or to run the tap for washing up for one person? The kitchen tap runs a whole bowlful of cold before it becomes hot, which presumably means that there is that amount of hot water left in the pipes when I turn it off.

Thanks

mirry

I always boil a kettle instead of running the tap, I think it is cheaper that way?

stilernin

mirry wrote:

I always boil a kettle instead of running the tap, I think it is cheaper that way?

Just had another thought........ would the microwave heat a litre of water cheaper than the kettle?

Anyone know?

SusanCarter

mirry wrote:

I just cant belive were nearly in the middle of December without heating on still, last night it was cold, but we got the candles on and got under our sleeping bags lol. It just amazes me, if we are using £1 a day on gas (like my bill suggests) then thats £1 a day just for using my cooker ! imagine how much it would cost to put the heating on !

I would suggest you try reading your gas meter yourself to work out how much it's costing rather than going by the bill as the gas companys tend to overestimate and £1 a day without using any heating seems pretty steep. During the months that we didn't have the heating on, we were spending £1 per week. I've just looked at our spreadsheet and from 19th December to yesterday, we spent £1.19 per day which is our highest since March. We have got our heating on at about 18 degrees for about twelve hours a day.

sammy_kaye18

Hi All

We have had our heating on since about 20th december but mainly in the night - it was comign on between 2-4 and 6-8 but think i might change this tonight as ive foudn we are all getting too hot!! so i think between 3 - 5 should keep us all snuggly enough. Plus my little one has taken to sleeping with stuffed animals lately so they seem to be helping him stay warm because hes cutching up into them,

Pooch is happy too as he has a fairly big radiator in the hallway so hes nice and snuggly too and he has his jumper on which is helping. I think i will start making plans now about how to better insulate his flat though and work on it gradually this year rather than panic when october rolls around liek last year

Yategirl

Came home from a few days away over christmas to find an electric bill sat on the doormat..... we have from 16th Sept to 14th Dec used £138.05 worth of electricity and I am sat here in a major state of shock(!) We don't use our tumble dryer (and haven't done for nearly 2 years!), I insist on lights being off if not needed, I switch all appliances off at the plug if not in use, we heat our house by gas (but only use heating for 1/2hr a day!), Water is heated by gas (instant heat), I have a gas hob but electric oven, I try and fill the oven if in use (not always possible but I do try, I do have a dishwasher (1-2 washes/ day - this doesn't change summer or winter) and I do (obviously) use my washing machine (on at least once a day sometimes twice.. (there are 2 adults and 2 young children) again doesn't change winter/summer), We do charge our mobile phones (x2) at least 3 times a week (no landline) and we have a computer on (and in use) for about 3-4 hours a day (that is all of us using it), I only boil enough water in the kettle for the drink I am making, We do have a large freezer - it is full as we grow our own veg to freeze for winter. In general, the house is insulated well and I try very hard to make sure we don't waste electricity (or money!) to the point of becoming obsessed ( ) Now I know..... that electricity prices have gone up and this is the main reason for the huge hike in costs but getting a letter saying they want to double our monthly direct debit from £28.50 to £58/month is gobsmackingly shocking(!) Dh thinks I am joking when I say I will be in bed by 8pm to save on lights or I will have to use candles to read by! (Dh works nights) but I honestly don't know how we are going to afford this hike in price

How on earth can I save money on my electric bill???? Any thoughts... please???


Yategirl

p.s (I am going to swop from British Gas to Scottish Power capped to 2010 tariff (no penalty to get out early and switch site reckons we could save £100/yr)

p.s. Hope this is in the right thread?

Smiley_Mum

How old is the big freezer? That would use a lot of electricity. Get one of the plugs from Maplin currently at £13.99 which tell you how much an electrical appliance is using. Also, do you use energy saving lightbulbs, you can pick them up pretty cheaply now. Get yourself a slow cooker instead of using the oven/cooker etc to cook, or use a steamer so it saves putting on a lot of rings. Also using a microwave would be cheaper too.

Hels_Bells_3

We haven't had the central heating on at all so far and on nights when it has been nippy we've put the fire on for an hour or so at around 7 and it keeps downstairs warm for the next 3-4 hours until we head off to bed. Throws, bed socks and being reasonably dressed rather then feeling the need to wear shorts/vest tops in the house have gotten me through the winter so far (used to have the house so warm i couldn't wear anymore for being too hot! :rolleyes: ) . Next bill is due at the end of January so will compare it to last years and see just how big a difference it's made.

teedy23

It,s true that God will provide, this year my boiler needs replacing, my shower has broken, and my nerves cost me 5 months off work, so no hot water at all, and little heating depending on how the boiler feels at the time. God has provided me with the menopause and a really good and powerfull shower room at work, so I,m roasted a few times a day and refreshed for free at work