2022 Frugal Living Challenge

zafiro1984

Ref:- saving electricity .....I know everyone on here will leave nothing on standby, full dishwasher and washing machine etc
I have just recently started to do a couple of things which is no effort at all but hopefully will have a saving attached
1) I turn the dishwasher off just before the drying cycle and leave the door slightly ajar.
2) Anything that needs defrosting from the freezer I put in the fridge to defrost overnight,  

Any more tips along these lines of 'no effort' gratefully appreciated.
Last year in October my electric consumption was 21kw average a day. This October is was down to 16kw per day, but I still think there is room for improvement. 

linz

zafiro1984 said:

 
Any more tips along these lines of 'no effort' gratefully appreciated.
Last year in October my electric consumption was 21kw average a day. This October is was down to 16kw per day, but I still think there is room for improvement. 

'no effort' things

I'm sat here with string lights on my mantelpiece & candles on so no electricity being used. When batteries run out I recharge them as they're rechargable ones.

Also if/when ironing turn iron off for the last item.

Charge/top up phone in the car.

I also eat 'something' on toast once a week for a cheap and quick tea with minimal energy used. Normally egg or beans.

florianatwobob

I leave the oven door open when I’ve finished cooking to let the heat out into the kitchen

missmoneywatch

One simple but obvious thing I do is to turn oven off for last five minutes of cooking time oven is still hot but saves a little electricity 

kayannie

I use a 3 tier pan for cooking veg (usually potatoes in the bottom cut up quite small) & as I cook with electricity I turn the hob off before the veg are quite ready. They finish cooking in the residual heat. I cook pasta by putting in boiling water, bringing back to the boil & then turning off the hob. Perfectly cooked pasta after 15 minutes.

cw18

zafiro1984 said:

Ref:- saving electricity .....I know everyone on here will leave nothing on standby, full dishwasher and washing machine etc
I have just recently started to do a couple of things which is no effort at all but hopefully will have a saving attached
1) I turn the dishwasher off just before the drying cycle and leave the door slightly ajar.
2) Anything that needs defrosting from the freezer I put in the fridge to defrost overnight,  

Any more tips along these lines of 'no effort' gratefully appreciated.
Last year in October my electric consumption was 21kw average a day. This October is was down to 16kw per day, but I still think there is room for improvement. 

Most things I just leave in a container on the side in my kitchen to defrost (sometimes inside my combi-oven so it's not in the way).   I normally only pull out of the freezer in the morning before I head to work, and if I leave it in the fridge it's barely started to defrost by the time I get home from work!   It's a north facing room, and it's never especially warm in there unless I'm doing a lot of cooking.

My daily average for electricity over the last 12 months is just under 3.8kWh, but it's normally only me (OH every other weekend) and I go out to work.  I also have gas for heating my home and my water (I have a shower that pulls from immersion tank), so my usage would be considerably more if those were done by electric.   Over the last year my gas has averaged at just over 17kWh/day - so the combined total is just under 21kWh/day.

My usage is below the average for a 1 bedroomed dual fuel property, so I'm happy with those figures as I have a 4 bedroomed house

linz said:

I'm sat here with string lights on my mantelpiece & candles on so no electricity being used. When batteries run out I recharge them as they're rechargable ones.

I see battery operated string/fairy lights suggested on a fairly regular basis in a couple of 'scrimping' FB groups I'm a member of, but I don't see the logic to it.

Some people, like you, use rechargeable batteries - so you have to use electricity to recharge them, rather than just using directly for the lights.

Others buy batteries, and I'm finding it hard to believe that this is cheaper than using electricity from the mains!

I'm personally happy to pay for the minimal amount my light bulbs use, so that I can see properly and not make my eyesight any worse by straining them in a dimly lit environment.   The bulbs in my living room are 9w cool white LED, so that's 18w/hour as I have two bulbs on one switch - or about 160w/day (1hr before work and 7 after).   That costs me about 5.5p/day.   Even allowing for slightly more use when I'm off work it's less than £2/month.

Soontobeoap

Have started doing some christmas shopping today. My Grandchildren are my weakness. Instead of buying them little pocket money toys for the run up to christmas, I have bought them all some quality felt tip pens (crayola) and some books to read. These gifts look and are better than they would normally get. Will definitely be more valued and cost £15.00each rather than £25 each. Over 6 Grandchildren thats a saving of £60 and they wont even realise. I have also made a list this year when normally O run around topping up one or anothers gifts to make them look the same. I have also cut down on extended family and do not biy for brothers, sisters, nieces or nephews anymore. 

willow_loulou

I’m with you @cw18 I can’t see the savings on battery lights. I do though use rechargeable lights in hallways but they’re on a sensor so react to the door opening. 

This was as much as an aesthetic thing for me as potential money saving. I hate the light on all the time and my son is terrible at leaving lights on. My bedroom door doesn’t stay shut because of 2 tiny dogs so the sensor light is much better. 

The dogs can switch the downstairs one on which makes my life easier going downstairs! 

I do have a plethora of candles and some fairy lights for power cuts. We had several a few years ago so I like to be prepared. 

I’m trying to decide what to plant in my raised container - it has survived the wind with its lid in place so I’m keen to use it. Any suggestions of winter things to grow in it? It’s quite deep but probably not quite root veg deep - though I may try a few carrots for the heck of it 🤣 

Primrose

willow_loulou said:

I’m with you @cw18 I can’t see the savings on battery lights. I do though use rechargeable lights in hallways but they’re on a sensor so react to the door opening. 

This was as much as an aesthetic thing for me as potential money saving. I hate the light on all the time and my son is terrible at leaving lights on. My bedroom door doesn’t stay shut because of 2 tiny dogs so the sensor light is much better. 

The dogs can switch the downstairs one on which makes my life easier going downstairs! 

I do have a plethora of candles and some fairy lights for power cuts. We had several a few years ago so I like to be prepared. 

I’m trying to decide what to plant in my raised container - it has survived the wind with its lid in place so I’m keen to use it. Any suggestions of winter things to grow in it? It’s quite deep but probably not quite root veg deep - though I may try a few carrots for the heck of it 🤣 

willow_loulou said:

I’m with you @cw18 I can’t see the savings on battery lights. I do though use rechargeable lights in hallways but they’re on a sensor so react to the door opening. 

This was as much as an aesthetic thing for me as potential money saving. I hate the light on all the time and my son is terrible at leaving lights on. My bedroom door doesn’t stay shut because of 2 tiny dogs so the sensor light is much better. 

The dogs can switch the downstairs one on which makes my life easier going downstairs! 

I do have a plethora of candles and some fairy lights for power cuts. We had several a few years ago so I like to be prepared. 

I’m trying to decide what to plant in my raised container - it has survived the wind with its lid in place so I’m keen to use it. Any suggestions of winter things to grow in it? It’s quite deep but probably not quite root veg deep - though I may try a few carrots for the heck of it 🤣 

willow_loulou said:

I’m with you @cw18 I can’t see the savings on battery lights. I do though use rechargeable lights in hallways but they’re on a sensor so react to the door opening. 

I’m trying to decide what to plant in my raised container - it has survived the wind with its lid in place so I’m keen to use it. Any suggestions of winter things to grow in it? It’s quite deep but probably not quite root veg deep - though I may try a few carrots for the heck of it 🤣 

Have you thought of Swiss Chard if yiu can still find the seeds at this time of year?  The leaves are like spinach but it,s winter hardy and young leaves can be picked and used as salads.  I,m personally not too kern on the Bright Lightd  coloured red or yellow stemmed varieties as I find the flavour of them a little "earthy" but the all green varieties are nice and have a "cleaner" taste.

joedenise

@willow_loulou - look out for round carrots as they don't need the depth of soil of traditional long carrots.  Not sure whether they would grow at this time of year but certainly worth a try if you can find any seeds.