Statement of intent

setmefree2

StuartGMC wrote: »

Need data to stabilise but presently for 3 of us shopping spend:
Food £76.10 per week (which is probably close to "average" spend and seems reasonable I think)
Cleaning and toiletries £13.02 (a little high as it covers 6 weeks and there are some "stock up" items in this which will last over some time - including Stardrops... - yes, been reading other boards too!)

I think this is pretty much the same as we spend- roughly we spend between £400 - £450 per month on food (including entertaining - barbies, friends over, etc), booze, toiletries and cleaning stuff. I know others spend alot less - but we throw away very little so this amount seems to work for us:D.

setmefree2

StuartGMC wrote: »

Our annual consumption figures are:
Gas 14228kWh pa
Electric Day 3871kWh, Night 1315kWh
Electric total 5186kWh pa

Is this good or bad in your experience?

In 2007 the SMF2s used approx

7,026 Elecricity
21,170 Gas

So sounds like you are doing well;)

StuartGMC

setmefree2 wrote: »

I think this is pretty much the same as we spend- roughly we spend between £400 - £450 per month on food (including entertaining - barbies, friends over, etc), booze, toiletries and cleaning stuff. I know others spend alot less - but we throw away very little so this amount seems to work for us:D.

Thanks. Ours does include wine and my bottled beer for home, but, not my pub allowance. Also have run down the malts recently so they'll need replacing

StuartGMC

setmefree2 wrote: »

In 2007 the SMF2s used approx

7,026 Elecricity
21,170 Gas

So sounds like you are doing well;)

Thanks for that very encouraging; probably helps that desktop PC is in a small study, in winter it is the "heater" in there!

So if we look at our total energy consumption;

SMF2 28196kWh pa (but dropping rapidly I think?) 77.25kWh per day
Me 19414kWh pa or 53.19kWh per day
LittleMama 20183kWh pa or 55.30kWh per day

I was mulling that I should replace the CRT monitor on the main PC, as a TFT/LCD will be more energy efficient. Only problem is I run at 1600x1200 pixels on a 17" unit and can't see a replacement which will run at this resolution.

Tumbledrier is one with an "auto sensor" or to you and I, a humidty monitor which shuts it down once the %RH is acceptable. I think this helps the economy on it a bit.

Replaced CRT TV with an LCD one last December, and ensured it had an off switch built in! No need to use standby there. However, Virgin cable box runs 24/7.

We have mains halogen lights in kitchen, dining room, hall and stairs. Will need to redecorate in autumn so may look to replace some tungsten bulbs but rarely use them in lounge (floor standing halogens at 300W :eek: are bright enough although usually on their dimmer setting!). Bedrooms, and bathroom/WC still have tungsten filaments but not running long hours. Study has 20W halogen desk lamps.

I will need to pop round the house late summer and refill a few gaps around double-glazing where sealant to wall has dried/receded though, and replace letter box which has been broken on the outside leaving just inner flap to stop the draughts - not an easy item to find though.

Am pondering our lounge refit; we need to replace the open gas fire - decorative and not used often (but great when there's a power cut and no pump to operate central heating!). Open flue behind of course is a draft source, but, with so much sealing around the rest of the house it does help to "air" it in winter.

That said, our bedroom windows are open 11 months of the year at night, although DW complains when it is -3°C outside and insists on them being closed then, why???

Damn, looks like another "to-do" list :rolleyes:

StuartGMC

Well having just returned from holiday I thought I should note a few things;
1) Holiday total costs were a bit more than original budget allocated in 2007 but we thoroughly enjoyed the break so the slight increase is ok, especially considering € vs £ position now.
2) I am annoyed at myself as I thought I had set the credit card payment to be made online whilst we were away, indeed I noted such in my spreadsheet.... for only the second time in 25yrs I missed a payment:mad: Checked with bank on return and they reviewed online activity in the period in which I "knew" I had set the payment, but nothing on record to show I set it up.... Maybe I took a 'phone call etc and didn't complete the final step and page timed out.

What is so very annoying is that at home I'd have been online frequently and seen this error, but on hols, I have strict instructions from OH not to be online (mainly to stop me checking work e-mail). So the missed payment charge plus interest means some £75 additional cost this month :eek:

The irony is the only previous time I missed a payment was about 15-16 years ago (pre-internet) and again just around our main holiday...

I have just checked the latest bill online which was generated yesterday, and have set the payment for 4 days before due date. Have checked several times to be sure the instruction is there

3) To make me feel a bit better I just paid in the interest charged on the mortgage today as further OP and shifted some money from Current A/C to savings. Updating spreadsheet and pleased to see average costs for groceries and petrol have dropped accounting for being away plus the 5p per litre reduction in the two weeks away.

4) Should be able to save money again at pay day next week, although Jaguar is in for a service and MOT next week :rolleyes:

Right, off to see what you have all been doing whilst I was relaxing last couple of weeks.

Welshlassie

Hi Stuart
Glad you had a good holiday, well deserved and you must have had better weather than us lot here.
Re your payment, why don't you set up a pay in full DD or at the least a minimum payment DD so you know at least you won't get hit with a missed payment charge again?

gallygirl

Stuart, glad you enjoyed break. Why don't you phone up credit card and throw yourself on their mercy - they probably won't refund interest but they should refund charge as it's such a rare occurence.

I agree with Welshlassie though, set up a DD to save future stress!

setmefree2

Hi Stuart,

Glad you and your family had a wonderful holiday.:D

Re the failed CC payment - this also happened to me 3 years ago when I was on holiday. Soooooooooooo annoying.



Best regards - & keep up the great progress:T

SMF2

StuartGMC

Thanks all for your interest - I may look at the DirectDebit, but "normally" this is not a problem and the timing just before due is part of the offsetting plan, but you're right that I should look at it.

Still trying to hang on to the good feeling after the holiday, but it is evaporating rapidly back at work; another incentive to clear the mortgage I think:rolleyes:

EssexHebridean

Is it viable for you to set up a standing order or secondary DD just to pay an amount that would clear the minimum payment should this happen again Stuart? It would at least save you the fees, even if not the interest.