2022 Frugal Living Challenge

gill5blue

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. 

Hi,
wow, im amazed at your usage!
I checked and October 2021 I used 8.13 kw per day-not being careful.
October 2022 I used 5.41kw per day by being careful.
running all the time I have fridge/freezer, security cameras, sky box, Alexia, and cooker(plugged in)
all lights are led (so low usage) and then I run tv/soundbar by smart plugs.
Being more mindful of everything I only put tv on when I want to watch something and then turn it off.
Being more mindful I am also now using a lot less water, I was using 0.110m3 per day, and now I am using 0.070m3 per day and as I have just started(October 2022) im hoping to improve this even further.

My suggestion would be to look at what you definitely need switched on.

hope that helps

gill5blue

willow_loulou

bear14 said:

Heya folks, just caught up on the entire posts. You are all very inspiring people. I would love to join in if you will have me. 

Welcome x

Elisheba

gill5blue said:

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. 

Hi,
wow, im amazed at your usage!
I checked and October 2021 I used 8.13 kw per day-not being careful.
October 2022 I used 5.41kw per day by being careful.
running all the time I have fridge/freezer, security cameras, sky box, Alexia, and cooker(plugged in)
all lights are led (so low usage) and then I run tv/soundbar by smart plugs.
Being more mindful of everything I only put tv on when I want to watch something and then turn it off.
Being more mindful I am also now using a lot less water, I was using 0.110m3 per day, and now I am using 0.070m3 per day and as I have just started(October 2022) im hoping to improve this even further.

My suggestion would be to look at what you definitely need switched on.

hope that helps

gill5blue

I just looked at my electricity usage and it's between 2.5 and 5 kW per day.

I turn everything off at the wall that's not being used - so at night only my fridge and freezer are on.

I charge my phone during the day and turn it off when it is done - same with anything else that needs charging.

I only have one bulb on in the room I'm in at night, and they are low energy ones.

I quite often use my phone instead of the TV, for things like YouTube - my TV is 11 years old so not hugely eco.

My fridge and freezer are full - even if it's with bottles of water - as then they use less energy to keep cool when full. I also double checked they are not on too high. 

I boil my kettle once and make a pot of tea which I put in a flask so don't need to rebook for later cuppas.

I listen to the radio through my laptop when working, rather than a separate radio. 

I don't have any digital clocks that need plugged in, or smart tech that needs to stay on. 

I only wash clothes that are dirty or smelly. Everything else I just hang up to air and it's fine. Most of my washing is done on an eco 20 wash, except towels etc which are done on an eco 60 wash. 

I never use a tumbledrier. 

I'm sure there are other things I do but can't think of right now. I'd like to reduce my usage more, but I don't want to go and sit in the library to work and I think anymore cuts would impact my life on such a way they might not be worth it. 

Living_proof

It’s a long time since I posted but I try and keep up in the background. I don’t think there is much use in completing a budget for next year until after the Autumn Statement because of all the uncertainty over the triple lock and general taxation. What does concern me is the Council Tax increase as there’s suggestion that the limit of the increase might be scrapped in law. My own payment is £200 a month and my largest bill by far, although my energy costs will rocket next year after my fix ends. I’ve just worked out my average daily usage electricity is 5.8 and gas 11.6 but it has been very mild and my solar brings down the electricity figure. I manage very well on Olio offerings locally and don’t think I can reduce food costs further. It’s hard work being in control at the moment as just as you think you are sorted, some other expense rears it’s head. Adapt, adapt, adapt seems to be the order of the day. 

cw18

Electric use :

Kitchen - combi oven which is used a lot (always on, showing a clock on zeroes - I might try and get back into the habit of turning off at wall), oven/grill sometimes used for grill but rarely used as oven (plugged in and working as my kitchen clock), hob (plugged in for ignitiion as it's gas), extractor hood (plugged in but rarely used - can't reach plug without ladders, but doesn't merit a smart plug), kettle (always plugged in, and I boil what I need when I need as nothing beats a piping hot brew which I don't get from using a flask - and I'm not convinced the flask trick actually saves anything), tumble dryer (off at wall, only used twice in last 6 years), washer (currently on smart plug, so only on when in use - about to remove smart plug as was only there to monitor usage of new machine, and will just turn on/off with socket switch above work counter), alexa used as radio/timer (always on), built in fridge/freezer and separate freezer (both always one), central heating controls (always on), wifi booster for smart heating control panel (always on), toaster and slow cookers (only plugged in when in use), LED spotlights.

Living room - alexa used as radio/timer (always on), 3 extension leads (always on - one of them has 4 smart sockets), TV, DVD player, Blu-Ray player (all on smart extension), hi-fi (on smart socket), cordless phone (always on), laptop (on charge when needed, but via a smart socket which turns off after 80 minutes), LED lightbulbs.   I also have two routers and another box that are always plugged in and running (one router and the box monitor my TV/computer/radio use, for which I get a monthly reward I exchange for Amazon vouchers worth many time the electric they use).

Dining Room - unused.  Ceiling light (no idea what type of bulb the spots are - they've been there the best part of 21 years though) only used when I go in to get something I store in there.

Hallway, stairs and landing - doorbell, 2 smoke detectors and house alarm (all wired to mains), plus lights (energy efficient, but I think all the older type).  Also a light in the cloakroom, and an extractor which is permanently off at the moment (the extractor box isn't secure to the ceiling, so I don't want vibrations pulling it down).  Central heating thermostat (hard wired).  Alexa to control outside light (always on).

Outside light - smart LED bulb (so I can turn on as I'm reaching home, as driveway is very dark).

3 bedrooms used for storage / junk rooms.   Only use lights when in rooms.

Family bathroom -  Unused.   Light on when go in for a quick clean around.  Exactor permanently off.

My bedroom / en-suite - Alexa used as radio/alarm clock (always on), bedside lights (plugged in), ceiling lights (bedroom has LED bulb), TV (on smart plug), electric heater (on smart plug which turns it on before alarm and off again 25 mins later - also turns off 25 mins after I turn if on any other time).   Shower is gravity fed, so no electricity there.  Extractor in en-suite (rarely used).

Other - strip lights in loft and garage.  Gas boiler in garage.

I charge my GPS watch from my laptop (mostly) and my bluetooth headset from one of the extension leads in the living room every evening.  My tablet gets charged via the extension lead as and when needed.   My mobile either gets charged from a plug in the extension lead during the evening or via a USB wall socket in my bedroom overnight.


My electric usage is just under 1400kWh/year (about 3.8kWh/day on average).

My gas usage is 6,320kWh/year (and I'm still working on dropping that, but I think it now requires a significant spend to bring it down further - in the form of additional Smart Thermostatic Radiator Valves, and they're a significant spend making it harder to justify as a financial move).

According to a report I found ( https://usave.co.uk/energy/how-much-energy-does-the-average-uk-household-consume/ ), this makes me a low user.   Against my property size I'm a very low user (average is 3,500kWh electric and 15,000kWh gas), but as I live alone and basically use my house as a 1 bedroomed property I compare myself against that size.   And I'm still a low user, as the average there is 1,800-2,400kWh electricity and 7,000kWh gas.

I'm currently looking at annual bills of £621 for electricity and £747 for gas - a combined total of £1368 (rounded to whole £s).  But I'm not sure how I'll cover a potentially substantial increase in April - especially as we've been told to expect 10,000 redundancies by the end of August

willow_loulou

joedenise said:

@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.

Thanks great idea! 

RateTartExtraordinaire

HI all,

It is amazing what you can learn from being on this forum and the power of many minds all working toward the same goal is awesome!

Although the weather is getting colder and wetter, I have resisted putting on the central heating for now. Although I did turn in it on to check radiators were all okay last week. I went round and checked the heat output of each radiator. I was surprised at the heat output difference between my ‘normal’ convection radiators and the towel rail heater in my bathroom. I hadn’t realised that convection radiators have a much higher output of heat than the towel rail heater. I had my bathroom done about 15 years ago now and had given the radiator choice over to the person that installed the bathroom. It looks lovely and modern, but I had just assumed all were roughly equal…turns out not! Having said that the square-footage of my bathroom very small, and I don’t have to get up too early these days due to shift in my work pattern, so I don’t think it is worth replacing it.

I heard another tip this week (either Morning Live or Martin’s Money Show – can’t remember) was to clean all the lint from your radiators for a maximum efficiency. So that is this week’s job, along with hemming a couple of curtains. I’ve realised that one of my curtains, which goes down to the floor, should not be in front of the radiator. So, my plan is to bring it up to the windowsill and allow the heat into the room rather than up to the window. 

Washing was dried indoors with the window open a crack. It did take a couple of days for the thicker items to dry completely, but we are only 2 people and working from home mainly so less to wash and I don’t mind waiting for it to dry. 

I brought some canvas shoes to replace a pair at the CS which looked new and a nice make. My only splurge last month was on socks! I got 2 pairs of lovely warm walking socks for the winter that I found slightly reduced in a local outdoor shop. They are a good make (for trekking) and I have some that have lasted years (20+). I think they are worth it. They are much better value for money that cheaper ones that tend to get holes in them so quickly.

Christmas food and presents will be kept to a minimum this year. We have a new niece born last month (SIL’s). I am happy to come in on a gift arrangement, but I would prefer to give money that they can save or spend and then do things with them instead. I will speak to my SIL about it and see what she thinks. 

I have updated my budget to see how things are going. I am ashamed to say I’ve gone over on holiday spending this year which was not frugal at all! It is my weakness. I have friends that like to go away. There have been weekends away that were put off due to pandemic from the last 2 years. I did use the money split into daily envelopes trick for my trip abroad and that worked very well. Great to have it in cash too and not just tapping your card. It really kept me on track.

I booked my free appointment with the Pension Wise Money Helper service last month and the chap I spoke too was impressed that I had checked my NI forecast and topping up my year that was underpaid. I have MSE to thank for these things.   

I’ve got car insurance and breakdown to sort out next month…so will be keeping a check in how much running the car is costing. Petrol is another thing that was over budget this month. I think I need to get the car serviced this year. I’ve just had the MOT done last two years as I drove so little. May need to bite the bullet.

2Scratters

Just checked the weather for the next 4 days and still the heating is not going on. Highs of 15 degrees
The fire is likely not to go on either - will get busy doing something instead.

2 Scratters xx

sweetpea26

I was outside tidying up and its so mild! No need for heat for a few days. 

cw18

RateTartExtraodinaire said:

.... and the chap I spoke too was impressed that I had checked my NI forecast and topping up my year that was underpaid. I have MSE to thank for these things.  

I have a few non-qualifying years, but (as best I recall from when I last checked, but I can't currently get into the system to double-check) as long as I keep this year fully paid up I'll have enough qualifying years for full state pension - and almost another 10 years before I can claim it.   Needless to say, I have no intentions of paying anything to cover those years.