Saving pennies to make pounds

Turnedoutniceagain

I recently googled 'does leaving plugs in use energy'.  Things that came up included-                                         Washing machine costs £4.73 a year when not in use just because it's left plugged in.                              Shower on standby costs £9.80 a year according to BG, (not sure when they said this).                                 Standby energy AKA phantom/vampire energy is estimated to use 40 percent of a device's annual energy.                                                                                Unplugging also means less wear on the device - because it's using energy when plugged in - so it may last longer.                                                                An American study claimed that standby energy costs between 100 and 200 dollars a year, per household .                                                                         Probably worth unplugging things when not in use then.  

[Deleted User]

Turnedoutniceagain said:

I recently googled 'does leaving plugs in use energy'.  Things that came up included-                                         Washing machine costs £4.73 a year when not in use just because it's left plugged in.                              Shower on standby costs £9.80 a year according to BG, (not sure when they said this).                                 Standby energy AKA phantom/vampire energy is estimated to use 40 percent of a device's annual energy.                                                                                Unplugging also means less wear on the device - because it's using energy when plugged in - so it may last longer.                                                                An American study claimed that standby energy costs between 100 and 200 dollars a year, per household .                                                                         Probably worth unplugging things when not in use then.  

Turnedoutniceagain said:

I recently googled 'does leaving plugs in use energy'.  Things that came up included-                                         Washing machine costs £4.73 a year when not in use just because it's left plugged in.                              Shower on standby costs £9.80 a year according to BG, (not sure when they said this).                                 Standby energy AKA phantom/vampire energy is estimated to use 40 percent of a device's annual energy.                                                                                Unplugging also means less wear on the device - because it's using energy when plugged in - so it may last longer.                                                                An American study claimed that standby energy costs between 100 and 200 dollars a year, per household .                                                                         Probably worth unplugging things when not in use then.  

Turnedoutniceagain said:

I recently googled 'does leaving plugs in use energy'.  Things that came up included-                                         Washing machine costs £4.73 a year when not in use just because it's left plugged in.                              Shower on standby costs £9.80 a year according to BG, (not sure when they said this).                                 Standby energy AKA phantom/vampire energy is estimated to use 40 percent of a device's annual energy.                                                                                Unplugging also means less wear on the device - because it's using energy when plugged in - so it may last longer.                                                                An American study claimed that standby energy costs between 100 and 200 dollars a year, per household .                                                                         Probably worth unplugging things when not in use then.  

Turnedoutniceagain said:

I recently googled 'does leaving plugs in use energy'.  Things that came up included-                                         Washing machine costs £4.73 a year when not in use just because it's left plugged in.                              Shower on standby costs £9.80 a year according to BG, (not sure when they said this).                                 Standby energy AKA phantom/vampire energy is estimated to use 40 percent of a device's annual energy.                                                                                Unplugging also means less wear on the device - because it's using energy when plugged in - so it may last longer.                                                                An American study claimed that standby energy costs between 100 and 200 dollars a year, per household .                                                                         Probably worth unplugging things when not in use then.  

You are right it does, I only have tv, washing machine and fridge on all the time everything else only switched on when needed, can't switch tv off as messes up my virgin media box and washing machine is wired in from behined. But a money saver for sure by unplugging/switching off appliances on mains when not in use.

Katiehound

^^^
 Sorry don't believe some of that
If the item has a light on, clock etc, yes, it's using electricity... think microwave, router.

My washing machine doesn't have a standby light therefore how is it using any power?
 shredder is plugged in- no standby light= no power
Kettle sitting on stand, plugged in but not switched on. Using power? I don't think so

Wraithlady

How do you have a shower 'on standby'? Surely it's either on or off?

I suppose you could have an electric one which has to pump the water into itself but most UK showers tend to be plumbed in to mains water.

Wraithlady

Turnedoutniceagain said:

I recently googled 'does leaving plugs in use energy'.  Things that came up included-                                         Washing machine costs £4.73 a year when not in use just because it's left plugged in.                              Shower on standby costs £9.80 a year according to BG, (not sure when they said this).                                 Standby energy AKA phantom/vampire energy is estimated to use 40 percent of a device's annual energy.                                                                                Unplugging also means less wear on the device - because it's using energy when plugged in - so it may last longer.                                                                An American study claimed that standby energy costs between 100 and 200 dollars a year, per household .                                                                         Probably worth unplugging things when not in use then.  

Could you please provide your sources for these? Thanks

Katiehound

Wraithlady said:

How do you have a shower 'on standby'? Surely it's either on or off?

I suppose you could have an electric one which has to pump the water into itself but most UK showers tend to be plumbed in to mains water.

You can have an electric shower on standby in that there is a red standby light- my friend leaves hers on all the time!

n15h

Whenever I'm at a stage of wanting something expensive or impulse buying, I ask myself these questions:
1) Is the item a necessity?
2) Is there an alternative available?
3) Can i afford to buy 3 of the item (either the first item or the alternative)? If no, don't buy.

The reason I ask if I can afford 3 of the same item is to help me realise how stretched my finances could be and to instead wait and save until it becomes affordable without being a stretch. This questioning works on my brain and made me walk away from many impulse buys that eventually I realised were not a necessity and that I could continue to enjoy my life without those items. The savings made from not making those purchases all add up to helping build my savings pot for a future house/holiday deposit.

The above questions aren't a hard and fast rule - Instead use them based on your own circumstances e.g., it makes sense to ask the Qs when looking to buy a £500 mobile phone, but not when shopping for pasta in Asda.

Floss

Wraithlady said:

I suppose you could have an electric one which has to pump the water into itself but most UK showers tend to be plumbed in to mains water.

Not always - in my 60 year lifetime I have only had one home with a shower fed by the boiler, everywhere else has had electric showers.

Turnedoutniceagain

Wraithlady said:

Turnedoutniceagain said:

I recently googled 'does leaving plugs in use energy'.  Things that came up included-                                         Washing machine costs £4.73 a year when not in use just because it's left plugged in.                              Shower on standby costs £9.80 a year according to BG, (not sure when they said this).                                 Standby energy AKA phantom/vampire energy is estimated to use 40 percent of a device's annual energy.                                                                                Unplugging also means less wear on the device - because it's using energy when plugged in - so it may last longer.                                                                An American study claimed that standby energy costs between 100 and 200 dollars a year, per household .                                                                         Probably worth unplugging things when not in use then.  

Could you please provide your sources for these? Thanks

I simply googled 'does leaving plugs in use energy'. Did the same thing for individual appliances.             The shower info was from a British gas study .           My shower has a switch on the ceiling with a cord enabling me to switch on or off.

Wraithlady

Katiehound said:

Wraithlady said:

How do you have a shower 'on standby'? Surely it's either on or off?

I suppose you could have an electric one which has to pump the water into itself but most UK showers tend to be plumbed in to mains water.

You can have an electric shower on standby in that there is a red standby light- my friend leaves hers on all the time!

Oh, ok, so it is electric showers - makes sense. Haven't had one of those since my student days.