extreme budgeting - cost cutting suggestions?

[NoahVale]

is it worth turning off broadband during day?
is it worth only heating water bare minimum time?
if so which minimum, which hours?

[Mum4Fergus]

Probably depends on your service and what exactly is is you are trying to save...for example turning my broadband off would make no difference to my monthly payment and I doubt would be noticeable from an electricity perspective (you could always have a meter installed that tells you what's rating up your electricity?)...on the water front, again, likely to be minimal.

When I took real steps to cut my budget best improvements came from turning everything off at night I possible could and also turning down the thermostat for the hot water- it was set extremely high resulting in me having to add cold water to cool it down most of the time - defeating the purpose! I now have thermostat set half way and it's still very sufficient...

[Fluffycloudland77]

We always switch the hub off overnight and when we go out.

We have a water tank which I heat for 20 mins when needed to 55c. This gives us a full bath plus a shower for me.

[NoahVale]

thanks
all sounds good.

[Tryingtosaveup]

I turn everything off at the plug as all of those little flashing lights waste money. And I turn boiler off completely when I am away.

[Grumpyoldblonde]

I agree with turning off everything properly as everyone else has said. Other good habits are making sure the washing machine/dishwasher is properly full and most clothes get a couple of wears out of them if not actually stained and I never put things like big saucepans that have had veg or spuds boiled in them through the dishwasher, they take up too much space.
Keeping the freezer full is more efficient on electricity, even if it's a couple of loaves of bread in there, speaking of which you can freeze pretty much anything, which cuts food waste.
When you say extreme cost cutting how far do you need to go? The Old Style forum on MSE would be helpful perhaps.

[NoahVale]

just looking at that grumpy,
thanks

[Lagirafe]

I turn everything off at the wall overnight and I turn the TV off at the set in between uses.
I turn the boiler settings right down too (currently have water on 2 and it's perfectly warm for a shower / hand washing).

[CremeEggThief]

I heat my water at 50°C and everything is switched off at the wall unless it's in use; except for the fridge freezer, boiler, broadband hub and pest repeller. I have experimented with turning the broadband hub off when not in use, but didn't find it made a difference. I like watching TV at night with battery operated fairy lights and candles.

[CremeEggThief]

OP, you are very welcome to join Fluffy and I (and lots of others) on our frugaleers threads, on this forum.

[NoahVale]

thanks cremeegg,
i might give that a go

[studentmum4latte]

Bucket baths....
Basically fill a large rubber bucket with water and wash with it using a jug. My DH is from India and this is standard practise but when our boiler breaks, it's ace. You only need a little bit of hot water compared with a bath or even a shower.
A plumber told me keep hot water on all the time as it's cheaper than hearing always from cold - unsure about this.

[Fluffycloudland77]

It's an energy myth, it's like running your car all the time so it never starts from cold.

It's the same with houses, every winter you see people leaving the heating on for the same reason.

I can never work out why so many people leave curtains open at night too, all that heat being lost through the double glazing. Odd.

[NoahVale]

well,have changed the timer for the hot water, and also turned the thermostat down, that Was a good idea.
we will just have to see how it goes

[HardToDeal]

I think using battery powered lights would cost more in batteries than the equivalent from the mains. Plus "flashing lights" - if you're worried about the electricity used to power the actual LEDs it will be negligible.

[Mum4Fergus]

From a heat/energy view I also lined all my curtains (£3 throws from IKEA), curtain at all external doors, draft excluders on internal doors, reflective surface behind radiators, close blinds/curtains as soon as it looks to be getting dark, throws in bed/sofa...

[CremeEggThief]

I don't agree, HardToDeal. I only need to replace the batteries in my lights 3 or 4 times a year and they're cheap batteries bought from Poundstretcher or similar.

[NoahVale]

I do need to line my curtains though, they are dreadfully thin.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I lined mine when we rented the coldest house in the world with draughty dg and a single glazed patio door.

It was noticeable from the first night. I used cheap fleece blankets from asda and safety pins.