So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

Suffolk_lass

Thank you. It's really helpful to have a comparison before the winning bidder from Solar together contacts us. I suspect our SW backing (slate) roof could take 8 or 10 panels as the roof extends beyond the building, so there is a covered area for working outside, sitting, or just getting wet gear off without being indoors. 

What is clear is that the panels will be a drop in the ocean in respect of what we use and our hope is to top up with batteries so we can store white meter night rate electricity to mitigate some of the cost. Our current tariff does run until 31 August 2023 and I know that is affordable so any changes need to be in place before that increases for winter 2023/4. 

I have been looking at how much our 4 oven electric aga costs to run. It is a discontinued model and not listed on their website but the nearest is 270 kwh per week. Pre 1 October price cap change they estimate it costs just over £75 per week. Just EEK!

newgirly

Oh my goodness a week 😱

savingholmes

newgirly said:

Oh my goodness a week 😱

Eeek

Good luck with the solar. I'd love to be more self-sufficient - but would want to save first... 

Karmacat

For me, I suppose, the things I'm doing are helping the eventual aim of being as self sufficient as I can - there's a pithy environmental saying about it that I can't remember for the life of me, about reducing outgoings before you spend big money on new inputs.  

themadvix

Oh SL, that’s horrendous!! You would need a whole solar farm for that, given the fact you need it most when solar is least effective! Seems like another good moment to mention Ripple (coop purchase of a wind farm) - you can buy a share that equals 120% off your usage, should cut costs by half (referral code available on request 😉). 

Well we got the hall floor oiled, had a lovely short break with cats at the in-laws while it hardened (cats much more chilled than last time, just the boxing of them that is a nightmare) and when we got back Mr MV got on with pigeon-proofing the panels. We already had the wire in stock, so just bought some clips (from Amazon) - job done for £20. He is just finishing off now. While he was watching F1 I popped to the allotment and picked a Butternut Prince and some more borlotti and yin yang beans (wouldn’t leave him on roof alone). Have also refilled hall cupboard (emptied and moved to do floor), roasted tomatoes for freezing, stripped bed (and half remade), packed eBay bits to post tomorrow, finished some work and started packing. Off to mum’s as soon as Mr MV has finished for quick family visit (if anyone is still there by then!) and then home for dinner, packing and maybe even some planning for tomorrow!

themadvix

 Sorry Karma, I also meant to say that it’s definitely important to do the smaller steps - and that’s certainly all I would be able to afford without Mr MV. Every little makes a difference and a lot of the time the big stuff has it’s own issues. 

Karmacat

Not a problem   loving what you're doing.

LadyWithAPlan

You are so busy ! Loving hearing about the solar panels and what you are managing to get, helps you and the environment so a real win win. I was reading about that Florida  Babcock Ranch who are 100% solar powered and had full power even being in Hurricane Ian. Definitely where technology needs to go.

Hope your back is better.

@Suffolk_lass your aga cost - ouch. I love them but it definitely sounds like one needs ones own solar power farm to run one.

themadvix

Morning all,

LWAP, we've been watching some Youtubers who also survived Hurricane Ian due to having their own power generation (and  back up, just because they live in the woods). It does make you realise how much better off everyone would be if this were the case.

Well we had a lovely week away! Excellent weather for the most part and went for a walk along the coast path, enjoyed a lovely meal at the Riverford Field Kitchen, went for a ride on the South Devon Railway and saw our friends for an afternoon/evening of catching up. Ate fish and chips on the beach, squeezed in a cream tea (although technically it was in Dorset from a Cornish bakery!) and I even paddled in the sea. My spends came in just over budget - I forgot to factor in parking costs. Mr MV took his money from his holiday fund and the split worked out about even - my squirrelling away covered accommodation, food (inc R'ford, F&C and groceries) and parking; Mr MV covered petrol (we took the mini, so quite a bit more than if we'd taken the hybrid, but it was FUN!), drinks and the steam engine . So about £400 all in, which in these days of rising prices, wasn't too bad for a 5 day/4 night trip. H4ven's cheapo accommodation, billed as last year's model and possibly not having heating except in the main living area, was perfect - heating throughout (very efficient, we had it turned off most of the time!), USB sockets on one of the wall socket plates and barely a scratch on it. So would definitely recommend for cheap accommodation if you're not interested in 'entertainment'. We will certainly be returning to see our friends again, so may well use the same place (for us, the downside was it was 40 mins to them as there's an estuary in the way!).

Arrived back on Friday and avoided takeaway by remembering we had quorn fillets in the freezer - did a couple of those with some rice (IP) and beans and saved another outlay. Frugal September review will come shortly with full honesty about takeaways!

It has been a fairly busy weekend since as there's been lots to catch up on. A lot of it comes under MS things so....:
* Cat food order placed - TCB earned, Zoo+ points earned, savings plan discount applied
* Beans from allotment picked and podded - now drying in trays - I have got loads! I thought I'd grow some as it would be nice to have a couple of meals with homegrown protein, but there's at least a kilo in the kitchen and more still to pick later today
* RM survey stuff updated/prepped etc.
* Olio apples turned into apple cobbler (was a WR recipe, but tbh, we won't make it again - still have 3-4 portions to get through though!
* Tomatoes picked from the ripening trays in dining room and roasted for freezer (also gave some to a friend and still have loads in fridge and ripening); roasted BNS at same time - apples, toms and squash in oven at midday to maximise solar
* 3 loads of washing done, maximising use of sunshine on Saturday - for washing and drying
* Back lawn cut (and mower batteries charged using solar)
* Meeting with friend re cat sitting for a client. I'm hoping client will accept rates, which are higher than I'd like, but equally it's 3 months in the winter and it has to be worth our while (rates still considerably less than a cattery)
* Stuff back in loft (hooray!) and generally upstairs is feeling emptier and tidier. Helped by collection of a new printer from in-laws where it was delivered (ebay refurb). We've been using an old one from my Dad's work for the last 10 years and it's done stellar service but it was got rid of from Dad's work because the paper comes out the back of the printer - so it's awkward. It's also huge, so a replacement has long been on my list - this is small, wireless and wonderful! Mr MV was able to stack several offers so he got it for about £60, down from £80 on Ebay and £100 new.
* Clicks done and HW spun (another £10 retrieved over the last week)
* I was paid by Cambridge (surprises me every time!!)
* £10 paid for extra cat sitting duties due to Hurricane Ian
* Ebay sales - 2 for me (in-laws stuff, so postage for me) and 3 for Mr MV (at least one of which is his stuff - but this will probably go in Mini fund for needed upgrades - our trip was the first long distance trip we've done since it was rebuilt 10 years ago (London to Brighton doesn't really count), so (minor) things came to light


Retailer issues updates (how does this have its own section?!)
* Laptop was collected for return - replacement should be sent out once they've checked I've not wrecked the returned one
* Mattress technician coming Thursday to look at mattress
* BAG replied with my Zizzi's code in an email (not sure if I'd mentioned it never arrived, so all I had was a screenshot, which I thought might be tricky to redeem)
* Emailed M&S about Sparks discount on my exchanged bras-  will see what they say

Solar update:
* Mr MV had an interesting call with lady from E0n - basically we should have had a lot more info than we had had. He should get info needed for SEG signup this week
* We still have scaffolding - also hoping this goes this week!
* Mr MV has had to do a little bit of a rewire already as stuff hadn't been wired in properly (and he could tell this from the app not working properly). Not good.... he is a 'competent person' (as defined in electrical manuals) but he shouldn't have had to do this - think he'll say something to E0n when he speaks to them again.

Gratitudes:
* Lovely week away with amazing weather - spent most of our time in t-shirts!
* Great to see friends and they seem to be thriving (moved from Manchester, so quite a change!)
* A paddle in the sea and lovely fish and chips

Think I've waffled on enough for now - lots to do today, including some work (and retrieving a keyboard from my mum as this one is awful!)

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

Brilliant update, madvix - it does sound like your house/ garden/ allotment have turned into a smallholding, it's wonderful   Just looking over it again after re-reading it, so as to point out a highlight, but I'd highlight it all 😁 so I won't mention anything!  Well done you 😄