2022 Frugal Living Challenge

cw18

Floss said:

But it's not been cold yet. What were temperatures like this time last year?

No idea what the outside temperature was last year, but I'm feeling it this time around. 

The cold was getting to me tonight, even layered up

I'm running the heating at a lower temperature as standard compared to last year, but I'm definitely needing extra layers and fleece throws over my knees as a result.

London_1

I am at the moment pleasantly surprised at how warm it still is and as yet haven't bothered to turn my heating on.The only gas I use is for hot water two hours a day for a cylinderful and CH when needed.

My house if beautifully insulated both in the roof and walls, and in the winter unless its really bitter I only have an hour in the morning when I get up, and maybe a top up hour around tea time.Last year my two heaviest winter months were January/ Febuary and then the duel fuel price was around £89.00 odd a month.

Last months duel fule was £32.00 odd and this will probably be only slightly more as I was away for five days in October.
I live in the fairly warm south east of Kent in a sheltered area and am mid terraced as well so fingers crossed.

its warm and sunny at the moment,and we have an expected high of around 15-16c so no heating needed today either  

I know it will be harder for a lot more people and many are dreading the coming winter, so stock up om  throws, HW bottles and layer up and fingers crossed we have a mild winter.We certainly don't want a "Beast from the East" again

JackieO xx

tooldle

My heating came on this morning. Our thermostat is set at 18C. We had a new boiler and radiators installed last spring. My meter tells me, running the rads for less than 1 hr this morning, cost around £1 in gas. 
It was chilly when i took the dog out this morning and the outside temperature is currently at 10C

Sweetlittledaydreams

It's about 10C here this morning too, and 94% chance of rain which is a shame as I have laundry to do and it takes such a long time to dry in the house without having the heating on. I've used the dehumidifier for a bit but think I will have to put that in the bedroom for an hour today as I've woken up feeling the damp on my chest. Will air the house first, one to help with the damp and two because I now have a flock of quail living in my porch, bird flu regulations mean they have to be kept indoors from the 7th, and as their pen doesn't have a solid roof I don't want to risk them getting contaminated! Plus it's quite nice to be able to watch them from the sofa 😄
Will need to do a food shop today, but going to write a meal plan before I go to try and reduce my spends. Also will see what vouchers I have and plan around that. The only thing on olio round here is apples and I've still got about 20-30 left from the tree. I've read that you can keep cooked baked potatoes for 4 days in the fridge and microwave them just to warm them again, so might fill the oven up today as I'm working for the next 4 days, 13hour shifts plus an hours commute back to back doesn't lead to me making healthy food choices, healthy for my body or purse! And might as well cook as much as I can if the oven is going on. Cooked a roast dinner last night for a friend, it was lovely but I was very conscious that the top oven was on for around an hour and the hob for about 30 minutes, it seems a lot of energy for just one meal.
Got my snuggly fleece bedding on now, so that with a hot water bottle means the heating isn't going on, plus as a benefit I'm going to bed earlier as even with a throw and hot water bottle on the sofa it does get chilly.
Have started looking for Christmas deals, so far I can get my cousins present with £2 off, but just missed the half price deal for my aunties present so will wait and see if that comes round again, hopefully will before Christmas. 

Primrose

Sweetlittledaydreams said:

And might as well cook as much as I can if the oven is going on. Cooked a roast dinner last night for a friend, it was lovely but I was very conscious that the top oven was on for around an hour and the hob for about 30 minutes, it seems a lot of energy for just one meal.

It's occurred to me that if one is cooking a roast chicken and a butcher is providing it, it might be more economical to ask the butcher to chop it up into pieces and roast all the bits separately.  I'm sure this would probably reduce cooking time and energy costs over the power needed to cook a whole bird?

Siebrie

@Primrose check with your butcher before (s)he cuts it, whether they charge extra for cutting up the chicken. My butcher charged me €2 extra for cutting up a 400g piece of beef for stewing!

Van_Girl

I have felt quite chilly of late, I'm North West. The heating has been coming on morning and evening, though not during the day as I keep the thermostat lowish.

Although saying that, I'm working through 1100l kerosene as I'm due to have an ASHP fitted hopefully in the new year, so I don't need to be too stingy with the heating. But I do find it too stuffy if the heating is on for too long. I find it quite tricky to find a happy medium, but would rather be cooler and put my dressing gown on, than feel stuffy and dry

Primrose

Siebrie said:

@Primrose check with your butcher before (s)he cuts it, whether they charge extra for cutting up the chicken. My butcher charged me €2 extra for cutting up a 400g piece of beef for stewing!

Thanks for mentioning. I don't think our village butcher does.   We're very fortunate.  He recently ran a series of Artisan workshops showing how to cut up and butcher various joints of meat.  We also get free carrier bags of chicken carcasses from him for making chicken stock although I suspect with the increased pressure on food costs we'll have a lot more competitors for these now than previously. 

Bluegreen143

It’s pretty easy to cut up a chicken yourself, if you’re buying from the supermarket or your butcher charges. YouTube will help for anyone who’s not done it before.

When I do a roast chicken I always spatchcock it (cut out the backbone and flatten it) - it halves the cooking time. I put the potatoes and carrots under it so they cook in the juices. You won’t get crispy roasties but they taste nice and it means you can easily do roast chicken as a mid week meal. I tend to do some green veg on the side as I don’t like them cooked under the chicken as much.

2Scratters

Sent in the fuel readings and an unexpected down turn on the gas we only used 1 unit!! we don't even know how that has happened total cost 11.30. The CH is not on yet and have been doing OK weather wise even though we are in the NW. DH has succumbed to putting a blanket at least on his knees and then he gets the added warmth of the dog vi-ing for his knee. We do have a wood burner and that only goes on in the evening. I think the next step for us re using saved water will be to put it in the cistern directly. The dogs may not be too chuffed as one can open the bathroom door and they choose to drink that water rather than the water from their dish. 
A purchase of a stove top kettle is on the list for needed items and as the gas is more affordable for us it makes sense.
2 Scratters xx