2022 Frugal Living Challenge

cw18

willow_loulou said:

Does anyone use timer switches? If so are they easy to use? I’m thinking of one for the kitchen light strip my son seems to leave on every other night! 

Lights under units, or the main strip light on the ceiling?

I'm assuming you mean the ceiling light?   OH says 'no'.   If it's on a timer (if you can even wire one into the circuit) and goes off when you're in the room - or if you want to nip in for a glass of water etc. - you may not be able to turn it on !!

Having a debate with OH about how they may work (neither of us has one), but perhaps take a look at a Smart switch (if you have Alexa or an alternative).

If it's under unit lights that plug into a socket, then using a normal timer socket (between socket and plug) shouldn't be a problem - apart from you may find yourself in a room that suddenly goes dark while holding a kettle of boiling water if you don't also have the ceiling light on!!!   They are easy to use - I've had electric heaters on them in the past.

RateTartExtraordinaire

willow_loulou said:

Does anyone use timer switches? If so are they easy to use? I’m thinking of one for the kitchen light strip my son seems to leave on every other night! 

I've got one from DIY shop about 3 years ago. Used it to make it look like someone was home when we are away and it works fine. It fits under the light switch plate. Pretty simple to fit with a screwdriver. Think I paid about a fiver for one.  

newlywed

My sisters flat has light switches in the shared hall where you push a button in and then after a couple of minutes the button slowly pushes back out and the light turns off by itself…. Annoying when you are chatting whilst saying goodbye

https://www.screwfix.com/p/elkay-400a-pneumatic-time-delay-switch/68088

willow_loulou

Thanks all. It’s a plug into a socket light strip, the ceiling light strip died in the summer and I took the decision to replace it for an Led fitting at some point. My partner gave me this until I can find something I want/can afford 

mumtoomany

A cheaper way, @willow_loulou cut out a light-bulb shape from card. Attach a piece of string, then drawingpin it to the door frame. Every time he leaves the room it will hit him is the face. They start turning them off in the end. mumtoomany.xx

Hopefuljoy

@mumtoomany Utter genius!!!!! You have made me smile! 

mumof3.12kindebt

Morning frugal friends 

I'm going to do a inventory of the fridge freezer and cupboards tonight and tomorrow. 

We have run the freezer down abit so that's good. But we still have loads to use up so I've just been buying the fresh stuff we need. 

I've made a batch of sandwiches for the freezer so the ham didn't get wasted. 

I have loads of pasta and rice and frozen homemade soup so I'll be using those for lunches too and will use the pasta and rice in our dinner dishes as well as the other stuff that needs using. I think we have quiet abit of meat that's been frozen too, lots of frozen veg, cooking sauces in the cupboards, plenty of cereal so I haven't purchased any of that in the last few weeks, told the kids they need to eat what's in the cupboards before I buy any more. 

I also need to go through the toiletries and cleaning stuff 😩 

I'm determined to not buy what we don't need. The next step will be a whole house inventory and declutting which I'm currently in the process of doing. If we don't know what we have then we will end up buying things that we don't Need, so we need to continue to shop at home first. 

Hope everyone is well. 

willow_loulou

@Mumtomany 🤣 brilliant. Though I think he’d still manage to not turn it off! 

wort

Willow I’ve had the plug in type to use to put lights on/off when away they are simple to use like the heating style with a round clock that you press in the little key on the dial for the time .only thing is the actual timer is on all the time as it needs to be set to the correct time of day , so not sure how much money it would save you.
hope that makes sense!

zafiro1984

cw18 said:

willow_loulou said:

Does anyone use timer switches? If so are they easy to use? I’m thinking of one for the kitchen light strip my son seems to leave on every other night! 

We have several lights on sensors, downstairs cloakroom, all the bathrooms, freezer room, hall, landing. I'm sure there are more. When you open the door a sensor detects you and the light automatically goes on, after leaving the room it stays on for a couple of minutes and then goes off. The downside to this is that if you keep still for a period of time, the light goes off. I suppose they work on a similar principle to outdoor security lights. There are no light switches in these rooms.