Cost of living #2

[nightshade]

I'm feeling all nostalgic now, do toast toppers still exist? I know sandwich spread does, but it's expensive now.
I think I'll have chips for dinner tonight, would love just chips and gravy, but I'll probably do something with it, depending on what's in the freezer.

 

[November]

I just had two minute (ramen?) Noodles with a spoon of peanut butter. My food delivery is coming this arvo lol. I'm on the food equivalent of granny undies on laundry day. Cant complain, I had lamb last night.

Speaking of laundry, a clothes wash on a cold cycle will save electric. I wash everything in cold except for towels and sheets. I noticed that I rarely in use the hot tap in the kitchen either as I put everything through the dishwasher anyway.

 

[November]

Spent $204 at Aldi today. I'm pretty happy with that. I havent done a city trip in weeks so its nice to be fully stocked. Havent completely unpacked yet.

I got bread which I havent had in months, but I've been craving ham on white bread something chronic, so I figure that can be my meals for the next couple days and leave the bulk meat for when everything is shut.

They were out of the turkey breast that I like, but did have apple and cranberry stuffed one, so I will give it a go. It was either that or a whole turkey and I cant be bothered with a whole turkey. Didnt want to leave without something like that for the freezer. Got some sausages and chicken mince too. No chips in the freezer aisle at all! I think I might have misjudged the holidays start because there were too many kids roaming in there and most of the snacks were sold out. No eggs either.


Was disappointed in the dog aisle this time. No more cooling mats 🙁 i really wanted another one! Also no dog treats or toys. Lilah was very disappointed when I got home. The Christmas decorations stuff was piled higher than my head, and Im not short. Didnt seem to be selling at all. Im glad they dont play music in there.

Got a big bucket from bunnings to hopefully help my hydroponics set up... Also got some cucumber seedlings which I have never succeeded with yet, but could save me cash if they live to fruit. I'd love to try them in the hydroponics but also dont want to risk them! Might start with one and put the others in pots.

This weather is blissful! There have even been little spittles of rain. So I havent used the air con much yet. I love this weather so so so much and still am on shock that its so nice and cool in December! Yaaaayyyy!

 

[nightshade]

Well I'm expecting a big electric bill in January, had the heating on plus last night I managed to leave the electric blanket on, thought I'd switched it off but apparently I'd just turned it down. However it the best nights sleep I've had in ages!

 

[TriBel]

@nightshade I've had my heating on for between 3-6 hours for about 3 weeks now because parts of the house started to feel damp. However, it's only on downstairs and not in every room and it's only on 1. That said, I'm wearing 4 jumpers, tights plus trousers and a hat - inside. The hat makes all the difference but my hair is as flat as a pancake! I submitted new energy readings a few weeks ago and I'm still £495 in credit.

The electric blanket shouldn't use much - don't they reckon 1 to 3p an hour? I found this quite interesting (hint - stop washing/drying your hair!): Does a kettle use more electricity than a TV? How much power your gadgets use

 

[nightshade]

@nightshade I've had my heating on for between 3-6 hours for about 3 weeks now because parts of the house started to feel damp. However, it's only on downstairs and not in every room and it's only on 1. That said, I'm wearing 4 jumpers, tights plus trousers and a hat - inside. The hat makes all the difference but my hair is as flat as a pancake! I submitted new energy readings a few weeks ago and I'm still £495 in credit.

The electric blanket shouldn't use much - don't they reckon 1 to 3p an hour? I found this quite interesting (hint - stop washing/drying your hair!): Does a kettle use more electricity than a TV? How much power your gadgets use

Yeah I haven't done laundry all week as the flat is damp without me adding wet washing. I think it's the damp that's affecting my chest and caused my cough, so I'm going to have to put the heaters on more for my health.
I've got the small dehumidifier on constantly in the living room and the larger one on all day in the bedroom.
I've just got into work, the condensation is frozen on the windows again, not quite as bad as yesterday but still going to take a while before the building warms up enough to melt it. Got 2 pairs of socks, tights, leggings and my dungarees. 2 thin tops and 2 jumpers on, and the heaters going!

 

[Hunga Munga]

-8 minimum last night . Still waiting for bits to fix my woodburner flue ,but rushed a temporary install a few days ago to beat the frost . I am so warm ! I've been dressed like an arctic explorer indoors for months . I am pretty annoyed with myself that I put off servicing my flue til the last minute, thinking it was a 5 minute job . Took me weeks just to source the parts . Ended up using 6 different suppliers 😀 .
That mild early winter lulled us into a false sense of security . The Council didn't get grit on the roads for days. I've only got a few inches of hard packed snow here but the whole valley is hardly moving . Crazy weather though ... -8 last night , sunday night is forecast to be 10c ? A 20 degree shift in 3 days?

 

[nightshade]

Was still around -8 when I got to work this morning, and yesterday morning too. Can't believe I'm looking forward to rain to shift this cold air and snow. I'm not too bad today, I rearranged the jumper dungarees order today, yesterday I put both jumpers over the dungarees but today I put one under and one over and it feels warmer. My toes are still cold though, even with tights and 2 pairs of socks on.

 

[Hunga Munga]

I had real problems with condensation this year , in my cupboards ,clothes , euch 😱 . It was rough . I was okay with the cold but my little old dog was struggling .There's only so far you can take economy in the cold . Single digit temps ; you can save plenty . Once you're in the minus numbers , it's spend money or pitch a tent in the living room 🙂.

Airing out everything now ,had a skylight open all night , using the excess wood heat to dry the place out . Got a stupidly large amount of wood ready to burn .Done a deal with my neighbour to swap chainsaw work for ash logs. Ash is like gold for woodburners . Next winter is already pretty much sorted for fuel too.

 

[Hunga Munga]

Sadly, even if I do all my heating , hot water and cooking etc with free wood , my accounts still don't balance . Come April I will pay £1 (inc vat) for each kw/h 😱😵. It's impossible to make money with that overhead, to have any sort of lifestyle . There's 900 quid extra off the govt next year ,they might extend the help with the electricity prices for business . Even breaking even would be a win next year .

 

[sk]

Me being the lazy me as usual didn't pay attention when it was time to renew the electricity contract so I just let it continue for another year like I always has done without really checking it.
Never really cared since it never has been a huge amount of money.

Last week I got the first bill with the new contract and they had raised it with over 600% 😳

Others have it way worse than me though so I don't like complaining too much. I will survive.
But I probably should cut down on some unnecessary spendings to make up for some of it anyway.

/SK

 

[November]

Do air fryers discharge a lot of heat into the house? Are they noisey? Im really thinking of getting one soon if they are in sales. Where do they fall on the power consumption thingo? More or less than a kettle? Gotta be less than the oven right?

I'd only get a small one. My batch cooking often causes me to binge and give too much away, so if i can cook a single serve it would be better for me all round. Any suggestions on brand?

 

[Bop]

They're doing a good Christmas deal for vegetables at Morrisons right now - you can get 3 bags of vegetables e.g. Carrots and Parsnips for 99p.

 

[nightshade]

Do air fryers discharge a lot of heat into the house? Are they noisey? Im really thinking of getting one soon if they are in sales. Where do they fall on the power consumption thingo? More or less than a kettle? Gotta be less than the oven right?

I'd only get a small one. My batch cooking often causes me to binge and give too much away, so if i can cook a single serve it would be better for me all round. Any suggestions on brand?

Not much heat discharge, mine is quiet noisy. Not sure about how much it is vs a kettle but I know its less than using an oven
Depends on how much you want to spend really!

They're doing a good Christmas deal for vegetables at Morrisons right now - you can get 3 bags of vegetables e.g. Carrots and Parsnips for 99p.

Give it a few days they will do better prices, as single bags, so that 99p deal will not work out cheaper. Christmas eve is the best day for veg buying as they reduce it all down to get rid before closing for Christmas.

 

[November]

Clothes shopping. Ugh. It is time. My clothes are threadbare, holey and stinky. Nothing really fits, most is from the $1 rack at the second hand shop. I'd like something more comfortable for summer. Both to work and lounge in.

So I have been looking online for clothes that I might actually like, rather than just whats on the $1 rack,.or trackies from best and less. Looking at my choices so far, it appears I have aged in to floral print 😐 maybe just because I am around flowers all day, I want them all over me too? Ha. I havent purchased anything yet, and probably wont for the prices I am seeing. I do not enjoy clothes shopping but it would be nice to get something that fits properly and that I like, at least a little bit. Maybe it will stop people commenting on my clothes. Its been too hot for the poncho. Figuring out size is the next hurdle!

 

[TamsinValencia]

Cafes in London are asking for the world now! I know I shouldn't be surprised because it's London but even for a Pret sandwich and drink is too much.

 

[nightshade]

I didn't do any laundry when we were in the minus temps, so now I'm trying to catch up and have the dehumidifier on and had to put the heater on as well last night to just start it off drying. I'm hoping it'll not take days to get dry.
Going to use the slow cooker on boxing day for my gammon joint and that'll be my main meat for between Christmas and New year.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Yikes! My water/sewer/garbge bill was $214 this month! That's twice what it was in November. I guess I'm going to stop using that dishwasher and taking baths so much...
Also I found a way to save at the laundromat...I was gifted this cute little vintage portable washing machine that sits on the countertop, and it works great! You just fill it with warm tap water and put some detergent in it and it does its thing!
It looks like this:

Tub Dyeing with Wonder Washer

When I’m not ice dyeing, I usually low immersion dye which often produces uneven color which I love. Here is an old blog post on low immersion. However, there are times when I want uniform or…

lyndaheines.com

 

[Anyanka Bunny Slayer]

Prices have risen to such an insane level, that I fully support people shoplifting. Yes, I'm serious. When a small container of microwave rice goes from $1.99 to $7 there's OBVIOUSLY something very wrong in the world. And a six-pack of paper towels going from $9.99 to...drumroll please....$15.99! Crazy.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Prices have risen to such an insane level, that I fully support people shoplifting.

Part of the reason prices are so high, ironically, is due to shoplifting. It's a whole grand grocery ouroboros. At least we all getting some tail out of it.