Living alone, your top energy saving tips/machines

[Tworedgeraniums]

Inspired by my heating post, my twin DC recently left home so now it’s just me and the dog at home.

I’ve got a small air fryer, smart value heating on the radiators, a log burner with a good supply of logs from the back garden. A heated throw.

looking at buying a heat pump tumble dryer as almost impossible to dry clothes in the garden as too shady and I hate wet washing hung indoors.

what other smart things may well be worth buying or top tips for keeping the bills down?

Maybe gadgets to save water, lower bills - cistern balls, water butts, etc. Water companies and councils usually have a page dedicated to it. Also selecting appropriate wash load settings now it's just you.

Lower heating settings in any rooms you are not using much.

Lamps on timers. Heating timers adjusted to just your schedule. Bulbs all energy saving. Outside lighting - light sensitive bulbs, so only on if dark.

Get a water meter if you’ve not got one already as your water use will have decreased.
Use one room as a snug if that will work for you and draught proof inc curtains.
Cut down on any subscriptions you don’t need and on presents and cards if you can’t afford them.
Ride a bike or walk instead of driving or paying for the bus.
Spend your money on what’s most important for you and enjoy life without being mean.

Get a rice cooker. Mine cost £20.99 on Amazon. It comes with a steamer basket. You can cook an entire meal in it. For example I had rice, steamed salmon & veg. To use up the salmon, next day boiled potatoes in skin, steamed salmon and veg. I also made a macaroni cheese in it. Get on YouTube and see what you can achieve with a rice cooker. I'm absolutely in love with mine. Another bonus is it barely registers on my smart meter.

For me when I get in from work during the week I do what I need to do (dinner, feed the cat etc), then have a hot bath to warm up and get into bed with the laptop / a book / watch tv etc .. saves me needing to heat the whole house for hours and is cosy

I live alone in a too big house. This annoys me every day but I am waiting to see if one of DC needs to move in .... one day maybe.

Do you have lots of insulation, can you manage to heat only the few rooms you need? Do you have good curtains, double glazing, would you sit with a hot water bottle to avoid turning the thermostat up?

Heated airer is great when can't have clothes on line (mine is from Lakeland but other brands available including Lidl/Aldi) is brilliant. Dries clothes overnight if you put a sheet over it and peg it shut, and only very low cost. I have mine in garage (because of condensation) but when boiler broke had it in living room with me, and it did make a difference.

You might not like drying washing indoors, but if you've got space and your heating is on, it's well worth it rather than putting it in a dryer.

Simply drape it over a clothes horse in a spare room and next to the radiator. Hang a sheet over the clothes horse, tucking it behind the radiator and open the windows.

Your washing will dry quickly and there the moisture will escape through the opened windows. I promise it works, but it does need ventilation to stop mould.

Rice cookers are great

You can do porridge and rice pudding in them too

I saw a guy on YouTube recommending putting your airer in a spare room (if you have one) and running a fan on the clothing.. It's equivalent to a windy day plus uses barely any electricity.

I just use the tumble dryer because I can't bear the alternatives. I love my electric blanket on my bed. I love my electric throw on the sofa. You'll be fine, OP! It's so much cheaper when you live alone in so many ways.

I've just invested in soft fleece bedding. Duvet cover, pillowcases, fitted sheet. What with that and the electric blanket I can barely wait to go to bed. Absolute heaven.

I use my air fryer and my slow cooker all the time and never use my oven. You can batch cook in a slow cooker and freeze the food. That will save you a lot of money and time.

Get a cheap night rate for electricity and use it as much as possible. Smart plugs to charge stuff up at night, use washer/ dishwasher/ dryer/ charge car at night. Oodie is super warm.

Heated throw for use when relaxing with TV/whatever in the evening. Heating goes off earlier