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

comeandgo

QueenJess said:

Has anyone ever used one of those meter things you can buy which tell you how much energy the device is using based on what you plug it into?

Were there any surprises? I briefly thought about getting one, but feels a bit pointless as I’m pretty sure I know what the big users would be.

The way things are going, someone should set up an energy reduction challenge on one of the boards. I think I’ll be keeping a close eye on mine.

I bought one from Amazon two weeks ago, used it a few times but not used it since.  Another item sitting in the drawer.

Spendless

QueenJess said:

Has anyone ever used one of those meter things you can buy which tell you how much energy the device is using based on what you plug it into?

Were there any surprises? I briefly thought about getting one, but feels a bit pointless as I’m pretty sure I know what the big users would be.

The way things are going, someone should set up an energy reduction challenge on one of the boards. I think I’ll be keeping a close eye on mine.

I mentioned a few posts ago we have one that we got from out energy supplier a few years ago. It tells the overall  electric usage in the house not per induvial appliance. We dug it out recently, don't think Mr S has input the correct amount so currently I'm just using it as a guide as lower than/higher than eg as I read your post I checked it and it was showing 6p p.h usuage - I went round and switched 4 lights off and unplugged my phone charger and it fell to 2p (like I say don't think monetary amounts are correct, just going by it fell once I'd switched items off).

The big users are where heat is concerned so washing machine, vacuum cleaner, oven, TD etc. Sometimes though you have to look at how long something is on for to make a correct comparison. I saw a post about someone switching from an electric kettle to a gas heated one. I remember years ago on here when we first had one of these monitors doing an experiment with another poster. I boiled my electric kettle which took (from memory) 3.5 minutes. She boiled on the gas hob and it took longer so you need to work out cost of energy x how long on for to see which is the cheaper option.  

Woolsery

LadyHarriet said:

We managed to get heating oil before the price rose to an insane level but are now wondering whether it would be worth switching to LPG with a new combi boiler, and timing the installation after we've run the oil right down this summer. I don't think we'd benefit from installing an ASHP, given that we'd still have to find a means of heating our water and there's a limit to how much we can (or indeed should) insulate a cob cottage. We do have some savings but not enough to do the kind of works that an ASHP would seem to require (like underfloor heating for one thing)
Has anyone here done the swap from oil to LPG, or can offer some advice?

What makes you think LPG will be significantly cheaper than oil in the longer term? Prices for energy tend to mirror each other over time, although there are temporary blips. It's clear the 'powers that be' want us to switch to ASHP or similar,but how ractical is that in an old cottage without major works?

We've cut our reliance on oil by insulating, adding a modern, efficient wood burner, producing our own fuel and buying-in the rest well ahead so it's really dry (makes a huge difference.) However, as you suggest, those aren't options for everyone.

Being of a certain age and really blunt, there's no way I'd stay trapped in an old cob cottage without modern options now. I'd do as somefriends nearby are doing , take advantage of the still-good sentiment and move while period property is relatively easy to shift, even if it meant going somewhere less desirable and with no character features.

dreaming

This might help some people - https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/mar/29/cheaper-bath-shower-energy-questions-answered-reduce-bills

Slinky

QueenJess said:

Has anyone ever used one of those meter things you can buy which tell you how much energy the device is using based on what you plug it into?

Were there any surprises? I briefly thought about getting one, but feels a bit pointless as I’m pretty sure I know what the big users would be.

The way things are going, someone should set up an energy reduction challenge on one of the boards. I think I’ll be keeping a close eye on mine.

You might find this of interest https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6343447/background-electricity-usage-8760-hours-a-year/p1

sammy_kaye18

ladyholly said:

I think cold food is going to feature with  a lot of people in the next few months or years. 

I agree. 
I know we have been using less electric to cook our meals or it has been a case of making sure the oven is full when it is used and being that my 11 year old daughter and my 17 year old son seem to have hollow legs - its used a fair bit. But recently I have managed to encourage them to fill the oven when its used. 
My son will now put in a tray of sausage rolls when hes cooking which are then used to snack on and I have being toying with the idea of premaking cookies/biscuits etc so they can be put into the oven as well and will provide them with a snack or a treat for afters as well. 
But we eat a fair bit of salad and are hoping to grow most of it ourselves this year. 
Other than that my poor slow cooker doesnt know whats hit it! 

sammy_kaye18

London_1 said:

Its been a time of ....interesting meals  to say the least and using up odds and ends has meant buying less.
I have more than enough to use before I go for a major shop on Friday of this week. I managed to have a good bit of cash left from this months budget to rollover to next months and by buying only essential needed stuff its meant I am utilising the stuff I already have in store.

Onwards and upwards chums  

Those meals are some of the best! 
I remember my grandmother using up things left in the cupboard and having a combination of lime jelly and chocolate sachet custard, except the jelly didnt quite set so the custard sort of curdled into it making this weird brown/green slime looking concoction. We nicknamed it 'Swamp Goo' - it didnt look particularly appetising but it tasted lovely! 

My kids call it Pick n Mix when we have lots of little random bits left in packets. I cook them all up at once and they have a plate of odds and sods rather than waste them

Also how lovely of your granddaughter to give you hints and tips. At least now you can share some of your '' new found wisdom'' (wink wink!) and give her a few ideas back.
I think there are so many of the younger generation who are starting to learn now that it makes sense to try and save where they can. 

sarahj1986

Hello all

Im sure I’ve said elsewhere that I live in Spain, Mallorca to be exact.

Our electric bill had more than doubled since this time last year. It’s helping me be more economical with what we use. If I have the oven on I try to do other things in it. Last Thursday for example I did cottage pie dinner but also baked spuds for Fridays dinner and oats cookies. I don’t mind baked spuds reheated in the microwave and saved an hour on the oven the following day. I still have my slow cooker so would love ideas for that? I’ve used it loads over the winter but not really “summer” recipes. 

Food wise things have also shot up. I kept receipts from the last 3 months of 2021. I looked back at them. There are certain things that have almost doubled in price. My husband and daughter like little cakes, we call them breakfast cakes but they are like fairy cakes. A pack was 65c in Aldi they are now €1.05 for the same pack. In Mercadona they were €1.20 beginning of December for a much bigger bag, they are now €2.40 same bags. Every time I go shopping I see there’s a 20-40–% price increase on the things we use. 

I’ve found over the last 3-4 months though. The best way we save money is to do a big monthly shop. I do a 2 week meal plan plus other ideas so it’s more like 3 weeks. We get everything for those plus things like pizza, frozen veg, nuggets, fridge items, eggs etc and then our heavy and bulky items like fizzy drinks, toilet rolls, cleaners etc. we spend around €150-200 on that then I’ll probably top up a further €100-150 for the rest of the month or if I need fresh items as and when needed. Although it’s getting tough our spend it’s kinda middle ground. We aren’t lavish with our supermarket spend but equally not scrimping as much as we could. If I needed to cut our food bill I could 20-30% fairly easy with tweaks or leaving out certain things. Fizzy drinks here are expensive so if needed I can cut or reduce them for example. There’s other bits I could reduce or cut out. 

Financially aside from that. My husband starts work full time this week. He was only working weekends over the winter months. Last year they only opened 4 1/2 months of the season. It was better than 2020 but still not great. Things are looking up as there’s already people around and hotels open. Myself I’ve been offered a part time cleaning job at an attraction nearby. I’ve not been in work since my daughter was born just over 3 years ago. It’s taken that time to get my paperwork sorted though. Legally I now live and can work here. I’m hoping to start the job next week. Im genuinely so excited to get started and the hours fit in with our lifestyle. This will help us out massively too

sammy_kaye18

Hi All
We had our predicted energy bill this morning. What a shock to the system that was! 
They are expecting us to use about an extra £400 a year! On what I have no idea considering its just me at home most days and all that I know that is turned on now is the small chest freezer, my fridge freezer and my phone is charging. Also not helped by the fact we are on meters so I really have to watch every penny otherwise the electric switches off. 

We do have vivariums as well for our lizards but they dont use heat mats but have heat bulbs so that is probably our biggest expense buts again its a bulb for each (we only have two) but its handy because their vivs are in the living room so in the evening I can sit in their light and it keeps the room fairly light and also the chill off. Other than that I light candles and cuddle under my blanket. Even the kids use multiple layers in their rooms as well. 

But still feeling the pinch. 
Have been making the most of the garden last year and this year though and the kids have been helping and thankfully they prefer being outside to sitting inside on consoles and things. Son has built me two raised vegetable beds and daughter has helped me paint the wall in the garden so the sun bounces around nicely. Fingers crossed I can grow something and hopefully add a few small fruit trees in as well. 

I have managed to finally stabilise my washing line too so the tumble dryer has basically become redundant now and I haven't used it in months. Considering selling it as I can manage with my line and a small over door airer that I have which I mostly use for socks and smalls. 

Like most on the thread - I don't iron either - in fact I skipped my ironing board the other day because I hadn't used it in about 2/3 years. 

Son is also now getting on the money saving wagon. He's 17 now (anyone remember the baby boy I joined with all those years ago?) and hes got himself a part time job as well as going to college. He looked up bus pass schemes and now gets his travel half price. 
Daughter now 11 is also a keen little baker and likes to go out foraging for dandelion leaves etc to feed her guinea pig as well. She also helps me make jam in the summer from blackberries which always goes down well.

Husband has also gotten himself a new job. Its less money than he's use to by about £200 a month but it is a mon-fri job and it means he is home by 5.30, he doesn't have to travel for hours to other stores or stay away for days at a time and we get him all weekend (except every other when he has to work for 3hrs on a Saturday). We are keen mountain bikers so we can get out and do things rather than be in the house using fuel! But I know in the beginning that is going to hit us a bit. 

So fingers crossed we stay ok but things are definitely pinching here!

mumf

Got our youngest daughter here at the moment. She’s just gotten over COVID,but whilst ill,she’s not been earning,and her rent is eye- watering! She’s been isolating and not been shopping,so mum has just handed her the smartphone and told her to do a Tesco shop,bless her. We are being careful,but daughter is finding things tough. I am so glad we are in a position to help.