Simple living in the country - back to basics

Cheery_Daff

Indeed! I'm certainly not contemplating getting rid of the freezer 😱😱 I just assumed it would use more because it's so old, but perhaps not!

SusieT

Cheery_Daff said:

Indeed! I'm certainly not contemplating getting rid of the freezer 😱😱 I just assumed it would use more because it's so old, but perhaps not!

Perhaps monitor it over a week to get a better idea of the kw usage?

badmemory

I think a lot depends on where you can put your fridge or freezer.  I have a quite small house.  Fridge has only one place it can go & freezer only 2 & the one it isn't in can be an awful lot hotter than the one it is in.  I would also like a fridge that does not have a freezer bit at the top as it is no longer useful.  Without the reduced energy prices it was pretty much bound to be better to get new, now I am not too sure.  Why is it never easy!!!!

Cheery_Daff

There are certainly always things to weigh up! I'm usually in favour of keeping on with things til they break, although as you say, that's not so straightforward any more! 

I left the energy monitor on the freezer for 24 hours, and it cost 18p apparently, so let's round up to 20p at the new prices, £1.40 a week, £6 a month, £73 a year. Seems reasonable. 

Tried it on my work laptop this morning - laptop and monitor together use about 11p per working day, so not breaking the bank, and definitely cheaper than £7 or £8 worth of diesel to get to the office! 

Not sure what to plug in next... ooh, maybe the TV... Technically it's a TV, but we really use it as a big screen for Mr Cheery's laptop. We've got a film to watch tonight so I might transfer laptop, screen, speakers etc onto one extension cable and plug them in together...

Any guesses?? 

badmemory

I am amazed at your freezer cost per day - mine at the new rate from Oct is over 60p per day but then it is in a warmer environment.  I know I should check the TV usage on standby cos it is hardly ever turned on, but I decided if I COULD do it at the original Oct prices I would because frankly life is too short to do some stuff unless you have to.

Cheery_Daff

Mine at the new rate is 25p a day. It seems odd that it's so much cheaper than yours (although it sounds like your house might be slightly warmer than the 13 degrees ours is currently sitting at!) I'll try it again when I've finished messing with other things.

Just tested the toaster. Just over 0.5p a minute for two slots, and just under for 1. I was only toasting a potato cake so it didn't take very long 😂 Will continue investigations.

I'm going to create myself a chart showing how much everything costs at the current rates, and make sure it adds up to the amount we're using, so I can be sure I'm not missing anything. 

Anyway, on a different note, we've been on adventure today, met some friends for a picnic in the wilds, a new place to us but not to them. Had a lovely walk, a couple of people did a bit of wild swimming, then had a cuppa in a campervan, and a bit more walking before finally heading home.

I've done almost 17,000 steps today so won't be doing very much else tonight (except playing with the energy monitor!) 😂

badmemory

Probably a fair bit warmer as at anything much under 22 deg I can barely walk across the room!!  Arthritis etc can turn out to be very expensive.

elantan

I'm loving the sound of this energy monitor, imntempted to buy one and join you in the experiment :-) 

elantan

what one do you have ? 

Cheery_Daff

I got one of these (can't remember exactly which one and they all look the same!)

The white ones with the big screen and four blue buttons. I know other people have been buying smart plugs and linking to apps- this one doesn't do that, you have to programme in the cost per kwh (every time you reset it which is a bit annoying but it's very quick). I'm finding it fascinating, and it'll be easy to pass round family etc when I've finished checking everything.

Gosh, yes badmemory I can imagine it does work out very expensive! I confess 13 degrees isn't really a practical temperature in the house for anything other than curling up under a blanket... 🙄 We were aiming to avoid the heating til October but we may cave before then. In fact, Mr Cheery's dad is coming to stay this weekend so we'll likely have it on for him if nothing else.