15 Easy Ways to Cut Your Energy Bills - Mid Week Money Chat my top tips to cut electric & gas usage.
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- Опубликовано: 28 июн 2024
- This week we cover the hike in energy prices and Mid Week Money Chat gives you my best 15 tips that you can easily use to cut the costs to cope.
Frugal Queen in France
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We are a British couple living in Brittany on a budget.
Frugal recipes, days out, home renovations and day to day making do in France.
We’ll give you hints, tips, advice and an insight into our life in France.
Website www.frugalqueeninfrance.com/
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When I'm in a quiet mood I often sit in my car parked in the sun...so warm and calming.
Now that's a good idea
Put dark clothes in sunny car along with socks, they get toasty
My brother in law gets chilly working from home so he sits at his desk in a sleeping bag! I thought that was such a good idea, Keeps him much warmer and saved on the heating bills!
Been there, done that, it's cold working at home.
I love this idea
My dad was a Royal Marine, (and a parsimonious Scouser!) he taught us - as shower hugging teenagers - to do a 'Navy shower'. This is what was essential when on ship with a limited supply of washing water on board. Turn the shower on, wet yourself all over. Turn the shower off, and soap and shampoo yourself. Turn the shower back on to quickly rinse all over, and you're done! Can feel a bit chilly in the cold weather, but it certainly saves on the water.
I've always done this. Water and heating it, is a massive cost.
I’m in the UK. I got a free timer that sticks onto tile for the shower from our water provider. It’s for 5 minutes but I set myself a goal to be in and out of the shower and my teeth brushed before it is over, so that’s a 2 minute shower! Got it down to a fine art.
My Dad was in the Royal Navy and for years after he would use a bucket 🪣 in the bath to rinse off the washing liquid.
I wish i could get my teens on board with shorter, sharper showers! Twin teenage girls have a real love affair with the shower.
I once vacationed at an Austrian ski hut. The owner had installed a pay-as-you-go timer on the shower. Oh, and extra for hot water! As it was winter I opted for the extra cost, but spot-washed more often than full showered!
I use battery operated candles around my house (due to pets) / the warm glow tricks my mind into thinking it’s warmer than it is/ and makes it looks all cosy and warm in winter. Pair that with a good throw blanket, some fluffy socks and a mug of hot chocolate and I’m all toasty lol. Great video thank you Jane x
Yep! I used to have an electric effect fake wood burner, just the lights in made me feel warmer.
You are absolutely right.
I do my batch baking on really cold days. Freezer filled with goodies and the residual heat from the oven is wonderful.
Sounds great!
One of the things I have stopped doing is washing up after every meal. There are only 2 of us, so I leave it all until after the evening meal, thus saving water as well as the gas used to heat it.
Great tip. I wait until I have a pile too.
I do that too. We have a dishwasher but it is only used once or twice a year, it's mainly an extra drying rack.
Another great video and the subsequent comments also have many great tips...I will be sharing this with my "Joys of Thrift" group!! Now if some smart scientist could figure out how to harness the energy (read heat) produced by a menopausal woman we might just solve all energy problems, lol.
I’m my own furnace!
We have throws on the sofa and on a chair in the great room. We open the shades, curtain and blinds to follow the sun. When the sun is on the windows, the coverings are open. When the sun is not on them, we close the coverings. We layer and wear fleece lined slippers in the house in the cold seasons.
Great advice, thanks for watching
Gasp! I just realized that I can switch the breaker off for my dryer, dishwasher and oven/stove as I use them rarely. My hot water boiler is set on 120F, but I can reduce that, too. You are an inspiration, Jane. Lotsaluv from Texas 🤠
I am retired and grew up without central heating. I only have one light bulb on at a time and that has to have me in that room. I only put heating on when it is really really cold. I layer up, I actually love Autumn and winter. I strip wash everyday, by boiling a kettle and washing at the sink twice a month I put boiler on to have a shower and hair wash. I boil a kettle to wash dishes. Last year I used no more than six hours of central heating. If it's cold, I get in bed with the electric blanket on, great for reading a book. So last year cost me £28.00 per month. My supplier has increased it to £38.00 to cover increases in costs. I believe you can buy electric throws for use while sitting. I am very active so not at the fragile stage of old age. This system would not of worked when I was young and raising four children and a household of six. my comments are just applicable to people in my situation.
Liz, I take my hat off to you. If you’re in good health, then I’m sure you’re fine. Thanks for sharing your story.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance I forgot to mention, if it's sunny on cold days the curtains are open till the sun goes down. I then draw the curtains. If it is dull and overcast, I pull down the roller blinds and draw the lined curtains Even though I have double glazing. I'm not frugal lol, just sensible. Thank you for your kind response.
How do your pipes not freeze?
@@autumnsmith3585 I put heating in for an hour if it is 0° or below
Thermal underwear is useful, and now a little less "pioneer" in style. Insoles in indoor slippers and shoes help too. We use old fashioned, home made draught excluders and door curtains in winter, because our house is ancient and doors are not a perfect fit. The washing machine is only used when we have enough laundry for a full load and the tumble drier is known as the machine of last resort. We top up our heating oil in September before the price goes up due to demand increase each October. We were given a Wonderbag, a kind of modern hay box, for slow cooking. It uses no power at all and the food cooks beautifully. If you see one in a charity shop, grab it!
Thanks for the super tips.
Yes! I love sheepskin inserts for boots slippers etc and have mult. pairs of silk long underwear!
Love all your ideas for saving on energy costs! So practical. Living in Wisconsin, it is cool to down right frigid a good portion of the year. We “bit the bullet” years ago and bought a wood burning furnace that is hooked into our central heating. Living on wooded acreage and having access to wood is a great savings. My oven/stove died 4 years ago and I have not replaced it and do not plan to. I have an air fryer, slow cooker, pressure cooker and microwave plus 2 of the stove top electric coils still work. You get very creative once you make up your mind not to follow the “norm.” Love to hear everybody’s ideas for frugal living!
We entirely heat with wood and cook with wood too in the winter.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance I have watched your wood splitting and stacking set-up. Ours is very similar. Love that you cook with wood too!
@@stephaniekleppin7702 thanks, I don’t mind winter because of that
I use my old pressure cooker a lot. The new instant pots are nothing but electrified pressure cookers ! Right now I don't have an oven . And
I take short showers .I wash most of my clothes with the cold programme .but I liked your idea of a hot water bottle in my back when I read.
Thanks Mattie. Pressure cookers cook the food so quickly.
Yes I agree with you about the pressure cooker and I have one for more than 25 years now not electronic but stove top use, using it every week
A while ago I looked into these instant pots and wanted to know what they did that my pressure cooker didn't do . Nothing in fact ..plus my pressure cooker never failed me
If you are happy with your instant pot you made a good purchase .
I know what you mean ... I find it more and more difficult closing and opening my pressure cooker when my wrists ache , reminding me I'm getting old
Hi Jane, great tips, all of which we use due to living off small work pensions. During many years of marriage, I have never bought a tumble dryer. The fresh smell of laundry off a line is wonderful!
Great tip! I love the smell of air dried sheets on my bed. It's heavenly.
Nothing nicer than washing dried outside.
I’ve put my curtain back up over my front door this week to keep the heat in. I’ve just bought a lovely thick fleece jacket which I will be living in this winter! I’m at home during the day home schooling my daughter, I sit at the desk with her with a big fleecy jacket wrapped around my legs and a hot water bottle on my back, it makes a huge difference.
Those hot water bottles are a game changer
I've seen a couple of people talking about 'hydrating the air' to make it moist. There are two issues people need to be very careful with this. Firstly, moisture in the air increases the likelihood of mould - you may not see it, but it could be there, and secondly moist air is actually harder and takes longer to heat, than dry air. A cold damp home will feel colder than the same house at the same temperature but with dry air.
Yes, you are sooo RIGHT!!
Thanks for sharing.
I find wool blankets in the thrift store and old sweaters. I then sew them together to make blankets for the winter months
Those thrift stores can been a really boon in the winter.
I use the scrap to use mittens
I would like to make a blanket with old wool jumpers but I'm unsure of the best way to do it. How do you sew wool together?
I use a small electric bathroom heater to warm up my bathroom only when I’m using it. This prevents me from being freezing in the morning without having to warm up the whole house. It also makes it nice and toasty when I get out of my shower.
I used to drop my dressing gown on the floor and jump in the shower to stay warm
Don’t forget that when it’s hot out, DRINK COLD drinks. When it’s cold outside, DRINK HOT drinks. Whatever you pour into your body, will either heat up your body or will cool it down. If you try to drink hot when it’s hot out, it will make your inner temperature rise, & if you try to drink cold when it’s cold out, it will make your inner temp cold, thus you will be COLDER when you are trying to get warm. Think opposite of the temp is what you drink/eat & you’ll fix a big chunk of the problem. In Oklahoma it can easily get over 100 degrees F (37-38+ degrees C), with a VERY high humidity … basically you walk out of the house & you are already drenched in sweat. Sometimes even before you can walk out of the house.
Thanks for watching and sharing
Hi Jane, found your blog a few weeks ago and absolutely love it! Loads of great ideas and insights, delivered with warmth and sincerity. I am a disabled pensioner and am home most of the time. Winter can be especially challenging on a low income. I use fine plush throws as top sheets ( £12.99 from the Range) great for temperature control all year round. Brilliant for those of us with the dreaded fibro. My heating is switched off from the end of March until mid October. (unless it’s freezing and my grand babies are here). Some years ago I purchased a heated fleecy blanket for warmth whilst sitting in my chair. Costs 2p an hour on low. Every other day I fill up a bowl with hot water and use this with a sponge to have a top to toe strip wash in the shower. 50% water and gas saving between 5 minute shower days. I use a ‘one cup’ kettle’ , perfect for a mug of tea. Whilst watching tv in the evenings I leave my lights off as the streetlight outside of my house is adequate to see by. I use low wattage bulbs and have a nice bright daylight lamp as a task light. My default ‘ at home’ wear consists of fluffy socks, fleecy bottoms and a nice thick dressing gown, Glam!!! I have a sinking fund set up for a crockpot and a second freezer. So nice to hear other peoples frugal tips, thanks Jane x
Linda, you are the queen of frugal and doing so with such good grace.
In the colder months when I run the heater, I don't use the tumble dryer at the laundromat. Instead, I only pay to wash my clothes, and then I hang them on a clothes rack by my heater in my apartment. It might take a day or two for them to dry, but it saves me $1.50 per load of laundry, and helps make up for the fact that I'm running the heater.
All savings help to stretch our budgets.
A tip from Finland, unplug your devices. Many devices use some electricity when plugged but not in use. It all adds up.
Great advice
I save all the styrofoam I get in packages and use they to line the bottom of my windows in the winter to block any drafts, rolled rugs between door and storm doors, use oil lamps at night which help put off a bit of warmth, and have a huge dog that is always laying on me...who needs a blanket with her 🤣
That all sounds really effective
My grandson aged 8 and his Mum are visiting for a couple of days .I was shocked when she told me that her electricity bill is £140 a month ! That is for an all -electric social housing flat. 2 bedrooms , 1 living room with a tiny kitchen off, a small bathroom and hall. There are storage radiators which are rarely used, maybe the hall one which is enough to heat the flat. Laundry is dried in the hall and bathroom.
I only post this so that others may get an insight into how bad things are in the UK for many people.
Hi Betty. Things are very bad, some bills have more than doubled but tripled. Thanks for sharing,
That's cheap for an all electric property. Some, like my flat, don't even have storage heaters. It costs about £200 to have one heater on, which goes off at night, during winter. This winter would could more. I have a friend who is convinced leaving her electric heaters on low all the time is better than letting the flat get cold over night. She spent £400 a month last year! The flat wasn't even warm and she's not wealthy.
I give my washing an extra spin, this helps to dry the washing quicker during the wet colder months.
I also use battery operated pretty lighting in glass jars to brighten rooms rather than having lots of light on.
I used to have solar battery chargers, then run a solar lamps in our living rooms. Thankfully we have entirely LED lights now.
No matter where you live, you can always open up the house if it is warmer outside than in and its cold,it will help warm the inside and the opposite is true in the warm weather. You can open up in the morning when it is cool and again in the evening when it cools off. I live in the desert and this is what I have always done because I feel more comfortable in a natural temperature rather than an artificial one. A whole house fan can also really help the process and they are much less expensive to run than the air conditioning
Great tips, thank you
Fantastic info Jane. And a big thank you to the commenters for their tips. Blessings to all ❤
I do wash bedclothes, towels and underwear on 60 degrees for hygiene, but most other loads are 15 min cycles on 30 degrees. I line or airer dry and finish off in tumble dryer if necessary. I hang worn clothes inside out, so I know I've worn them and they can be washed next time. I still see if they're dirty before washing though.
Good tips about hanging clothes inside out.
For home workers...hot soup for lunch add a pinch of chilli it warms me from within. Or left over chilli con carne. I also sit on a heatpad as it is very cheap to run. I try to stay upstairs because it stays warm for longer. I'm lucky enough to have a cross trainer which I jump on for a few minutes to get the body warmed up. I think its better to keep warm than to get warm once you feel cold iyswim x
I found it really hard to keep warm whilst working in my office. I sat wrapped in a sleeping bag sometimes.
In the cold weather l wear a beanie inside. Just doing that one thing makes me so much warmer. Great tips again Jane:)
I wear ear muffs
It's not just the cold in the UK, it's the damp and for most families on low incomes and in typical sub standard housing,drying washing is a nightmare. Drying clothes inside a crowded flat or house, creating more damp leads to black mould on the walls.Tumble dryers are too dear to run.If only there were communal laundry areas as there are in other North European countries.
Thanks for pointing that out. It’s often too expensive for families to wash clothes at all, there’s no heating to dry clothes even if they could wash them. Modern flats are not designed for drying clothes and often there’s no balcony to dry clothes.
Great point, wonder if you can address this in a video, especially for those living in older properties not modern flats, but older flats with electric heating no central heating and expensive immersion heaters!
I'm using a dehumidifier which has a clothes drying option. It's so cheap to run compared to a tumble Dryer. It doesn't dry as quick but at least it is preventing damp build up. Plus its portable so you have it in any room.
I had a communal laundry room in uni. Clothes got stolen unless you sat there for hours. In summer I can dry clothes outside, but in winter I've used a heated airer (£30) and dehumidifier. You have to move the clothes around a bit on the airer but it does work.
Excellent tips Jane!
Here are a few others:
Get some firebricks to use as radiant heat for taking the chill off a small area in the room you are sitting in.
When you have your oven on heat up some fire bricks (special heat retaining bricks for wood stoves or fireplaces) or use some of your extra stoneware baking dishes and pans that are oven safe.
You can place them on your wood stove or near your fireplace to heat them up as well.
Then simply place them on a trivet or hot pad on the table next to your sofa or chair. They will slowly give off heat and warm the room up a degree or two.
To help lower your electric usage, burn candles in the evening. Place the candle on a shiny serving tray or place a small mirror or serving tray propped against the wall behind the candle.
Make sure you place the candle on a trivet or hot pad so that you don’t damage your furniture if the container the candle is in gets hot.
The tray or mirror will help reflect and spread the light from the candle plus you will get a small amount of heat from the candle to help take the chill out of the room.
Please be extra careful if you have small children or pets that could accidentally knock the candle over, you don’t want to start a fire and burn your home down.
If you want a portable way to warm your hands or to help keep you warmer in bed make some rice bags. They are simply rice or ceramic pie weights or small pebbles or dried cherry pits that you put into a fabric drawstring sack and microwave for a few minutes to warm them up.
An old long cotton or cotton blend sock will work to make a no sew sack for the rice, pie weights, pebbles or cherry pits.
Just fill up the sock or small drawstring sack and use a rubber band to close the end. These can also be warmed on a wood stove or in the oven to get them heated up.
You can make them small for your pockets to use as hand warmers or larger to use draped around your neck or placed at your lower back while sitting in a chair. You can take them to bed to warm your feet or to help keep small children warmer at night.
Another money saving item to make is a draft dodger. It’s simply a filled fabric tube that helps stop drafts from under doors or on window ledges.
It usually has some sand or pebbles (held securely in a long skinny tube shaped plastic bag). The bag is wrapped in some quilt batting or an old towel. These layers are placed into a pretty fabric tube or drawstring tube that can be removed to be washed.
The tube is cut as long as your door or window is wide. Then you place it against the bottom of the door or window to stop any air leaks or drafts from entering your room.
You can also help insulate your windows by placing bubble wrap on the glass panes. If the bubble wrap has a flat side on it, you can spray a very light mist of water on the glass and stick the bubble wrap directly to the glass. Otherwise you will need some heavy tape to stick it to the glass.
You can use quilts or heavy blankets hung over doors and windows to help keep the heat in and the cold out.
You can use styrofoam sheets or insulation panels cut to fit inside the area of your window frames to help keep the heat in and the cold out.
If you sew, you can make pretty fabric covers for the insulation or styrofoam sheets so they look like drapery fabric from the outside of your windows.
To heat water for hot beverages try using your microwave if it uses less energy than an electric kettle of heating water on your stove top (hob).
Great tips there. I must add for readers in the UK, be careful with candles, if you have a fire and you try to claim, it might be deemed that you caused it. That being said, I love candles.
We use bubble wrap on windows and it does work. The rooms are definitely warmer and more comfortable.
Again good frugusl wirds
Terrific suggestions! As a poor student at college I lived in an attic. The only heating was a side vent off the gas stove. Right before bed I would warm cookie sheets in the oven, then grab them and rush them to between my bedsheets to warm them! Always slept beautifully.
Great tips! I already use several. I air dry most of my work clothes. During the winter it is not always possible to hang them outside, so I have a couple of shower tension rods above my shower that I use to dry my clothes on. Heat rises and in addition my bathroom air vent is in the ceiling and blows right on the clothes. I have dried full loads of clothes using three tension rods and a clothes drying rack. The laundry also makes the bathroom smell nice. I also use a flannel blanket under my fitted sheet which adds a layer of warmth and always sleep in socks. We use gas as a heating source and we expect the prices to go up in the US. I keep the heat turned down low and shut off any rooms that we are not using. On the weekends when I am home more, I open the window blinds in our main room and the sun helps warm the room up. I shut the blinds in the early afternoon before the sun goes down to retain the heat.
Great tips Julie. Thanks for sharing
If, towards the end of the week your fridge and/ or freezer has empty spaces in it then you are paying to cool those down. Scrumple up some newspaper and place it in plastic bag ( carrier bag from the supermarket will do - if it is clean). Tie the top so that the paper does not get soggy. Place in the gap. Then you are not cooling empty space.
Dont open your fridge and freezer too often - put 3 ingredients back together rather than open them 3 times.
Brilliant subject, thank you and the commenters for all your tips - im really worried about electric this winter - im in the UK.
Hi Lynn. I’m sure my energy price goes up monthly! It’s tough isn’t it.
Twice the cost of last year! Wow. That is scary. I am also trying to get out bill down here in the USA. Keep the videos coming.
Valerie in SC
It is scary, I fear some families will make the difficult choice of heating or eating.
I have a gas stove here in NY. I can use it without power but I use my instant pot/air fryer the most.. and my small toaster oven. I have battery operated candles too because of pets. They're great. Great video. 😁
That is awesome!
I almost always hang my clothes on a clothes dryer inside. In the summer I use it on my deck. It saves a ton of money and it is less harsh on your clothing.
I once saw a good suggestion on a program called Wartime Farm. They called it strawbox cooking and was used for foods which had to be cooked slowly to be tender. They did the preliminary stages of making a stew - browning the meat, onions etc, then adding other ingredients and bringing the whole thing to a simmer in a dutch oven. Then they took it off the stove and put it into a box lined with a thick layer of straw. It was covered with more straw and set aside for a few hours. When it was opened it was still hot and the meat was really tender.
As there is no open flame, I would thing a similar result could be achieved with blankets or big wads of old newspapers.
Layering clothes is the answer. For older people endeavour, as much as possible, to clean the home, clean, at least, the inside of the windows, as any activity raises our temperatures.
We live in Germany in a large family house, which can become quite costly. As soon as you mentioned the thermostat I paused the video and ran downstairs to change times on the gas boiler :) I also realized it had been a good thing we kept the house as it is when we moved here 12 years ago. A lot of people like the "open plan" houses and knock down walls accordingly, at least we can still close the doors shut and keep the warmth in the rooms. I am also going to hang insulating curtains in front of some doors and in stead of making coffee several times a day, put it in a flask. To save on water btw I just wash myself at the basin most of the time. It is only when I need to wash my hair that I use the shower. In Summer I will catch the water in a 10 liter bucket before it has heated up. I will reuse this water in the garden (I save it in a big bin with a lid). Another tip is when you iron. Start on low temperature and iron heat sensitive items, turn the heat up to iron the other items. Then switch it off and fold the non-iron fabrics. Or, what I do nowadays, straighten up the shirts and fold them. They will "iron" themselves that way. I only iron my husband business shirts and some of my blouses. Although when I hang these outside on a hanger the wind irons these for me.
Thanks for watching and sharing
We turned off the power to our electric stove. We use an induction cooktop, and a convection tabletop oven. We use an insta-pot and crockpot too, it has cut our power use by 65%.
Hi from the USA, having retired early, to help with a sick parent.I wanted to add my 2 cents. My kitchen faucet takes 2 to 3 gals of water before getting hot, I actually catch the water and use it to flush the toilet. I have 2 counter top toaster ovens, in the summer I take one outside and cook on the deck, so not to heat up the house, I also have a 2 eye stove , that I use outside also. And I grill out a lot. In the winter I use a slow cooker often, and I turn down the electric heat and use an electric blanket. I'm a great believer in dressing in layers.I have a sliding glass door, that I cover with a large blanket, and it helps so much in keeping out the cold. I have a front loading washing machine, I always use a cup of vinegar in the final rinse, and I can use 1/4 dryer sheet in my dryer. I can't dry outside due to allergies. Both appliances are Energy Efficient. I use surge protectors for each of my tv's. When I'm not watching, I turn off the surge protectors, so I'm not paying unnecessary power for the instant on feature. I also use weather stripping around doors in winter and summer. I've cut expenses to the bone, but I do think I could cut another 10%. Great video!!!
Thanks for watching Kimberly and sharing some great tips.
living in a cold climate, I agree with and practice most of the things you mentioned. I set a goal each year to not turn up the heat until November 1 (unless we get a snowstorm in October, which can happen (albeit rarely). I have to have it on because it heats my water but I keep it quite low. Just this morning when it was 44 degrees F (7 C) when I woke up, I just put on heavy socks and a fleece top layer - no way am I going to turn my heat up in September!! I think we can learn to adapt to our common temperatures. I am pretty cold tolerant but feel like I am melting when the heat gets above 90 F (32 C), folks in the southern US are wearing heavy coats if it gets intot he 50's and I may at most put on a sweater. I also use a flask to keep hot water available and do batch cooking/baking when the oven is on. I have clothes racks in the basement right next to my heater. Funny thing is, I do not have a seperate electricty bill but this is just carry over from life long habits. Great video, thank you!
I live in belgium, my date for the heating is also 1 november 😉🤞🤞
Great tips Rev, we are temperate here, not too cold or too hot. Also, our houses are insulated so even if it's minus zero outside, the coldest the house gets with no heating at all is 16 degrees centigrade.
We live in the northeast of the US and our house is extremely well insulated but sometimes the damp cold weather makes you miserable but I refuse to turn on the heat until November also. When hubby or the kids complain I tell them to go put their robes and slippers on and cozy up with a throw and they are warm. Now a days you just have to be frugal anyway you can
charge your phone when away from the house 🤣
I used to charge my laptop and phone on the train when commuting.
Or in the car
I've taken to bringing pans up to boiling and then switching off the stove, covering with the lid, and letting the residual heat finish the cooking. It's mostly because I'm lazy and don't want to stand at the stove watching something cook---but I've been amazed at how well it works. It obviously works best if you plan ahead because some things need a good long time to finish cooking with residual heat. But it works with potatoes, vegetables, boiled eggs, and even curries and sauces. Once in a while, I have to bring something to boil a second time and then turn it off again. But it uses far less heat and energy! My energy and the power company's! ; )
Can you make rice that way? If so, approximately how long would it need to be done ?/
Great idea, I've done that for years. I do that now in my instant pot too. I half the cooking time and then leave it to de pressure naturally and it continues to cook in the heat.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance I'll have to try it with my instant pot, too! Why waste the energy!?
@@lanakayphillips2849 I haven't tried it with rice. But you could experiment!
Great tip about the instant pot I will be trying that one Jane.
Another really useful video. I sit by my window to enjoy the winter sun its a great feeling. I put off switching on the heating as long as possible and the comfort from a hot water bottle and a throw is lovely. Good advice as usual thank you.
It is a joy in the winter
I’m in the south tropical Florida in the USA
We are all about how to stay cool, most of the year long.the weather here is two seasons hot and hotter.
I'm sure that gets costly too.
I am a slow cooker and it saves me loads of money because wherever I can I double the amount
ingredients so then I freezer and also use steamer for stovetop and we invested in a small induction
hob that takes one large pan for very quick boiling water, steamer cooking etc, think was about
sixty pounds about four years ago and it has been a game changer and that it did save loads when
all the family loved it.
They do use less energy. Thanks for watching
We only put our heating on for three hours a day the rest of the time we put on warm jumpers and woolly socks and we love to have hot water bottles along with lap blankets if we are watching or I’m knitting 😊💕
I think if you keep active you can do that, also it’s a few degrees warmer in the day, it gets chilly in the Even
Here in Australia,our electricity has skyrocketed too. I have a large rice pack that covers my shoulders at night time, instead of using heating and warm it again before bed and lay it across my stomach. It warms me all night. 👍
Thank you for this. My energy company went 'bust' a couple of weeks ago so this has been a very useful reminder. I reduce my energy bill by using blankets and hot water bottles when sitting in the living room in the evenings instead of having the heating on.
We went many winters with the heating on 18 degrees, and thick jumpers, It's tough isn't it.
Hi, I’ve just found you, excellent tips! I’m unemployed due to disability and I’m struggling financially. I fill a flask after boiling the kettle, it’s great! I use hot water bottles and I crochet throws so I’m nice & toastie lol. I have an Instant pot & I’ve persuaded 2 other people to buy them too as they are amazing! I only wash when there’s a full load and it’s on a short cycle plus I use clothes Airers to dry the clothes. I will be trying a few of your other tips to try & see if I can save more money tho. Thanks for you tips.X
Hi Marianne. You really are in a difficult position. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance I watched a few more of your vlogs thus morning & I've turned the water boiler temp down, I've turned off 4 electric switches, I've got a bucket for the shower on my shopping list and lunch & dinner today are left overs from the last 2 days. My freezer is full so this week's shop is just,,,,, the bucket! 🤣
Funny that we did such similar videos this week! It’s a hot topic! I don’t have a conservatory, but I do chase the sun around the house in the winter to keep warm. I also use airers but supplement with a dehumidifier as it’s far cheaper than a tumble dryer and prevents a lot of condensation in the house.
The dehumidifier is a good tip.
My 60's house is a poorly insulated home that costs a lot to heat and cool. I imagine many people have similar homes that were built at a time when energy was relatively cheap. For us it is a matter of keeping costs downs as we save to make the house more energy efficient. I would love to tear the whole thing downed start again but rebuilding to high energy efficiency standards is way out of our reach. It is quite a dilemma for us and I'm sure many others caught in this trap of risking energy costs and inefficient housing.
It s a dilemma. When we rebuilt our house we retrofitted insulation. However, we bought the house for very little. It’s not that easy when in your situation. Thanks for watching
Our home was built in the 70s, inside,hot in the summer, cold in the winter. Here's what we did, I sealed all the electrical outlets, between the sheet rock and the box, with caulking. Let dry, next day put cover back on with a foam pad, outside walls are the most important, I did everyone in the house.
We sealed all the heating registers, wear the sheet rock meets the metal ducts. This is code today. Next we in
Before we insulated the attic, we installed a gable fan, on a thermostat, if you have 2 gables, put fans in both, set one fan to turn off at a lower temperature than the other by at least 5- 10 degrees. Next we used expanding foam where the plumber and electrician put holes in the top plate. Those holes allow, hot and cold air into the walls, then into the house. This is code, Now you can add insulation to the attic. If you dont seal all the holes, putting insulation in the attic won't do you, any good. There was hardly any insulation in our attic, we added r13, that helped alot, house still got hot, but not as bad. Next we added R 25 across the r13. What a difference. We are going to add more insulation ,r30 ,for a total of r 68, this winter.We also added dual pane windows. The insulation made the biggest difference, in the, summer, we have 100° days, inside the house, it may get to 75° inside, mostly in the high 60s. This year we added a whole house fan, it has helped to make the house much cooler, in the morning. For example yesterday we had a outside temp of 97°, house got to 69°. It was still 69° at 1am. I turned on the,whole house fan. By 6am, the house got down to 61°. Keep in mind we don't have air-conditioning. The sooner you can get to,r60+ in the attic the better. Good luck
I save energy when I cook rice or pasta by bringing the water up to boil - then I turn the heat off and put the pan lid on - and leave it to cook in the residual heat - it takes a bit longer but tastes just the same and uses a lot less energy xx
Great advice and thanks for sharing
Same here
@@carolina92861 😃
I like the stairs very much.
Thanks for watching and your lovely comment
Hi Jane
Love the vlogs
We have a smart meter
Fabulous item
We set it at 150 a day
That includes the standing charge of 30 pence
We hardly ever go over i plan every thing and if I need to use a lot of energy that day we have a sandwich for lunch and cereal for breakfast
I find ways around everything
It costs me 1 penny to do a wash on 20 degrees
I could go on and on
Take care Jane xx💡🔌💡🔌
Great work there Paula
Thanks Jane 🔌💡🔌💡xx
Sounds like a great idea - how do you set a smart meter to a set amount each day or is it just something you monitor?? Xx
Also, I dry clothes inside on an airer when it’s wet out, and when I’m using the oven I’ll stand the airer by the oven so the warmth helps to dry the clothes
Great tips, thanks very much
A few more tips , here in the US we have battery operated vest jackets that heat up, also electric heat blankets and yes socks
Great tips and also in the comments. If I use the oven once finished I leave the door open and put my clothes airer in front of it. We close our curtains before dark, also have these microwavable wheat bags as well as hot water bottles. We wear thermal socks and a scarf indoors and to not light the fire until late afternoon I wear my dressing gown over my clothes if im indoors also keep doors shut.
Dressing gowns are a great thing to wear in the evening with a pair of thick socks.
I’ve got a combination microwave and it saves so much! I only use our big oven to cook Christmas dinner but this year I’m already working out how to utilise our small appliances so we don’t have to use our cooker.
I use our “eco” setting to wash our towels and denim items, I t’s 40-60° and way too hot to wash most things. I use the quick wash on a low temperature for everything else!
I wear tops 3 times - air out in between. Slack around the house all week. Towels after 3-4 uses. Single gal so sheets every other week. Pillow case weekly.
That was great, I am sitting here with a hoodie over my long sleeved t shirt and dress as I read this! We have lined curtains that I have added another thermal layer to in our bedroom so three layers there. I have a very thick fluffy bathrobe that i wear over nightwear in the winter with a hot water bottle for watching films and reading in the evening. That means we turn the heating off sooner like you said. I have foil insulation behind radiators and under the down stairs floors. I have a door curtain at the backdoor that is lined with another curtain so very heavy, this is closed in the winter and open in the summer. A lot of your tips I also use.
Thanks for sharing Dianne. Some great tips.
If you are using the sunroom, keep the door open and let that heat go into the main living area as well
Great advice, thanks very much
I always have quick showers and if ive been in the house all day and not getting dirty or sweaty I will skip a shower and just 'top & taiI' wash in the sink. I work in aged care and I don't waste water there either. Some of the oldies would sit under the hot water for half an hour given the chance. In, wash and get them dry and they stay warm 😊
I enjoy your positive attitude!
Another great video Jane. I'm sitting here in lots of layers and with a hot drink so I can't feel the autumn chill! Very motivated to try out my slow cooker this autumn.
Me too, I love my slow cooker.
Love all your tips. In the winter I dig out big fluffy socks, as long as my feet are warm I am good with lower temperatures. I often wear bedsocks to bed too... very Bridgette Jones! Draft excluders next to doors are also really useful and thermal curtains too.
Our current house is really well insulated but in the past, I used to go to bed dressed like and Arctic explorer.
Long sleeved skiing thermals, so cosy, long johns under jeans if really cold when out dog walking. Throw or shawl on when sat down. Will try the water bottle too. Going to bed a bit earlier in the winter is a good idea. Have adjusted all our water and heating timings last night after watching this. Hubby brought me a coffee this morning and said we have no water. I thought he meant no hot water as I had changed the timings, but no no water! Burst water main down the road. Just to add to no fuel as well! The Govt should employ you to do public information /education programs! Some great tips thanks for the video. I will be keeping myself warm this morning painting.
Oh, no water, that’s a pain. Thanks for sharing.
I am binge watching your videos. Great tips. I am so happy I found you and Mike and became part of your youtube family,
Awesome! Thank you!
5 pegs on a pair of pants and they still end up in your neighbours garden 😂🤣 u crack me up. Great tips👍
It’s blooming windy on your bloomers. I have had to knock on the neighbour’s door to ask for my laundry
Tiered steamer, crockpot, cook once ear several times, take extra as leftovers. Microwave where applicable. Think fast and cheap
Great tips, thanks for sharing.
Great video Jane, we've just moved house and got to grips with the heating system. The previous tenants couldn't figure it out and had ridiculously high energy bills, they had heating on 11 hours a day! I've also turned the boiler down as it was on full whack 😱
Heating a house is one thing to consider but keeping it warm is the other.
Lately I have been getting my shower and dishes done in the early morning, then turn off the breaker to the hot water heater. We use the hot water during the day when needed, for handwashing etc., and then turn it back on at 5 p.m. There is still hot water available and the heater has not been turning itself on and off during the day. I use an old sock with rice in it, heated in the microwave, to put around my shoulders or on my lap, under a quilt, to stay warm while watching TV or quilting. I am going to use your suggestion of standing in front of the shower and hop in post haste, instead of drifting off doing other things.🤣 Thanks for a great video!
Cheers Robin,
I wonder if I could do that for my big hot water tank (we are in U.S.). It seems absurd to constantly be heating up a big tank of water, especially during the hot months when the garage is already really hot.
@@ecogeekmama your hot water tank needs insulation so it doesn’t give off heat. Is it on a thermostat or timer?
@@FrugalQueeninFrance we actually can’t see our water heater temp. It’s all covered up.
By the way I only found you about three weeks ago. My husband is from France and we are talking about retiring there but we are on the debt free frugal journey. I love your content snd the fact that so much of it relates to France!
@@ecogeekmama My electrician husband said that the big tanks aren't like our hot water heater, so he doesn't think you could do that. Is it heated with gas or propane?
If your shower takes a while to warm up like ours, what we do is collect that water in a bucket, and use that water to flush the toilet with. Saves a lot of water that would otherwise just run down the drain.
We made a video n that.
I do that, too.
I love your videos, they help keep me motivated.
You’re welcome
Take advantage of any solar gain from your sunroom by putting a fan in the doorway, blowing from the sunny room into the rest of the house. This is based on my feeling that a fan uses little energy compared to a heater.
Great tip, thanks for sharing.
Hi Jane, I have crocheted myself a poncho that feel cosy.
Thank you for your great ideas x
Good video. I always use these tips. Our house is comfortable and we keep it at 20 degrees in daytime and 19 degrees Celsius at night
We don’t have any heat at night but I don’t live in a cold place
I have a tip about laundry that isn’t related to energy. ...but it is to savings. I have found that I can mix the HE liquid laundry detergent with water. I have a smaller bottle and mix it with half water and then half detergent. I don’t see a difference in the cleaning, and the detergent lasts twice as long.
Great tip, thanks
Do not open the refrigerator too often. For example, when you prepare breakfast take ever thing out at once and afterwards collect ever thing that needs to go in and open the door only ones. Try to reduce open it during the day, too.
Thanks for watching and commenting with a good tip
Such great tips! Thank you!
Thanks for watching
Thanks for all these great tips!!
Thanks for watching
Hi. Jane another super video, I already do a lot of the things you talked about but will also try the ones I don’t already do.Every little helps . The tip about putting the light on an electric fire made me smile my late husband use to always say put the light on the fire it will be warmer with it on.
I used to do that, it warmed my imagination
Fantastic video Jane, one of my favourites, lots of great ideas 💡😊👍🏻
Thanks so much! 😊
Well done for being honest. Having a very shallow bath makes a big saving and once you get in it the water level goes up a lot.
You’re welcome
I use an electric throw on my sofa when I sit down to knit and/or watch television. I can keep the thermostat way down and yet be toasty warm. I also layer up clothes I wear leggings under my pants. I wear an undershirt under my turtleneck shirt and a fleece outerwear shirt. I also use an electric blanket on my bed and flannel sheets that way I don't need to heat the whole house.
You’re doing great there, thanks for sharing
Lots of great tips
Thanks
You’re welcome
This topic is essential for greater comfort in the cold, especially these days with the energy situation. Good recommendations. Thanks.
Thanks very much
Thanks for this. We’ve been told here in the northeast USA to expect 50% increases for natural gas, which we both heat and cook with. And we know rolling blackouts are coming which is a scary thought given how cold it gets. Making draft dodgers this week for doors and planning to legitimately close off half of the house (parts we are rehabbing or are guest rooms etc)
That sounds ominous. Take care.
Great tips 👍🏴
Thanks very much
Hello again, I live in North Carolina and have had a clothes line for decades, and hang laundry out even in winter. As long as it's above 35 degrees it will dry. I also have a wood drying rack I load up with clothes, sheets, towels etc and place it in front of my wood stove. I cook in crock pots as much as possible, and put a timer on my water heater, as we only need it a few hours of the day. I love your videos, and all the hard core advice. I'm not British but have loved tea since I was a young teenager and I love the suggestion of filling a "flask", LOL (in the US a flask is for alcohol, and a Thermos is for hot drinks) but what a great idea!
Thanks very much
An oldie, but a goldie video, but more important than ever! Electricity prices are crazy in Sweden. This video keeps me inspired😀
Thanks for watching
Thank you for the video.
Thanks for watching
My best purchase was the solar panel, easy to use here in Spain and provides all of my hot water. No subsidy to install or chance to sell excess as in other countries but Im not complaining.
You need to make the most of that lovely Spanish sunshine. Thanks for sharing.
Brilliant video - I would add warm, over ankle slippers help keep your feet and therefore you warm and LED light bulbs to save electric. Also thick curtains and draught excluders under doors. Love your videos
Great tips Jane 👍I've already thought of a couple of things I could change to save energy and money 🙂
Good luck with the money saving
Hello, can I ask everyone to give the video a like. Hi everyone
Thanks for the reminder
I loved this video. I already carry out most of what you said, I wash at 30 degrees a 15 minute wash I don’t have a line but hang clothes on clothes horse. I went straight upstairs and turned down the water temperature. Have not had the heating on yet but only at 20 degrees or less when I do. If I go to bed at 10 I turn it off at 9 and it’s still warm till bed time.
Iistenedcarefully to what you said about the cooker, will be getting the slow cooker out. One thing I’m concerned about is when I run the hot tap I feel I’m wasting lots of water till it is hot enough so have been boiling the kettle, not sure what costs the most the water or electricity. Will be buying a flask this week for all my cups of tea. Thanks for all your money saving tips.
Get some cheap buckets, when you run the water to get it hot, save that water to flush the loo. Then it’s not wasted.
Not sure if this is true or not but I was told many years ago that water is cheaper than electricity or gas xx
@@joannereynolds69 thanks Joanne
We’ve bought stick on
sensor lights, in our hallway, bedroom, under stairs cupboard, battery operated, which are great.
I have an instantpot, which has numerous functions, air fryer, soup maker(gift)
We’ve turned our hot water thermostat down.
2 minute shower.
Quick cycle & washing machine temperature lowered.
I live in France too.I plan my washing to coincide with my shopping, so I can take it with me, bung it into the very large industrial tumble dryers which are found next to the supermarkets& it’s paid for & done, obviously when it’s inclement weather.
I only use my main electric oven , when I can fill it & cook.
Thanks for the tips.
Had a refund of €500 from EDF.
Enjoy your tips, thank you.
Thanks so much for sharing