Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Energy saving tips

24 replies

Jellypot · 07/10/2021 18:35

Do anyone here have any energy saving tips. There was news lately about rising energy costs. My mom is upset and distressed with the news and worried. It's not the best news but I am a little bit calmer about it.

I always prefer layers over turning on the heat and I find wool is a great insulator. I am looking for some energy saving tips so hopefully this winter won't be so harsh.

OP posts:
Franklin12 · 07/10/2021 18:37

Heated blanket. They are fab and very cheap to run

redfernstation · 07/10/2021 18:41

I put the washing machine on at night when electric is cheaper.

BlackeyedSusan · 07/10/2021 19:53

turn all aplliances off standyby

wash on a cooler setting

iron less

boil only the water you need in the kettle. (possibly use a flask for the rrest)

layers instead of heating socks, lots of socaks and slippers. blankets or duvets on the sofa.

insulate the home well. (draught excluders, lined curtains, curtains behind radiator, silver foil on a piece of cardboard behind radiators on outside walls insulate the loft hatch)

turn down the heating

listen to the radio (on a radio or smartphone) instead of using the tv.

use a wind up/solar powered radio

use solar lamps.

heat the rooms you need, keep the others cooler but without causing damp.

take all the crap out of your car.

batch cook and reheat in microwave. defrost in the fridge in the day.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cost of living
BlackeyedSusan · 07/10/2021 19:55

wash less often. can uniform be worn a second day (or part of it) you don't need to wash things everytime you wear them. (excepting pants and socks etc)

BlackeyedSusan · 07/10/2021 19:56

keep cutains closed on the shady side of the house. close curtains after dark.

Brollywasntneededafterall · 07/10/2021 19:57

Buy a Husky... Our other ddogs use her as their personal Body Warmer!!

Bontanics · 07/10/2021 19:57

Double layered curtains and tuck behind the radiator if they're under the window.

dementedpixie · 07/10/2021 20:00

@redfernstation

I put the washing machine on at night when electric is cheaper.
This only applies if you have Economy 7 heating or similar
Gubanc · 07/10/2021 20:08

@Brollywasntneededafterall

Buy a Husky... Our other ddogs use her as their personal Body Warmer!!
Why did I never thought of this before as a way of convincing husband to get a dog? 😄
redfernstation · 07/10/2021 20:14

wear a onesie..not attractive. ,but the warmest thing I wear!

Crimpnwave · 07/10/2021 20:14

Turn down the temperature down a few degress when you shower and keep the shower short.

Unplug all appliances when not in use. Including the internet overnight or when out of the house for long periods of time.

When cooking always put lids on pans to keep the heat in. Tun the oven off 10 mins before the reccommended cooking time and leave the food to cook in the residual heat.

Try to get all of the family in to one room rather than everyone in seperate rooms so you only need light and heat in one room.

BlackeyedSusan · 07/10/2021 23:44

given it is 11.43 and I am not asleep this is something I still have to work on. a lot. go to bed earlier and make use of the lighter mornings.

earsup · 07/10/2021 23:53

Go to friends and neighbours each day and evening so your heating is off....spend day in the shopping mall / centre to keep warm...spend days in the library....i think every frugal tip ever has been shared on MN....maybe we should all just stop living....there is nothing else or more i can do but have a big 4 bed old house....now have led bulbs, curtains over doors....heating only on when cold, use the fireplaces for log fires when really cold....energy prices must calm down or everyone will be so miserable worrying about how to keep warm....maybe move to a hot country...i do think about that one...!!

AdoraBell · 08/10/2021 00:02

Layer up clothes, I use my cosy dressing gown over my clothes.

Fleece blankets on bed or on your legs while relaxing in the evening. Can also be pinned onto curtains, I close my curtains before it gets dark. In really cold weather I wear tights under jeans, or thick tights if wearing dresses or skirts.

AdoraBell · 08/10/2021 00:05

earsup I used to live in Latin America. I still miss the climate sooooooo much. Utilities were fecking expensive though.

Graphista · 08/10/2021 00:26

If you or she can afford to get I highly recommend halogen heaters they heat up a room a treat and are very cheap to run, I first got one each for living room and mine and dds bedrooms when we lived somewhere with shockingly bad and extortionately expensive.

Other than that all the usual that have mostly already been mentioned - wear layers and warm clothes, hot food and drink (flasks a good idea or at least teapot with a cosy)

I feel the cold and in winter I've been known to wear the following to bed:

Leggings, vest sometimes also t-shirt, bed socks, AND pyjamas. I've been on occasion worn a woolly hat!

Extra blankets/throws for in the living room or bed

Electric blankets are good and pretty cheap to run.

Head to bed early even if not planning to go to sleep, I used to head to bed as soon as dd was asleep at like 7/8pm and read or listen to music or watch dvds (pre streaming days and no tv aerial connection upstairs/in bedroom) until I was ready to go to sleep.

I spent a lot of time in libraries/community centres in order to not have heating/lighting on when dd wasn't home that was when I was really on the bones of my arse!

I could always find something to occupy myself in the library.

Community centres could be a little trickier.

Is she eligible for warm home discount or winter fuel payment and if so has she applied?

The most obvious one is very tricky to risk at the moment though which is ensuring she's with the cheapest supplier cos the energy business IS such a flipping mess at the moment with firms going bust etc

Graphista · 08/10/2021 00:27

Shockingly bad and extortionately expensive storage heating that should say

earsup · 08/10/2021 00:37

@AdoraBell

earsup I used to live in Latin America. I still miss the climate sooooooo much. Utilities were fecking expensive though.
yes so did I....3 years in Spain and one year in Colombia....loved it....utilities ok in colombia but spain....horrific electric prices and very complicated tariffs....and it keeps going up over there...!!!
Hercisback · 08/10/2021 00:41

Charge your phone/laptop at work.

midsomermurderess · 08/10/2021 02:03

Bloody hell, is watching tv really going push someone into penury?

ISpyCobraKai · 08/10/2021 02:08

I do all of these things where possible but no amount of layers stop me breathing in cold air which isn't great considering I have brittle asthma.
I'm not giving up my TV for radio either, that's just too far!

midsomermurderess · 08/10/2021 02:16

I worked with someone who would always charge his phone at work. He was widely regarded as a using jerk.

Hercisback · 08/10/2021 06:17

😂 Midsomer. Totally normal where I work.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 08/10/2021 06:41

rechargeable batteries, listen to the radio on battery

New posts on this thread. Refresh page