It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

KxMx

I've reduced my heating times again by another 20 minutes per day, I can see on my smart meter the daily/weekly usage going down, but in my opinion the pounds and pence it is costing is just too high! 

YorksLass

I've reduced our heating times by an hour in the afternoon and another half an hour in the evenings and so far we're fairly comfortable with that but if we get another cold spell then I'll change it back again.  Obviously, I'd rather not have to do that but needs must sometimes.

Did well at the Co-op today with ys and clearance items; along with a couple of promotional items and my two weekly membership offers I saved £12.86.  For once, I must have been there on the right day at the right time. 

Tonight's tea is pork shoulder steaks in BBQ sauce, jacket potato and steamed cabbage.  I've also cooked a large chicken thigh and will use the meat for tomorrow's stir fry.

I've had a letter summoning me for my annual diabetic retinal screening appointment but I'll need to re-arrange it - the day and venue are fine but the time isn't.  It's too early for me as I can't use my bus pass (and I'm not an early bird) so I'd rather the time slot went to someone else than be wasted.   I'm supposedly at low risk so I was half hoping they'd forget me but no chance!  

Slinky

I could kick myself. I've been monitoring our energy usage regularly, although good old EDF and their 6 monthly billing don't help at all. I couldn't understand why our electric usage was so high. We've had builders in using power tools, and dehumidifiers drying out plaster etc, so potentially going there. I've checked appliances with my Tapos and it just didn't make sense. Then 6 days ago, something twigged and I went and had a look in the airing cupboard, and the immersion heater was on............. and I've no idea how long it's been on. Weeks. Possibly as far back as early November when I look at the spreadsheet...........  Now I've turned it off we've gone from using 9kwh a day to about 6. What a waste of money :-(

So learn from me, go now and have a quick check and make sure your immersion heater isn't on when it shouldn't be, even if you KNOW it's off.

littlemoney

Slinky said:

Then 6 days ago, something twigged and I went and had a look in the airing cupboard, and the immersion heater was on............. and I've no idea how long it's been on. Weeks. Possibly as far back as early November when I look at the spreadsheet...........  Now I've turned it off we've gone from using 9kwh a day to about 6. What a waste of money :-(

So learn from me, go now and have a quick check and make sure your immersion heater isn't on when it shouldn't be, even if you KNOW it's off.

I had the same issue a couple of years ago. I must have switch the immersion heating on when accessing the airing cupboard. For a few of days I thought the water was rather warm throughout the day. My weekly meter reading showing increased usage. I then went round the house to see what I had left on and found the problem.

mumf

My immersion heater has a digital timer on it. Worth doing.

otb666

I had a similar thing with my toilet continuing filling up, Luckily i check that daily (like to keep an eye on showering costs in our house) and realized when the graph online had a crazy figure on it. I wonder now if we will ever move away from having to be so vigilant with household costs not if my elderly relative is anything to go by lol 

euronorris

Well, I couldn't get the single red pepper I wanted in the supermarket last night (no peppers, no tomatoes, no lettuce, no spring onions. Same as many other places). Did manage to snag a bag of sliced frozen peppers (there were only 2 bags left after that).

I also snagged 2 packs of 12 richmond sausages with ys on for 38p each. In the freezer they went.

Sadly, our local council has announced a 4.99% increase to council tax for the upcoming year! The maximum they are allowed. So will have to find extra money for that as well. Sigh.

EssexHebridean

We're still waiting for the new CT bill to arrive - our council are notoriously slow. We're hoping we might not be in for the full 5% increase as the local council themselves have said they are freezing their part again - no doubt the County Council will be shamelessly extracting their pound of flesh as usual mind in spite of giving up pretty much nothing for the money! 

Fingers crossed that the current predictions for energy costs might be on the right track as if so we should see a sizeable drop in the summer. Immersion heaters being switched on are one of the more regular "energy hogs" we see on the energy board here - if people are reporting high electricity use that's pretty much the first suggestion! Ours is left permanently switched on but as standard it's only fed during the off peak times so that's fine. When I'm feeling particularly frugal I switch it off overnight on the days MrEH is up early and remind him to switch it on as soon as he's out of bed - but mostly it just ticks over overnight.  I genuinely can't recall the last time I used the boost on it though! 

euronorris

I haven't had the CT bill yet, but the council made their announcement on their FB last night. Based on our current bill, it will be about £7 more pm for us. Sigh.

However, I have also just had our water bill through. £48 refund coming our way, and monthly DD reducing by £2pm. This is despite the unit costs and standing charges going up. DH fixed the toilet which was, evidently, dripping away water almost constantly. Since that fix was implemented we have effectively reduced our daily water usage for the last 6 months by 131L (per day!!)!! So if anyone is doubting how much of an impact a small drip can have, there is your answer!! The fix was only a few pounds too, as it was a washer that needed replacing (had corroded).

We are now using less water than the average 2 person household, and we are 2 adults and 1 child.

Auntycaz

Thought 240 pk of pg tips in Morrisons was expensive at £6.25 (I bought 2pks for £3.50 each from Waitrose last week on offer), but they're now £9.50 pk in the Co op.