The cost of living... what can we do?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Fat Controller, Aug 26, 2022.

  1. Jenny namaste

    Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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    EDF have just taken £193 from my Dr account....:help: :thud: :wallbanging:
    Jenny namaste

    when will I get my first hand out from the GOVT?
     
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    • Clueless 1 v2

      Clueless 1 v2 Total Gardener

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      You should have had the first installment by now. It was due to start on the first of this month. I've had mine.

      Can you check your energy account online? They should've reduced your normal direct debit by 66 quid, and you should see a separate transaction of 66 quid credit from the government. At least that's what mine shows.
      Screenshot_20221012-202457.png
       
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      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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        I might be wrong, but I did hear at one point that they were going to take the full amount and then credit you back a couple of days later.
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          @Jenny namaste - From the EDF website:

          upload_2022-10-12_22-28-54.png
           
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          • shiney

            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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            Depending on the power company there are different ways of receiving the money. A lot do as above.

            With my company, because I pay by credit card when I receive the emailed bill they will be reducing the bill for me.
             
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            • Fat Controller

              Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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              Mine was £87, so yours is really good! I am going to have a discussion with our fridge today, see if I can't adjust its attitude a wee bit as it is over-cooling and that must be costing us a pretty penny nowadays
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                Our solar panels do help a little with the electric bill. The September bill would have been about £40 higher without them.
                 
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                • Fat Controller

                  Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                  Just checked on the new freezer - it has consumed less than £10 since we plugged it in almost two months ago! Best decision we've made in recent times.
                   
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                  • Jocko

                    Jocko Guided by my better half.

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                    In the average house, the biggest user of electricity over the billing period is the washing machine/tumble drier/dishwasher followed by the fridge freezer and then the oven/hob. We have a new Fridge freezer but we also have a 1970s chest freezer in the shed. Perhaps it would be worthwhile replacing that with a new one.
                     
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                    • Fat Controller

                      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                      I would say definitely going by the difference I've seen measuring these two back to back.
                       
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                      • JWK

                        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                        Use a power consumption meter for a couple of weeks to measure what it is drawing, I imagine an old freezer will be inefficient. A modern replacement needs to be capable of running at low ambient temperatures if your shed is unheated. We have a beko freezer in our unheated garage that is rated to work to -15c. It is not quite as efficient as an indoor equivalent.
                         
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                        • pete

                          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                          I've got a chest freezer in the garage, it's not new but I wouldn't call it ancient either
                          I was noticing lots of condensation on the lid and when looking at it I thought that it seemed a bit thin so I stuck some Celotex on the outside and then boarded it over with white pvc.
                          I think you could do that at the sides as well if you wanted to as long as you don't cover any vents.

                          I just had the Celotex lying around so may not be economical to buy it.

                          I did notice a few years ago when I was looking at new ones that they were pretty small inside compared to overall size, presumably because of all the insulation.
                           
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                          • Fat Controller

                            Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                            I found the opposite oddly - our new one is wider than the old one for sure, but it is a lot deeper internally despite being no higher externally. We call it the dead body machine because you literally could fit a dead body in it (and still have room for chips.. :biggrin:)
                             
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                            • pete

                              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                              Its more about how thick the sides are, you can get big ones I know, and maybe they have made them deeper to compensate, but the ones I was looking at were small inside compared to the overall outside dimensions.
                               
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                              • Jenny namaste

                                Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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                                Then of course, you have to factor in the purchase expenditure....
                                 
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