AIBU?
To ask you how much Gas & Electric you have used today ?
specialk9 · 01/10/2022 09:41
We've used £3.30 already. Yesterday we used £5.80
No heating on
Washing machine has been on a quick cycle
2 x showers (total 10 mins?)
1x TV on
Kettle boiled 3x
Usual things plugged in / on standby (fridge/freezer/other TVs etc)
No lights on
Still need to do another wash, 2 small children need a bath (will share), 1 teenager needs a shower, kettle will be on at least another 3/4 times. Dinner to be made.
We can never seem to stick to our 'budget' (who sets that? The company?) unless we're out all day.
How do you manage to stick to your budget ? Seems unmanageable (2ad, 1 teenager, 1 infant school & 1 baby)
We're £400 in credit over the summer but DD has gone from £105 to £291 !
AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 01/10/2022 09:46
What do you mean by your budget, is that something you've set yourself?
I don't have a smart meter so spared the obsessive checking. I will afford my energy by if necessary cuttting down on something else (I know that's not possible for everyone), my life's too short for constant chewing about this. We are energy sensible and that will have to do.
PrivateHall · 01/10/2022 09:47
Never crossed my mind to track this, great idea. Have taken a pic of the box and will check back later. We don't have a smart meter.
It is really tough, I agree and it doesn't sound like you could cut down much more. Only suggestion I have is boiling the kettle full then put the excess in a thermos for next time.
Is it cheaper to watch programmes on a laptop than TV? I dunno!
We def aren't bathing the DC daily, just a very quick shower.
specialk9 · 01/10/2022 10:18
@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair oh sorry if not clear. The budget is on the smart meter so I assume the company has set that? Unless we're out all day we're always over the budget set. And we don't even have the heating on yet.
I might just turn it off tbh
specialk9 · 01/10/2022 10:20
@PrivateHall it's mad when you actually look at it.
We don't need to be extremely frugal but I find I'm checking it more often recently which I'm not sure is a good thing or not !
Teenagers showers every other day and small ones I bath 2/3 times a week depending on how stinky they are 😉
specialk9 · 01/10/2022 10:34
@TheRubyRedshoes we have a smart meter.
It tells you current use per hour - so see this increases when the kettle goes on for example
Daily use, weekly use etc
WeepingSomnambulist · 01/10/2022 10:38
Quick cycles on the washing machine use more energy because they have to spin harder/faster.
Use the eco setting. Or use a cold wash with laundry powder for cold washes. Something like 90% of the energy used is heating the water in the washing machine.
You only actually need a hot wash for towels and bedding. Everything else can go in a cold wash and then it costs pennies.
WeepingSomnambulist · 01/10/2022 10:40
specialk9 · 01/10/2022 10:18
@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair oh sorry if not clear. The budget is on the smart meter so I assume the company has set that? Unless we're out all day we're always over the budget set. And we don't even have the heating on yet.
I might just turn it off tbh
The budget is set at a random figure but the guy who installed your meter.
Go into the settings on your smart enter and click through until you find the budget and set it at something you think is reasonable for your household, if you want to.
It doesn't actually mean anything. It's just meant to aid people who want/need to stick to a budget and then know they need to turn off everything if they reach it and reduce their use during each day etc.
InCheesusWeTrust · 01/10/2022 10:43
There always needs to be a mention of how much you pay for unit. Some people pay way less or way more per unit so it always ends up in "how do I spend 3 quid more/less than other person😳".
We don't have kids so we spend very little. Can't be arsed to check meter right now but on pre april rates it was about £1.50 a day average? Including standing charge
specialk9 · 01/10/2022 10:44
@WeepingSomnambulist oh that's interesting. I always just assumed that a quicker cycle means less cost.
Our cold cottons eco wash takes 2 hours though!
The budget doesn't really matter. Just makes me feel like we're overusing.
WeKnowFrogsGoShaLaLaLaLa · 01/10/2022 10:45
My smart meter is already at the cost it usually shows when I'm going to bed. No heating on. One very short shower. All plugs than can be switched off are off.
specialk9 · 01/10/2022 10:45
@InCheesusWeTrust
Our rates are the standard variable so £0.35 for electricity and £.0.10 for gas
Bookaholic73 · 01/10/2022 10:45
Can I ask how you daily track it? I’d like to start tracking mine, do I need a smart meter?
WeepingSomnambulist · 01/10/2022 10:48
specialk9 · 01/10/2022 10:44
@WeepingSomnambulist oh that's interesting. I always just assumed that a quicker cycle means less cost.
Our cold cottons eco wash takes 2 hours though!
The budget doesn't really matter. Just makes me feel like we're overusing.
That's annoying. I have a "super eco" setting on mine. It's a cold wash and takes 51 minutes and costs pennies compared to my "non stop 60 min" hot wash or even my quick wash setting.
I've never used my 2 hour economy wash.
HumourReplacementTherapy · 01/10/2022 10:49
I don't know if ours has updated as it's at £.72p electricity and £0 gas.
Nobody has done much apart from have a coffee and one person has had a shower.
Be more lazy. Costs less 
Zippedydoo123 · 01/10/2022 10:50
It is easy to get obsessive with a smart meter. Until 17 year old ds finds work the ps4 is often on which does not help matters so meanwhile I am skipping showers alternate days. I may keep this up to be honest. I am on 2nd load of washing today and it was already over £2 by 10am. Just 2 of us. We use an air fryer too to in theory help the bills..
InCheesusWeTrust · 01/10/2022 10:51
Manuals should have some kwh usage indication for different cycles. You can check if the eco uses less electricity than quick. I believe it's mainly water where it makes difference, but I might be wrong. Can't remember where I read it
Testina · 01/10/2022 10:56
Zippedydoo123 · 01/10/2022 10:52
I like to wash everything at 40 degrees.
Why? Can you tell a difference when it’s done at 30°? Genuinely interested, not being snippy! My stuff comes out clean at 30°.
Iliveonahill · 01/10/2022 10:56
Bookaholic73 · 01/10/2022 10:45
Can I ask how you daily track it? I’d like to start tracking mine, do I need a smart meter?
Yes. But beware it’s addictive. My kitchen lights are old and cost a fortune to have on is what I’ve learnt!
InCheesusWeTrust · 01/10/2022 10:59
Zippedydoo123 · 01/10/2022 10:52
I like to wash everything at 40 degrees.
We do too. There is always gym clothes and clothes from DH's work which is just soaked in grease and food smell (kitchen job). Also oil stains didn't go at 30 🙄
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.