2022 Frugal Living Challenge

Hopefuljoy

@cw18 That's a real shame about your library!!!! I know that at West Sussex you can join online and get started straight away but it might be different for yours. I have used AO as well and was very pleased with them. I hope you get a good machine soon. 

Broomstick

@cw18  In our county we can join at any library in the area or, like Hopefuljoy in Sussex, online.  For me, access to free audiobooks has been such a treat.

cw18

florianatwobob said:

Is it also with considering that a larger drum means you can do fewer washes? Alternatively is a half load function a possibility?

Another vote for AO too. 

 Many weeks I only do one load anyway - and I'd still have to do it weekly for my work uniform!

One of the features I'd like to retain (and which I've seen on some) is where the machine weighs the washing to decide how much water is needed.   So the machine makes the decision, rather than me having to decide whether it needs to be set to full load or will get washed properly as a half load.

Wicked_Lady said:

My washing machine, admittedly a German make, weighs the wash load and adjusts the length of wash accordingly. Do other machines do this?

   see my above reply

cw18

Broomstick said:

@cw18  In our county we can join at any library in the area or, like Hopefuljoy in Sussex, online.  For me, access to free audiobooks has been such a treat.

I don't have another within easy striking distance that I can get to     The one in the town where I work is only open 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday.   My latest start time is 8:30am and my earliest official finish time (I rarely finish on time) is 2:10pm - and it's a 7 minute walk from my office to the library.

BUT - a bit of digging has found a way to sign up on-line.  I hadn't dug for it as I hadn't expected it to be an option.   I'm now connected on-line

Can't find any Which? publications though - just popular monthly magazines that you'd seen on the shelf in a newsagency.

Broomstick

cw18 said:

BUT - a bit of digging has found a way to sign up on-line.  I hadn't dug for it as I hadn't expected it to be an option.   I'm now connected on-line

Oh well done!  I'm glad that you found a way to do that. 

willow_loulou

Just discovered my odd box delivery has add ins. I’m getting 5 blood oranges this week! Yum!! £1:69 which seems reasonable to me. Must admit I have missed Olio and I’m very glad I’m testing negative so I can start picking up stuff again. Phew 

otb666

with my washing machine i only use one setting 150 mins and only do one wash load a week for the 3 of us.  We live mostly indoors now a days

cw18

150 mins!!   When my son did a couple of washes for me he mentioned that his machine takes 2 hours, and I thought that was ridiculous....

I'm not happy that the shortest wash on my current machine is 54 minutes, and am looking at machines that have a 28 minute cycle - some of them even have a 14 minute cycle, although the load limit on that is 1.5kg (in a machine that has a 9kg drum).   Would be fantastic for a couple of swim kits though, as in the past I've had to keep them hanging around until I had enough to merit running the machine

The machines at the launderette are only 26 minutes.   When I went 8 days ago I set it going, nipped round to the Community Pantry before they closed, and got back just a couple of minutes after the washer finished.   It meant I was much later getting home than I would have been without needing to get my washing done, as I'd have been nipping into the shop anyway    On my previous visit I'd gone back into the office and done some prep for the following Monday, which I'd normally have stayed on to do anyway.   The location of the launderette is why I've not minded having to use it too much - though having use of my car on a Saturday does make it easier (otherwise I'd have to lug it around in a large backpack - not bad going, but not so nice coming back when it's heavier due to being wet!)

otb666

i could select a shorter time but thats the first one I hit from new and never tried any of the others Because it was eco 40c and longest spin. Tbh I also like the fact it was a good long wash during pandemic

Floss

My washer dryer is a 3 yo Beko from AO with 1400 rpm spin, 8kg load & 14m / 28m washes as well as an Eco cotton wash. Am not so keen on the condenser dryer as I don't think it dries as well as a vented one but I have no room for a separate TD.