2022 Frugal Living Challenge

Bluegreen143

Why does it always feel colder inside when it’s the same temperature as outside? I went to hang out the washing and it’s 13C outside and 15C inside according to my thermostat, but I felt toastier being out in a bit of sun even with a cold breeze! Think you just expect/don’t mind a cold breeze outside but sitting inside you expect to be warm. I suppose I was moving around hanging out the washing but am just sat still at my desk indoors too 🤔

Normally I’d have the heating on by now especially when WFH all day but trying to hold off…! Energy DD recommended to go up to £300 a month by Shell (my provider), Eeek! Only 18 months ago I used to pay £100 a month for my energy DD. 

(I would also have usually tumble dried the washing except on hot summer days, so I am learning better habits!!)

cw18

Bluegreen143 said:

Energy DD recommended to go up to £300 a month by Shell (my provider), Eeek! Only 18 months ago I used to pay £100 a month for my energy DD.

In January (last month of my fix) I could have got away with paying Shell just under £40/month.

From next month my calculations say I should be paying just under £116.50 (a 194% increase), but they're suggesting it should be closer to £122.

I'm leaving it where it is!

I'm going to move the same amount into my bill paying account as I do now for my energy bills.   They should be reducing how much they take from by bank by the grant amount (they're one reducing direct debits by the amount), so that means that unless I have an emergency (or get cash strapped elsewhere in the meantime) I'll have £400 in that account by the end of March.

Assuming my energy use stays the same as the last 12 months (still working on reducing it) that means I'll then have to find money to increase my payments by £360 over the following 18 months whilst prices are meant to be staying the same - and I'll hopefully have the £400 in the account to cover it

And I already have a fairly hefty credit balance on my energy account, so once I see my bill early next month I may actually reduce my payments to start using that up - mainly as it will allow me to build up a bigger emergency pot (I currently have zero other than some money my son recently repaid me from years ago, and he did that because I'm currently losing pay every time we're called out on strike and he's insisting I "can't be a scab" - fortunately the 2 days this week are scheduled rest days for me, so I'll still get paid!    We should find out tonight what the plans are moving forwards.)

I'm feeling very lucky to be in a position where I shouldn't actually need to find any more from my income for my gas/electric bills than I have for the last 6 months until at least October 2024 - I'm aware many others (including my daughter) aren't anywhere near as fortunate

Wraithlady

bupster said:

Can any  folks on here please advise on the best way of freezing courgettes?  They,ve always seems too full of water content already to blanch before freezing as we do beans, and our preferred way of using them is to griddle or roast.  I'm wondering how frozen ones subsequently cook successfully.

Blanch super-fast - really just in and out and certainly no more than a minute. I have to say though I don't tend to cook frozen ones in the same way as fresh ones, for the same reasons! 

Personally, I don't bother blanching them - just chop thinly and freeze, then add to stews/curries/stir fries etc.

Texture-wise, there's very little difference between fresh and frozen after they've been cooked

Beshki

Does anyone else have pets that are feeling the cold? My dog has lots of blankets but already seems to be suffering from no heating. She won’t lie underneath blankets as she doesn’t like feeling trapped, but I’m a bit concerned re keeping her cosy as the weather gets cooler. She also won’t lie on those self heating blankets as they’re crinkly and she’s scared of them.

Jellytotts

  Beshki said:

Does anyone else have pets that are feeling the cold? My dog has lots of blankets but already seems to be suffering from no heating. She won’t lie underneath blankets as she doesn’t like feeling trapped, but I’m a bit concerned re keeping her cosy as the weather gets cooler. She also won’t lie on those self heating blankets as they’re crinkly and she’s scared of them.

My cats have started to appear more during the day and mostly find a sofa or bed to sleep on over night now.   Unless the animal is ill or very old then they should be able to regulate their own temperature quite readily and move about when required to warm themselves up.

We run a cold house here, the heating will only go on when absolutely necessary and then only to 17 degrees for an hour or so.  We do light the fire in the winter afternoons/evenings but that's instead of the heating, animals soon adapt.  

Jellytotts

Bluegreen143 said:

Why does it always feel colder inside when it’s the same temperature as outside? I went to hang out the washing and it’s 13C outside and 15C inside according to my thermostat, but I felt toastier being out in a bit of sun even with a cold breeze! Think you just expect/don’t mind a cold breeze outside but sitting inside you expect to be warm. I suppose I was moving around hanging out the washing but am just sat still at my desk indoors too 🤔

Normally I’d have the heating on by now especially when WFH all day but trying to hold off…! Energy DD recommended to go up to £300 a month by Shell (my provider), Eeek! Only 18 months ago I used to pay £100 a month for my energy DD. 

(I would also have usually tumble dried the washing except on hot summer days, so I am learning better habits!!)

We purchased 2 small dehumidifiers last year (run off usb so very power efficient) and have those running this time of year in the master bedroom and kitchen, the difference they make to the air temperature is quite amazing.  Removing the moisture really warms the air. We have a larger one I use when I've got an airer full of washing too and that can change the temperature in a room within a few minutes...it's a bit more power hungry but extracts an awful lot of water.

linz

Beshki said:

Does anyone else have pets that are feeling the cold? My dog has lots of blankets but already seems to be suffering from no heating. She won’t lie underneath blankets as she doesn’t like feeling trapped, but I’m a bit concerned re keeping her cosy as the weather gets cooler. She also won’t lie on those self heating blankets as they’re crinkly and she’s scared of them.

When I had my dog he used to feel it un his twilight years. I bought him a doggy tank top/jumper from Pets at Home. It really helped.

Nathalia

@beshki, our cat had a cushion beside the radiator for napping and a bed on a chair at night with a fleece to sleep on, which was drawn up around the sides to keep out draughts.

London_1

My youngest DD has three dogs two little ones One who has fur rather than hair and a rescue greyhound who is a bit old lad .he feels the cold dreadfully as he hasn't an ounce of fat on him so DD got him a couple of coats to wear indoors One on, and one off so they get washed fairly frequently.He's not keen on the cold at all and actually snuggles the little furry pal into him he is all legs and body bless him and a real dafty and although he towers over the other two the little furry pal is the boss of them all.The other little gal is a Jack Russell and an elderly lady and dosent take to being snuggled at all. She much prefers humans to the other dogs.:) all three have different personalities.I'm not a doggy person but its funny to see how they are like three almost people Stanley the big chap is bossed around by the little furry Ted and follows him slavishly but lexi the lady just looks at their antics distainfully as to her they are just puppies all dogs were rescue dogs as my DD adores them all.its a bit chaotic at times ,especially when all her four sons are around and it feels like the house is bursting at the seams but my DD has always likes a full house whether is dogs or children, she did have five of the latter When I go there on a Sunday Lexi the lady will curl up on my lap quite firmly and glare at the other two if they come near She definitely prefers humans to the other dogs :0 I usually knit the two little ones jumpers to help when its snowy or icy, But the big chap has proper bought jackets to keep him warm as he will shiver and look very woebegone when its cold
JackieO xx 

boultdj

When my lady was alive, she had her own fleece blankets and a hot water bottle with a cover, it use to get filled, put the folded blanket on top, if she meowed at me I put the other blanket over her.