Money saving ideas.
Ive just been scrolling through the ‘Discussions’ and reading how some are switching to CLs and not travelling so far in an attempt to save money. With the hike in gas and electric prices this will need to be thought about at home as well, especially as winter approaches. We have been away for 3 weeks but even with no one here our electricity usage has, surprisingly, been creeping up. This will focus me to emptying the chest freezer and defrosting it, as that may be the biggest culprit. I’m also scouring recipe books in an attempt to become more proficient at making many more meals in the slow cooker, double batches then freezing some, in an attempt not to keep putting the oven on. The washing machine never goes on now unless it is really full. And, living in the South West, where water prices are astronomical, it’s always showers over baths. Anyone else got any tips, that might be useful.
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Yes, you don’t have to be in house for bills to be rising. Like you, we suspect our two freezers. Might empty one, and leave it off. I was looking at Remoska cookers the other day, not sure how energy efficient they might be. I think our kettle might be going onto stove top as well. We forage for wood through Summer months for stove. Just take a couple of bags into woods with us, fill with stuff for kindling and a bit larger. It drys out lovely for Winter. We have been collecting big logs as well, as someone cut a tree down and left nicely sized stuff in woods. We dry the wood out, and it burns clean. There are folks like us with a stove doing same.
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I have an App on my phone where I can monitor electric and gas usage on a daily basis when we are away. Obviously at this time of year we don't use any gas but the electric ticks along. Currently, on average, we are using about £2 worth of energy a day whilst we are at home. I imagine that figure is nearer a £1 a day when we are away. What I can't quite work out is whether the daily standing charge is included in the Smart Meter reading? Will obviously be a very different picture as we head into winter!!!
David
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When we are away in the static caravan we don’t pay the daily standing charge on electric and the water is free! It’s about the only thing that is though! But it does make a difference. Obviously we are paying for it really by paying out big time for the ground rent but it’s so nice not to have to think too hard before we turn a tap on or rinse out some washing.
We have decided to cut back a bit on our wine buying in Tesco, it’s become a habit, not that we drink that much but we have decided it will be one saving. In Devon buying juice might be cheaper than drinking tap water though. ( ok I’m joking, just)
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Just been reading about Hinckley B finally being shut down which means we'll need more gas energy to make up the difference until the new power station comes on line. Can't make up my mind where to try and save, gas or electricity?
We really use our two freezers, I'm filling them now with garden produce but I'm sure they guzzle up power. It just seems like a balancing act. I'm afraid we'll be burning more wood which isn't good for the planet but most of it comes from our garden or nearby. We are on a fixed dual fuel rate till next year, then the big shock will come.
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Brue, I’m the same on where to save. I used to boil a kettle and pour the water over the spuds before turning the gas on but not sure anymore.
We bought the chest freezer for all the allotment produce, a necessity then, but now we no longer have the allotment. However most of the batch cooking goes in it now. Also if there is a special offer on frozen food that we normally buy then I try to stock up a bit. So I think the big freezer is worth it but, as I said, it does need defrosting.
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I decided to contact Octopus Energy about the standing charge and they, as usual, very efficiently replied within a couple of hours informing me that the standing charge is added at 1.00am each morning! It is only our Combi Boiler that uses gas and obviously at the moment it's only being used to heat a modest amount of hot water each day. I fear that come the winter the current modest use of energy will balloon!!!
But here is a question. Is anyone thinking of having solar panels fitted? Supposedly the prices have comedown and now there is no VAT on them but even so it is still quite a large investment.
David
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I have recently considered it David and decided at my time of life the hastle and return, you would be lucky to get your investment back in 10 years, is not worth it. If i was younger and could look forward to a longer life or perhaps struggling to pay the bills and had the capital to make the investment, I think it would be worth it.
peedee
P.S. As for ideas for savings, I would review all my expenditure especially subscriptions, I am sure I could cancel some of them.
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Peedee
That is more or less how I have thought about things. We have no idea how much longer we will live where we do although we have no plans but sometimes events happen. Obviously it also depends of how long the current energy crisis persists for. If for example it carried on for another five years then the investment would probably break even a lot earlier. I don't think anyone is predicting it will go on that long. You could argue that amount of the capital investment could subsidise you energy bills for several years. But then I see projected energy bills increasing to something like £3600 a year which is getting on for four times what I paid a couple of years ago you do wonder? Another uncertainty is how much support the Government will provide which even at its most generous is unlikely to cover all of the increase. I am reluctant to change my lifestyle but as they say, when push comes to shove!!!
David
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Those I have talked to about it say with a 4Kw panel (the max you can have without more red tape) they do not use all that is generated especially in the summer months and are only getting 4p a Kw feed in tariff. The general concensus is it is better to go the whole hog and fit batteries as well. Thats about another £3000 for a 5Kw battery.
I have forgotten about moving, we have been toying with the idea but it is only likely if my health deteriorates dramatically. Nevertheless we are half heartedly looking around. It would be a big upheaval but you never know what is around the corner and something may trigger a greater urgency to downsize. At least it might save on rates and energy costs!
peedee
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If gov.uk decided we should all try to use solar panels I'd be happy with the idea at a reduced price! Until that day they're not worth it for us and I don't think OH or myself are the type of spreadsheet enthusiasts to keep a tally on usage or potential savings.
I've cut out one subscription, there is another one due to go soon.
Something has Improved along with bank rates as interest rates go up. I'd make sure you are getting the best rates for any savings, we have to look outside the bank we use for better rates. So move your savings if needed.
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We looked at solar panels. Payback is around the 20-25 year mark. What should be happening is all new build fitted with SPs, and factored into selling price. This should have been happening for decades.
Tiny savings on my favourite hobby this year. I collected lots of seed from my own garden, and asked if I could take a seed head or two from gardens we visited in Autumn, then grew them on this year. Garden filled with memories and colour, and I now give plants and seeds away to family and friends. Helps if you have a greenhouse though👍
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We have emptied and turned off one of our freezers, just to see how much we save over a few months but it’s the winter we need it really! We do use our Remoska at home and away, ours isn’t the large one but fine for us two. I do think at 400 watts, instead of 2000 for our ovens, it must be better although obviously some restrictions on what we can cook in there.
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I've just been checking our fuel usage for heating water so for the last week I have only used the immersion heater, the gas boiler is switched off. The immersion is timed to be on 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour early evening. In actual fact it is only operating for less than a quarter of this time as the water in the cylinder keeps very hot between times.
Interestingly, the cost has worked out almost the same as the previous week, whichever heating method I use for the water. During this last week the cost for gas for cooking on the hob, which was most days, was a very modest £0.13.
This week the immersion is off and I'll check again what the comparison is. A 2 week trial isn't really sufficient to get an accurate picture.
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Thanks for that heddlo. I don’t know a great deal about Remoska’s, and being veggies who don’t do long roasts in an oven, not sure if it would work for us. I shall read up a bit about slow cookers, we have one of those, used occasionally.
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Mrs WN cuts open plastic bottles of body lotion and the like and I'm always amazed at how much is left in them and thrown away by those that don't do this. As much as a quarter of the bottle on the last one.
We have someone coming to se us on Thursday to start the process of getting rid of Sky TV. May cost us a bit initially but not paying the monthly subscription will soon make up for it. It's not cost with that one but VFM.
In all honesty though we are not in the same place financially as quite a lot of folk around here and I have found that I am increasing my food bank shopping so will probably not be saving much if anything. And with a UK tour in the caravan on the cards for next month we have not yet reached the "nuclear option".
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Before you go down the route of solar panels ensure your roof is in tip condition some neighbours near us have had all sorts of problems and costs when their with solar panels roof started to leak near the ridge tiles and pidgeons just love to roost under them or they do under the ones fitted to rented properties in our area
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Reading of people turning off freezers brings to mind warnings I’ve heard on the TV news concerning people getting food poisoning due to turning off their fridges. Keep your fridges and freezers on folks as long as you have food in them. There are safer ways to save a few coppers such as not using dish washers or tumble dryers.
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You also live in the South West Water area Tinwheeler, with their huge water prices. We have found that using a large and always full dishwasher works out cheaper than washing up each evening. Our taps do need to run for a while to heat up the water though, so could be why. We just needed to acquire a few extra plates. Only use the tumble drier a couple of times a year, in ‘emergencies’ and also because our particular one is rather useless.
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I was checking a couple of my monthly bills last night and I noticed that one month I actually paid more in standing charge than I did for gas!!! How daft is that. It was probably the month we were away for most of the time.
David
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Likewise, David. As I mentioned earlier, last weeks gas for cooking only was £0.13, the standing charge for the week was £1.90! I know we have to pay for the maintenance etc of the pipes and cables but why have standing charges gone up so astronomically in what seems like one hit? Is it because the energy companies foresaw a reduced usage coming because of the price of gas and electric so they are recouping some of the shortfall via the standing charge. If so, it is a bit sneaky.
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I think it's a bit extreme turning off freezers to save money and it won't really save that much. I've just look at our electricity costs and usage now and with a huge American style double doored fridge freezer, routers, about 7 items on standby, house phone chargers, some lights and it's running at just under 6 pence per hour. (We only have gas for water and central heating)
The biggest users will be ovens, washing machines, tumble dryers, and dishwashers, so if one really needs to cut down you'll probably save more than switching the freezer off by washing at lower temperatures on shorter washes and hang things out to dry or use an airer.
And I suppose don't get a water meter unless it will save you money.
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We have two electricty accounts - one for the house, and one for the farm. The cost for the house pales into insignificance when I look at the farm account, so I admit to being a bit casual about leaving things on standby etc. The router, mesh system and main computer are on all day and everyday, and I really couldn't cope with scrabbling about to find the plug to switch off. Nor would I want the faff of everyting starting up again in the right order. And security never sleeps, so CCTV etc needs to be on 24/7.
Otherwise I am concious of not spending too much on non-essentials. But opinions differ on what is essential. Food definitely is, and decent fresh ingredients. I buy music and books (essential to me), but don't subscribe to streaming services. I cook 99% of meals from scratch (leftovers frozen to tart up for another meal etc).
And I can't resist the occassional bargain - 20% off my favourite gin was an offer I couldn't refuse. And Gin never goes off.
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Where we live and how we live a water meter is much cheaper. We even run a hosepipe on our big garden and greenhouse (not all the time) and our water bills are less than neighbours who think a water meter is expensive. All our washing gets dried outside throughout the year and it's done at a low temperature. Low energy bulbs are useful but my dear old late mother bought a huge amount of incandescent bulbs at a seaside bargain shop so we'll probably leave the remainder in our wills!! As my late father studied electrical engineering and maths it seems a fitting legacy....
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I suppose the advantage of a water meter might vary depending on the part of the country you reside in? When looking at the pros and cons you have to remember that non metered supplies are charge via the old rateable value system. So if your house has a low rateable value (worked out prior to Council Tax) it might still be worth not having a meter. However if the reverse is true then will almost certainly be better off with a meter. In MK where perhaps 80% of the houses are less than 50 years old the general rateable value was quite high. We changed many years ago and I seem to recall we are paying a similar amount now to when our bill was based on the old system.
David
https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/households/your-water-bill/unmetered/
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Our water bills are the bain of my life brue, our previous neighbours talked us into getting a water meter as there was only two of us, worse thing done. Three water butts and wouldn’t dream of using tap water on the garden. I’m very frugal but still SW water bills are sky high. Our son in Watford pays a quarter of the amount of ours and there are five of them, they think nothing of baths, dishwasher and washing machine on all the time. He is planning to semi retire back here in a few years time, they want a swimming pool, that was until I showed him our water bill.
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DEBSC
We pay £33 a month for our water, some years it's been a bit higher and sometimes lower. Not sure how that compares to others. We tend only to shower, rather than baths. Our dishwasher is on every day, washing machine maybe 2/3 times a week. The motorhome gets the occasional wash as does the car and in dry weather I water the garden, we don't have lawns so it's only plants (whilst I am allowed)
David
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Our water bill is much higher, dishwasher only on every 3 or 4 days. Washing machine a couple of times a week, showers not baths. Nothing much else. As we have been at the caravan a lot this summer and the last bill was an estimate we are hoping to have saved a bit. We do now get a £12.50 reduction on each bill paid by the government due to rates being so high. We have to pay for all the beach cleaning, which is why SWWater say it’s so high.
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