Frugal fuel tips

Topher

I managed to get my dual fuel bill down to a manageable £65 last month but I barely used the heating, was disinclined to move around the house and quite frankly felt miserable much of the time. 

The sleeping bag definitely helped during the day but was a bit of a PITA wrt comfort breaks.

I know that feeling, I really have to weigh up saving money on fuel by sitting in thermal clothing, extra jumpers and under quilts and feeling low and less like getting up and doing chores, or having a few degrees warmer by using the central heating and feeing motivated to get things done, cooking from scratch in the slightly cooler kitchen for example. I’ve had years of zero choice, but once my family was moved past survival mode economically, I swore I’d indulge on warmth first and foremost. The feeling of wellbeing goes a long way to helping tackle all the other aspects of life.

ancientmum

I have storage heaters so use Economy 7. Currently the cheap rate is from 11.30pm to 6.30am.  It changes to 12.30am to 7.30pm when the clocks go forward,  I don't have timer switches so I set my alarm to get in a 40minute wash and turn on the immersion heater during the cheap rate.

Pixiekazza

Topher said:

Pixiekazza said:

Most of my washing is done on the cheap rate electric, with the load as full as it can sensibly be. I don't have a TD so it's line dry or airers. I have a dehumidifier as well, which can go on when the cheap rate is on. 

May I ask what cheap rate electricity you use please? I’m trying to work something out.

I'm on an Economy 7 tariff as my house is electric only. I have two rates. Cheap rate for 7 hours a day and a more expensive day rate outside those hours.  My storage heater circuit comes on during the cheap rate and I try to do as much on the cheap rate as possible.

luvchocolate

I made really good use of cheaper off peak I think about 74%
I was in a all electric flat paying £50 a month 5 years ago. Currently in housing association property with gas central heating and paying £40 a month for duel fuel fixed until August. 
Absolutely dreading what I'll be paying then 

Pixiekazza

Well, my Feb electric bill is a lot less than my Jan bill phew! It's cold this week so I've put the storage heater in the bedroom back on. Decided 10deg was pushing it brrrr! I'll have to go wood collecting later for the stove and top up on coal. Hopefully that will last me until it warms up. 

Cherryfudge

 Can I make a plea to those using storage heaters and washing machines on off-peak?

I once discovered a washing machine giving out sparks from the back - that was the end of me leaving it unsupervised!

I also had a storage heater blow the fuses when it came on in the middle of the night. I turned it off at the wall and reset the fuses. It's just as well I did turn it off, because when it was checked by an electrician later, it had been wired wrongly and hadn't cut out when the fuse blew (I don't know how that worked). It had gone on smouldering at the point it was wired in, until I turned it off. If it had been left on, it would have eventually set fire to the stairs with us sleep upstairs.

So check your smoke detectors too!

And the other one while I'm thinking of it: check your CO detector(s) are working. One of ours went off in the middle of the night a few weeks ago. I had to call the gas emergency and they had someone out to it at about 2.30 am: he checked the whole house but couldn't find carbon monoxide (possibly because it was one of those winter storms and I'd opened windows to air the rooms). However it's possible a slow leak of CO was the cause of my virus-type symptoms: a higher level of CO and I might not have been here to warn you. Yet all our solid fuel/gas installations are relatively new, it was likely the un-swept chimney that was a problem.

Floss

Cherryfudge said:

....And the other one while I'm thinking of it: check your CO detector(s) are working. One of ours went off in the middle of the night a few weeks ago. I had to call the gas emergency and they had someone out to it at about 2.30 am: he checked the whole house but couldn't find carbon monoxide (possibly because it was one of those winter storms and I'd opened windows to air the rooms). 

Mine went off at 2am one night in a lockdown - Cadent chap came out, and after all the tests were clear we decided it was faulty so it was wrapped in a teatowel and shut in my car overnight so I could get some sleep! I rang my gas supplier the next day who sent a new one, and that has been fine.

YorksLass

Cherryfudge - I couldn't agree more about leaving appliances unattended.  I once had a washing machine that set on fire due to water dripping through from the drum onto the motor.  Fortunately, I was at home, so no damage done.  Sadly, it was out of guarantee and not able to be repaired so I had to get a new one.

Brambling

YorksLass said:

Cherryfudge - I couldn't agree more about leaving appliances unattended.  I once had a washing machine that set on fire due to water dripping through from the drum onto the motor.  Fortunately, I was at home, so no damage done.  Sadly, it was out of guarantee and not able to be repaired so I had to get a new one.

   I remember being told back in the early 90's when i worked in insurance that when people stopped using chip pans (oven chips came into fashion)  that one of the biggest causes of house fires was washing machines.  I never go out when the WM or DW is on 

Rosa_Damascena

Pixiekazza said:

Topher said:

Pixiekazza said:

Most of my washing is done on the cheap rate electric, with the load as full as it can sensibly be. I don't have a TD so it's line dry or airers. I have a dehumidifier as well, which can go on when the cheap rate is on. 

May I ask what cheap rate electricity you use please? I’m trying to work something out.

I'm on an Economy 7 tariff as my house is electric only. I have two rates. Cheap rate for 7 hours a day and a more expensive day rate outside those hours.  My storage heater circuit comes on during the cheap rate and I try to do as much on the cheap rate as possible.

I only have one tariff and that's the "Too expensive to use" rate