Electricity Challenge Failure

Ok, my great electricity challenge is a failure.
I've been trying so hard but nipped home at lunchtime yesterday to find that my darling fiancée had left on four overhead lights and the shower before leaving for work.

Took my meter reading and it's averaging 14.5 units a day.

Going to have to come up with a new plan to save electricity, taking away the lightbulbs? Taking the plugs off appliances??? I'll keep you posted.

Electricity Challenge Update

Ok, meter reading today is: 14407 - that's 112 units in 8 days, averaging 14 units a day.

Down 0.6 units, not bad but not great either. I woke up on Saturday and himself had left all the lights on, he was last to bed.

I gave in and dried some clothes in the tumble dryer after using up all the radiators - we have a toddler so go through a lot of clothes each week, that can't have helped.

The biggest positive changes I've made are: I've started to put lids on my pots when cooking, I've cut down on the tumble dryer, unplug everything and as the heat is on we have hot water for washing dishes and are cutting down on the dishwasher....

Edited to note: I'm sitting in bed with everything switched off and unplugged except my laptop. I've even switched off the bedside lamp so everything is spooky and the only light is from this screen. I'm taking my challenge seriously - plan to average 13 units a day this week!

The Great Electricity Saving Challenge

So I had a look at my electricity bills between August 2011 and February 2012 and we use 14.6 units a day on average.

Now the challenge, to cut it down.... what can go, not the TV!

I've decided to tackle the tumble dryer first, so I threw one load of clean clothes on the clothes airer and one load on the radiators - I'm quite proud of myself :-)

Next I'm taking to going around the house like a lunatic turning off lights and unplugging everything.

My meter reading as of Sunday evening is 14295 - I'll keep you updated on my progress...

Shop around

My mum always says "Get at least three quotes for everything" and I hate to admit it but she's right.

My car insurance was up for renewal lately and I shopped about, a few phone calls and half an hour on line and I saved.... €100 on my renewal quote :-)

I put all the car insurance providers in an Excel spreadsheet and get the quote amount, the excess, windscreen option and breakdown assistance in the columns. That way when I get my quotes I can compare them easily.

I'm delighted with myself. I make myself shop around for everything lately and I'm amazed at the difference.

Beep Beep!

Grow your own

So my green fingers are pretty much blue fingers. I'm not fantastic at gardening.

That said, I grow my own Basil. Basil is easy, if I can grow it then anyone can. It's lovely in any tomato based sauce. Once you're growing your own you don't have to buy it and that's the aim these days.

Watercress is another easy peasy one to grow, it's lovely in a sandwich.

My Dad is growing his own potatoes and has his own chicken coop - if you have the room then you have eggs every morning and chicken feed doesn't cost much.

A friend of mine is growing tomatoes and lettuce, she makes it look so easy...

So - mission for this week, grow something, it doesn't have to be as room consuming as potatoes, try basil or watercress to start :-)

Thrifty Cleaning

The cheapest (and most effective - in my opinion) cleaning products are Vinegar and Bicarbonate of Soda.

Vinegar is fantastic as an alternative to dishwasher rinse aid, perfect for streak free windows and if you add a spoon or two to your washing machine it'll kill any bacteria in the clothes (the ones that leave sweat marks).

Bicarbonate of Soda removes tea stains - just soak the cups in bicarb and warm water. It is also the best oven cleaner I have ever come across, just mix with warm water to make a paste and rub all over oven, leave for ten minutes and rub off.

If you have a blocked drain in your sink then my number one tip - pour some bicarbonate of soda down the drain using a funnel and then pour down a cup of vinegar. It will fizz up and unblock your drain.

Almost Slipping Up

Hi everyone,

I was very very tempted to splash out over the weekend. I was in Blanchardstown shopping center and I swear the dresses and shoes were calling out "Buy me, buy me, I'll look great on you".

I'd planned to buy a new pair of jeans (badly needed) and set myself a budget of €40. I spent €35 :-)
I had to practically run past a certain shoe shop that I love and I still managed to spy a sexy pair of heels in the window..... so I've put them on my wish list: http://ie.schuh.co.uk/irregular-choice/womens-white-and-purple-irregular-choice-alphabite-floral-button-ct/1158752870

They may need to stay on there for a while as I've two weddings to go to next month (and nothing to wear yet).

Life will never stop and I always remind myself, pay the bills, don't run up the credit card and don't buy it unless you can afford it :-)