The "Grand Plan" - Phase One well underway!

Optimisticpair

StuartGMC wrote: »

EH
Let's both hope we're right on the expectation that gas & electric will rise by at least 14% then by 9/2011

Yes, hope you make a good move there.

I feel the season turning, I've got the urge to stock up for winter. I will have no gas in the new place - just solid fuel fire, Rayburn and electricity. The open fire is in the living room, the thought of so much heat (money) just wafting up the chimney when it is lit, and wafting down it when it's out, is chilling. I will see how suppliers compare when I get in there and stock up on tealights from Wilko's.

abouttimetoo

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Confirmation from British Gas today that our prices are now fixed until September 2011 so that's good news. Power monitering established that the dishwasher costs 30p to run at tier 1 rates, but only 6p at the night rate, which is when we usually use it, so that's not going to break the bank either!

I'm really showing my ignorance here but.....is there really a night time rate??

EssexHebridean

abouttimetoo wrote: »

I'm really showing my ignorance here but.....is there really a night time rate??

we have a two-phase meter - meaning we benefit from Economy Seven electricity for a period overnight. As a result of this we tend to use the dishwasher and washing machine by shoving them on as soon as we get up in the morning - we're up at 6.30am so this works well for us. God knows there has to be some benefit to having to get out of bed at such a ludicrous time! :rolleyes:

EssexHebridean

Optimisticpair wrote: »

Yes, hope you make a good move there.

I feel the season turning, I've got the urge to stock up for winter. I will have no gas in the new place - just solid fuel fire, Rayburn and electricity. The open fire is in the living room, the thought of so much heat (money) just wafting up the chimney when it is lit, and wafting down it when it's out, is chilling. I will see how suppliers compare when I get in there and stock up on tealights from Wilko's.

Have you used a Rayburn before? They're wonderful, but temperemental - and for goodness sake don't put too much fuel on it or it'll scare the life out of you!

cazmanian_minx

Optimisticpair wrote: »

Yes, hope you make a good move there.

I feel the season turning, I've got the urge to stock up for winter. I will have no gas in the new place - just solid fuel fire, Rayburn and electricity. The open fire is in the living room, the thought of so much heat (money) just wafting up the chimney when it is lit, and wafting down it when it's out, is chilling. I will see how suppliers compare when I get in there and stock up on tealights from Wilko's.

Are you moving anywhere near a Forestry Commission site? We've got a permit to collect lops and tops from a specific area - as much wood as we want, basically - for £33 a quarter. That's from Sutherland FC in Dornoch for Borgie Forest - don't know if it's a nationwide thing, but worth asking!

Caz

StuartGMC

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Confirmation from British Gas today that our prices are now fixed until September 2011 so that's good news.

Just asked what our direct debit will be, see my thread for the detail, but they are presently asking for less than we're paying to 1 Sept.... no doubt it will resolve itself.

StuartGMC

EssexHebridean wrote: »

As a result of this we tend to use the dishwasher and washing machine by shoving them on as soon as we get up in the morning - we're up at 6.30am so this works well for us. God knows there has to be some benefit to having to get out of bed at such a ludicrous time! :rolleyes:

It's worth checking your timer on the Night rate/Economy Seven unit; ours commences about 0230hrs so as you note, you can get quite a few usable hours each day at the cheaper rate.

Wish I could lie in until 0630 in the week, positively late compared to my 0500 alarm :rotfl:

EssexHebridean

Something I've always wondered Stuart - can you re-set the timer yourself within the time period set by your supplier to have times to suit yourself? I know that sounds like a silly question - we have a timeswitch on the box in the cupboard, but it's never occurred to me that we could alter the times! Doh!

On another note, SingleSue's charity shop posh-frock idea paid off - I was going past a Sye Ryder shop this monring (in the old part of our town which is substantially more upmarket than the town centre!) and wandered in for a look - came out ten minutes later with a beautiful Austin reed long red velvet dress - for £5.45! Might need new underpinnings to hold everything together beneath, but either way that's a lot less than I'd have got a dress from elsewhere! :T Cheers Sue! :beer:

SingleSue

Yep you would be right with the lace panelled trousers EH! :rotfl:

So glad my idea worked...yet to go for my trawl around as things have become rather hectic these last fews weeks but it is still my intention of finding something at a real bargain price in the charity shops. Good on you for your purchase and I can't wait to see it!

Optimisticpair

EssexHebridean wrote: »

On another note, SingleSue's charity shop posh-frock idea paid off - I was going past a Sye Ryder shop this monring (in the old part of our town which is substantially more upmarket than the town centre!) and wandered in for a look - came out ten minutes later with a beautiful Austin reed long red velvet dress - for £5.45! Might need new underpinnings to hold everything together beneath, but either way that's a lot less than I'd have got a dress from elsewhere! :T Cheers Sue! :beer:

Oh, sounds very nice, my fave colour too. Bargain price as well. I notice now that some charity shops are getting rather dear compared to how they were.

I am more or less packed for my move in good time and slopping around in my oldest and tattiest gear before I consign it to the recycle bag to turn into floor washing cloths and door draught-stopping sossidges.

Yeah, nice one Sue.