It's going to be a long winter

[strugglingmum82]

I'm currently sat going through my finances, looking at ways to cut back ready for the huge energy bills that are coming my way this winter

I have a pre-payment meter. I can't get it changed. Dice the 15th July have put in £220 and it's due to run out tomorrow. My house is all electric.

So I'm looking at ways to keep warm this winter without using my storage heaters.

I was thinking about buying a portable gas fire, has anyone got one? I already have portable electric fires which are cheaper to run but I'm looking at alternatives. I've also got an oil heater

I have no idea why my phone chose Dice as an autocorrect 🤔

We had one when I was growing up and our gas fire got condemned. My parents used to order the calor gas to go in it. I remember it being nice and toasty but not much else I'm afraid.

Maybe look at the price of them + how much the calor bottles are and the quantity you'll need to see if you'll actually make a saving.

Calor gas heaters do warm rooms up quick but you have to be careful as they can cause dampness.

We used to have electric heating, and calor gas heaters did work out cheaper, but we did end up with mould. Storage heaters are a nightmare though - so expensive. Do you know how much they cost to run per day? If so, you could compare with running say oil filled radiators in the rooms you use - most have a one kwh setting, so you could calculate how many hours in each room you'd need. Before we had central heating, we had a couple that we wheeled from bathroom to bedrooms to warm a room.

Do you know how you have got through so much electric in summer? Eg do you have a lot of people, or a really high pence-per-unit? If you don't know it might be worth seeing what you can do to reduce it.

I think calor gas is quite expensive. It seemed it when I looked into it as an extra.

I'd be more inclined to reduce my overall electric use (oven etc), and use hot water bottles and old fashioned warming stuff. Thermals layers, thin scarves, and so on.

I honestly don’t think they’re safe and gas bottles are £££.

could you maybe get a tiny oil radiator? I picked some up on Amazon a couple of months ago for £13 each and they do a great job.

Also, please tell us what’s going on in the house because maybe we can help. I’m 100% electric and use approx 10 kw/day and although I don’t use the tumble dryer (and rarely oven!) - I’m not washing by hand and the dishwasher goes on daily.

tbh I don’t think your usage is crazy if you’re already on 48p/kw.

but I’m not convinced those gas heaters are the way to go - especially with children around.

I have no idea how much they're going to cost to run. My HA have put new ones in this summer

I normally only have them turned on in the living room and landing.

It's a 3 bed with 5 of us living here. My 3 dc and my grandson. I don't use a tumbler dryer although I do have one. I use the washer maybe twice a day but on the eco setting and I don't use my dishwasher anymore

I've turned off all outside lighting including the security lights

Are you on economy 7? If so, do you use your washing machine at night when it's cheaper?