2022 Frugal Living Challenge

Primrose

linz said:

Floss said:

Those of us around my age (late 50s) can likely remember 3-day weeks of the early 1970s and power cuts in the late 70s. I can clearly recall mum using a camping burner to cook,  making toast at the coal fire in the first & the gas fire in the second (we'd moved home in between) with candles being lit and a battery radio & board games for entertainment. During the 3-day weeks I was at infant school in the afternoons only while my junior age brothers were there in the mornings. Classes were part time as we were in the old Victorian, too small school building because it was heated by big boilers while our shiny new school was all-electric.

The forthcoming winter could be just like those 1970s days, dark & chilly and I am trying to prep as best I can.

Why were there 3-day weeks in the 70's? Mid-40's here so don't remember them - what was the reason behind them?

The miners went on strike for weeks so no coal was produced and miners pickets were preventing existing coal stocks at depots being  delivered to the generation plants so no electricity could be produced.  I think the strike was partly due to the fact that unproductive and mostly coal mines were being shut down because they had become uneconomic to run.   There wasn,t enough electricity generated  to go round and keep industry and home supplies going so industry was put on a compulsory 3 day week and  domestic premises suffered regular power cuts too.

i worked for a food manufacturer at the time.  The industry was given priority to continue manufacturing so the nation,s food supplies didn,t dry up but that only in the manufacturing area of the factory.   We in the offices had no heating or lighting,  working in overcoats and gloves. We  couldn,t type because all our typewriters were all  electric at the time.

The strike went on for many weeks before the miners eventually gave in and returned to work.

tooldle

I’m not so sure the miners gave in. They got their pay rise of >30% having turned down 16%ish pay offer in favour of striking. 

Edited to add, the settlement was 35% pay rise

fionaandphil

I was thinking the same @tooldle   A lot of the same things happening right now, with people being offered below inflation wage increases and with costs rocketing.  I think that is why there is so much talk of the 3 day week and power cuts, and this combined with the Russian war on the Ukraine has made global prices increase, and our government hasn't done enough to mitigate for this.  A lot of other countries are putting in measures to try to protect their businesses and consumers.

cw18

Floss said:

Those of us around my age (late 50s) can likely remember 3-day weeks of the early 1970s and power cuts in the late 70s.

I'm 56, and have absolutely NO recollection of either.

machasraven

We have a Cobb so can cook on that in the catio and also a gas camping oven and two rings which is run off a larger gas bottle not the cans, we also have an open fire in the living room. I am making sure the freezers are full and putting items that it doesn't matter if they defrost as they will still be abled to be cooked for couple of days. We have a camping kettle and a kettle for the cobb too so can do hot water. Can you tell we love camping?

cw18

joedenise said:

cw18 said:

joedenise said:

@cw18 - I really can't see any gas cuts at all as it would be extremely dangerous if it was cut and then turned back on later and there would likely be explosions!  There certainly weren't gas cuts back in the 70s during the 3 day weeks when we had plenty of power cuts - as in no electric.

If we have just gas I can cook and have hot drinks, which is good.

But I can't heat the house, as central heating needs electric for the controls.

I think that's the same for all of us unless we have a wood burner or oil fires.  Didn't have that problem in the 70s though as didn't have central heating only a gas fire in the living room so at least we didn't need to be cold!

I've always lived in a home with central heating.   My parents had that - plus a gas fire in the living room.   I believe, from something my Mother said a good few years ago, that the living room may have had a coal fire when it was built and they bought it (1963), but I don't recall it ever being anything but a gas fire so they must have changed it fairly quickly.    I know they had the central heating from the start though - the price of the house included either c/h or a brick garage, and to have both (which they went for) cost extra.

zafiro1984

cw18 said:

Floss said:

Those of us around my age (late 50s) can likely remember 3-day weeks of the early 1970s and power cuts in the late 70s.

I'm 56, and have absolutely NO recollection of either.

I'm in my mid 70's and was working at that time, juggling work and children. I didn't find it too stressful but I was in my 30's and could probably cope better then, than I would now. I know petrol rationing was on the cards as well although I don't think it was implemented. I know, because DH had exemption vouchers due to his nature of work.

Edward Heath was PM, he lived nearby and would often be found in the pub/restaurant which the locals used. He was smaller and rounder in real life than his pictures show, always had a smile on his face. Never talked politics, he was all about sailing. Despite peoples view on politics he was always inclusive to all ages, kind and considerate. He was what you would call an old fashioned English Gentleman. I think politicians are a bit different now!!!

HelenaPinky

My Mom was a nurse in the 70s so she was protected from the power cuts as she lived at the hospital in nurses accommodation with a generator.

I’m late 30s and new to frugal living - I think lots of people 30s/40s may have a shock to adapt to not having gas, electric, money to eat what they like when they like. In a way, hopefully the lockdowns may have prepared people for life being a bit different and having to adapt.

JackieO glad to have you back online 

cheerfulness4

Elisheba said:

Just seen that you can get 3 months Disney + for £6 worth of T$sco vouchers.  Should I bother I wonder?  There are a couple of Marvel series I haven't seen yet, and I've not seen any of the new Starwars ones.  Not at all bothered by the animated films though.  I wish it was offering Netflix subscription as there are more programmes I want to see on there 

Think it was only last month hotukdeals was saying you could make that 6 months for £6 which we did but not sure if still available. You might want to search for the word you had to enter at checkout but something like "shore." 

Floss

cw18 said:

Floss said:

Those of us around my age (late 50s) can likely remember 3-day weeks of the early 1970s and power cuts in the late 70s.

I'm 56, and have absolutely NO recollection of either.

Really? Even if you can't remember the ones in 73/74, I'm surprised you can't remember any powercuts in 1979, the 'Winter of Discontent' - you'd have been around 13.