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Ways to keep the utility bills down when home all day?
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Have found another one too. I had a mass wardrobe clear yesterday and made 3 piles 1. Ebay 2. Will wear again when baby bump goes down (put back) 3. Really tired,won't wear again but stretchy enough I can wear now about the house!
Pile 3 is made up of t shirts with small stains, under arm greyness, should be white but aren't etc etc.... This pile is currently in my bedroom and I'm going to my way through it over the next couple of weeks, wearing it one last time for cleaning etc before it goes in the bin. I'm hoping this will not only free up some space but will keep my washing and ironing pile down!0 -
One thing that I find always helps is not to let yourself get cold - as it always takes me longer to warm up (and I need more warmth) rather than just keeping me at a reasonable temperature!Me, OH, grown DS, (other DS left home) and Mum (coming up 80!). Considering foster parenting. Hints and tips on saving £ always well received. Xx
March 1st week £80 includes a new dog bed though £63 was food etc for the week.0 -
Well, I'm now wearing thermal underwear, dressing gowns, pyjama's, thermal socks, extra clothing(layered)jumpers and the like...
Filling flasks(I have found a flask purchased at Wilkinsons can keep hot liquids hot far longer than flasks made by Thermos)and as long as 14 hours even though they say it will only stay hot for 12 hours...so I don't have to keep boiling the kettle...hot water bottles and so on..."A government afraid of its citizens is a Democracy. Citizens afraid of government is tyranny!" ~Thomas Jefferson
"Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in" ~ Alan Alda0 -
I got a free energy monitor from my energy supplier and it has really made me think about what electricity I am using.
At night i am using about 2p per hour and this is for the fridge, freezer etc etc. When the family get up it generally rises to about 6p per hour with huge increases up to 46p per hour when the kettle, tooster etc is being used.
I really has made me think about my energy usage so much so that when at home all day with my two little ones and I notice it go above 6p per hour I stop and think about what could be on using enery that I could turn off.
My biggest shock was my kitchen halogen lights - it went straight up to 46p per hour.
It costs about a £1 a year to run but I think this week alone it's paid for itself.Sealed Pot Challenge #6010 -
This may sound flippant - but I often find it is warmer outside than in, so spend some time outside tidying garden etc and work up a bit of a sweat too - if you are past the bending stage, a short walk may help you warm up
Also look at which room gets the sun - if I am doing a static task like admin I tend to do it in the lounge in the morning but actually the diner gets the morning sun so I should do it there, or see if I can do it in the afternoon when the sun's come round
I also wear legwarmers under jeans and find they keep me warmer than socks - could wear both but i like my toes free in my slippers or boots
Oh and a BUMP BAND - great for anyone, esp the elderly, to keep the back warm - don't discard yours after the birth, just take it in - on offer at the mo at Mamas and Papas - I prefer it to being bundled up with loads of layers of clothes or sitting in dressing gown which makes me lazyYou never know how far-reaching something good, that you may do or say today, may affect the lives of others tomorrow0 -
I would also add: be ruthless with anything that stays on stand-by unecessarily - television, microwave (do you really need to microwave clock if you don't know the time?), washing machine etc. etc. Some electricity providers give away usage monitors - but you can buy them too. We have an Owl and I find it very useful as I can tell just by its reading if I have things left on standby. It might also be useful to do a regular comparison check to see if your provider is the cheapest too. Think about how you use your oven too - they are very big spaces to heat up for one dish - I would think about multi-use and batch cooking if you're putting the main oven on, then freeze and use the microwave if you have on to reheat, or think about one pot cooking on the hob or using the slow cooker as it is likely to be cheaper than heating the oven.0
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blossomhill wrote: »This may sound flippant - but I often find it is warmer outside than in, so spend some time outside tidying garden etc and work up a bit of a sweat too - if you are past the bending stage, a short walk may help you warm up
Also look at which room gets the sun - if I am doing a static task like admin I tend to do it in the lounge in the morning but actually the diner gets the morning sun so I should do it there, or see if I can do it in the afternoon when the sun's come round
I also wear legwarmers under jeans and find they keep me warmer than socks - could wear both but i like my toes free in my slippers or boots
Oh and a BUMP BAND - great for anyone, esp the elderly, to keep the back warm - don't discard yours after the birth, just take it in - on offer at the mo at Mamas and Papas - I prefer it to being bundled up with loads of layers of clothes or sitting in dressing gown which makes me lazy
Funnily enough I was discussing this some time ago on my blog and wondered whether all the double glazing, cavity wall insulation etc...that is supposed to stop heat escaping could work in the opposite direction and when its warmer outside stop heat warming up a house.
I can understand your point about wearing dressing gowns and clothes but alone and being able to get out as easily as I used to(and I do try to get out at least once a day)but they do keep me warmer than wearing what I used to such as shirts and ordinary trousers, it also helps to some extent me wearing out/dirtying what might be seen as my best clothes, I can hopefully handwash the few clothes that need washing and if I am allowed to stay here I am going back where possible(weather permitting)to hand washing and hanging things on a washing line or I'll save items up and do one big was in the washing machine perhaps every three of four weeks.
I have bought so many jumpers at the charity shop and thermals so I can change regularly, energy use and the cost frightens me...yet I know I have to use both.
Or I'll dry the clothes as much as I can and use the tumble dryer very sparingly. I'm also going to look into an indoor airer or clothes horse as they were once known..."A government afraid of its citizens is a Democracy. Citizens afraid of government is tyranny!" ~Thomas Jefferson
"Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in" ~ Alan Alda0 -
I would also add: be ruthless with anything that stays on stand-by unecessarily - television, microwave (do you really need to microwave clock if you don't know the time?), washing machine etc. etc. Some electricity providers give away usage monitors - but you can buy them too. We have an Owl and I find it very useful as I can tell just by its reading if I have things left on standby. It might also be useful to do a regular comparison check to see if your provider is the cheapest too. Think about how you use your oven too - they are very big spaces to heat up for one dish - I would think about multi-use and batch cooking if you're putting the main oven on, then freeze and use the microwave if you have on to reheat, or think about one pot cooking on the hob or using the slow cooker as it is likely to be cheaper than heating the oven.
I am doing that more than ever...it may seem crazy but I have two microwave ovens so I can use them for quick/simple meals or heating up something(Why two)so when you need to heat a couple of items you can do it at the same time rather than sometimes one item at a time(and the first item starts to cool whilst you do the rest of the meal)
I have been told to get a halogen oven which is smaller and can do most things too and often uses 40% less power.
Then again I am eating less and many of my meals are now cold and do not require heating(sandwiches, salads, cereal etc...)I have a slow cooker but haven't quite worked out how to use it and what to cook(being single)and whether it saves money.
In some ways its good but I am obsessed about switching everything off now but I have been told sometimes some things can be damaged or their working lives are shortened by the constant switching on and off.
This may seem very lazy but to keep warm I am afraid that I often have to go back to bed and read a book or listen to the radio or my mp3 payer where I have put music or podcasts on to keep me entertained. Medical people may worry that it encourages depression and isolation but if you are watching your energy budget sometimes that has to take priority...and money can sometimes goven where you can go and what you can do outdoors."A government afraid of its citizens is a Democracy. Citizens afraid of government is tyranny!" ~Thomas Jefferson
"Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in" ~ Alan Alda0 -
One thing that I find always helps is not to let yourself get cold - as it always takes me longer to warm up (and I need more warmth) rather than just keeping me at a reasonable temperature!
That's my problem hence now wearing thermals, jumpers pyjamas, termal socks and a dressing gown at various times but I suspect where possible warm drinks and a hot meal help on that score too...
Unfortunately, our summer so far has been bad and the weather cold making it difficult to stay warm or avoid using the heating occasionally. And sadly we're almost into June. We could be lucky and have a late burst of warmer weather, fingers crossed.
Mum used to have the heating on a lot and loved being warm and the extra money(state pension and a little from a pension belonging to my late Father meant that was possible)now Mum has passed away money is very tight. And Mum's savings meagre but enough to affect me and have it go to probate.
I hope/assume when Mum's estate reduces(and it won't take long, taken up with community charges/rent)I will have to ask for help again and hope that I will get it but with the new changes coming in that is not a guarantee that help will be there and what is available will be reduced if you do qualify.
I do keep asking for advice at the CAB and at this minute I take each day as it comes. I dare not think too far ahead."A government afraid of its citizens is a Democracy. Citizens afraid of government is tyranny!" ~Thomas Jefferson
"Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in" ~ Alan Alda0 -
as this has dropped down the OS board, ive moved it to gas and electricity board for you
ZIP
Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men :cool:
Norn Iron club member #3800
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