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Cost of living

Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Energy saving tips

35 replies

Sunflowers765 · 03/09/2022 11:42

With the horrendous increases in energy we obviously looking at ways to cut back usage. But it is causing some conflict in our house.
I have loads of ideas but DH doesn't want to live like a caveman!
What are people's plans for saving gas and electric? Have you got your family on board?

OP posts:
Madreb · 04/09/2022 23:19

I pay £6 a month for a delivery pass from Asda and can get deliveries to any address as many times a week as I like using this (min spend £40). Both my brothers use it for their family shop and i do the shopping for my dad and my sil does her nans shopping using it. They have saved their. card details and checkout using their security code each time so no mistakes etc. It is definitely saving us all money on fuel and the careful eye on trolley cost.

anonnancy · 06/09/2022 09:59

Things we are doing:

cool showers for us. My 3 year old only has 2 baths a week due to eczema but may start showering him quickly rather than running baths.

washing: only washing at weekend after 9pm and reducing to 2 washes (DH work uniform and then me and DS’s clothes together) on a cool wash.

not using dishwasher - hand washing pots. If using dishwasher making sure it’s full and put it on eco 35C.

not using tumble dryer (haven’t used this year apart from emergencies when needed to dry clothes and it’s been raining outside) - clothes horse has come back out and will air off in dining room.

central heating won’t go on unless absolutely necessary. Rads turned off in rooms we don’t use much so only room that will be heated are living room, DS bedroom, bathroom. Maybe mine and DH room but we can wrap up and cuddle ;-)!

ill cook in my air fryer / microwave.

food shops are now going to be basics - I did my last weekly shop in a basket rather than a trolley and spent £31 for a weeks worth of meals, milk, bread & fruit/veg. Using ingredients I’ve had in my cupboard so therefore needing to buy less in the shops to make meals. Lots of chicken / potatoes for meals !

hopefully Santa will bring us plenty of nice warm slippers and pyjamas!

contemplating whether to use gas fire in lounge in evenings rather than GCH to only warm the lounge (and subsequently DS bedroom as the chimney breast will warm his room up)! But not sure if that’s cheaper than using the central heating…

gizmo · 06/09/2022 11:12

There is a into how to optimise your heating and hot water to give you the most comfort for lowest bills.

I highly recommend Heatgeek - it's a bit technical but very very helpful if you want to be certain you get the most heat out of every unit of gas you burn.

JimmiChoux · 06/09/2022 11:17

We have a 10.5kw electric shower. It's the most expensive thing in the house to run. It's quite shocking when you work out the running cost. I've gone from spending half an hour down to 4 minutes in the shower. I got a little 4 minute timer now.

gizmo · 06/09/2022 11:18

Well that was cryptic. I meant to say that this is a very useful video. But hopefully it will speak for itself 🙂

gizmo · 06/09/2022 11:21

So again....🙄

loomer · 06/09/2022 12:46

gizmo · 06/09/2022 11:21

So again....🙄

That is a massively useful video, and really clear, thanks.

christmas2022 · 06/09/2022 12:48

JimmiChoux · 06/09/2022 11:17

We have a 10.5kw electric shower. It's the most expensive thing in the house to run. It's quite shocking when you work out the running cost. I've gone from spending half an hour down to 4 minutes in the shower. I got a little 4 minute timer now.

I don't know how to tell what the shower is

Loocheeyar · 06/09/2022 17:53

My hot water is off until it’s run out as it keeps warm for up to 4 days
washing up in cold water is fine
cold stand up wash has been fine too and cold water hand washing
less detergent and using dish soap in laundry on stains and in the drum .
curtains are full length and lined and a door curtain also

AquaMum123 · 30/11/2022 14:48

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