Cutbacks

MrMusician18 · 08-03-2022 4:21pm #1

With everything rapidly increasing apart from wages have you made any changes in order to reduce your expenditure?

According to the latest retail data, more people are now switching to own brands for their shopping, and anecdotally I've noticed a good few more cars doing 90kmh on the open motorway.

The only real change I've made is to try to shift more electric consumption to night rate. I don't do much driving and all of that is necessary so that hasn't changed. Have you started to feel the pinch yet and how have you responded?

Ray Palmer · 08-03-2022 4:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058236417/cutbacks

Have you actually got a dual electric meter?

I haven't really cut down on anything but I have changed more in the past so increases have not really bothered me. Insulated the house so heating is cheaper than my neighbours. Only have one car which neither of us use very often and cycle instead. I buy quality not the most expensive. It always amazes me people who earn the least spend it on the most expensive non essential things. I don't think I have bought full price clothing in 20 years.

I live well on less than most.

MrMusician18 · 08-03-2022 4:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118752255#Comment_118752255

Yeah, have a night rate meter. Wouldn't have been too pushed about running the washer and dryer whenever in the past but I've learned the delay timer functions now.

Managed to shift 40% (from 20%) of consumption to night rate now. Not much more scope for changes unless I cook dinner in the middle of the night, so that's about as much as I can adjust.

purplefields · 08-03-2022 4:47pm

My speed is now 60kph-80kph, and I am surprised at how much further I can get from a tank. I used to average about 100kph. I'm learning not to use the break.

MrMusician18 · 08-03-2022 4:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118752312#Comment_118752312

A car is typically designed to be most efficient at 80km/h. Once got 1650kms from a single 70l tank where I had done a lot of driving at that speed. Typically I get 1150kms mostly motorway at 120km/h.

Diesel isn't as good as it used to be, the increased biofuel content has reduced its overall energy content from days gone by.

Burt Renaults · 08-03-2022 4:52pm

I run the electricity off the gas, and the gas off the electricity.

I also leave myself a bit more time to get to work, try and stay under 100km/h on the M50 (which you're kind of supposed to do anyway) and avoid unnecessary braking or acceleration.