Cost of living crisis 2022 - what have you cut back on?

[enjay]

Who has A/C in the UK anyway?

 

With temps reaching the mid/high 30s being the norm now and more people working from home at least some days every week, I think this will get increasingly common.

[Andrew_C]

Funnily enough, I looked at whether there are systems to run underfloor "in reverse". Short answer - yes; long answer - only if installed as such. You need better zoning, condensation prevention, and about twice as much pipework. So not retro-fittable.

[elsiegee40]

Funnily enough, I looked at whether there are systems to run underfloor "in reverse". Short answer - yes; long answer - only if installed as such. You need better zoning, condensation prevention, and about twice as much pipework. So not retro-fittable.

 

We stayed in a house in the south of France that had such a system installed. It was pretty effective at keeping room temperature bearable.

[CHiLL]

Just switched from my Sky Mobile £6 for unlimited calls/texts and 2GB data to Lebara, who have an amazing deal at the moment. Unlimited calls/texts and 12GB data, 5G and EU roaming for 1p a month for the first six months, then £6.90 thereafter on a monthly rolling contract. https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/lebara-12gb-5g-data-unlimited-min-text100-international-min-eu-roaming-now-01p-for-six-months-ps690-after-at-lebara-3978870. That'll save me £35.94 over the next six months and then only be 90p a month more than I was already paying after that, while getting 6x more data. It's a good deal for those who are looking to save or are able to switch. It's worth noting that Lebara utilise Vodafone's network, if that matters for some people signal wise. Edited August 17, 2022 by CHiLL

[flyinghaggis]

Speaking of Sky I've just cancelled my Sky TV and have gone with a phone/internet only package. Haven't really used it in ages anyway as between all of the Freeview/Netflix/Prime/Youtube/Twitch streaming services I'm never short of things to watch. Easier just to sign up to the other services for a month at a time than sign up to a single provider for year+ contract.

[HarryMonkey]

Take advantage of offers when they arise. This is at the co-op

 

[nicholab]

Cycling may not be as cheap as it currently is if this goes ahead https://amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/16/registration-plates-and-insurance-for-cyclists-on-table-in-review-of-road-laws

[Rob_D]

Cycling may not be as cheap as it currently is if this goes ahead https://amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/16/registration-plates-and-insurance-for-cyclists-on-table-in-review-of-road-laws

I can't see it happening. Dept of Transport has said licencing too big a management overhead, and even Shapps had apparently changed his mind by lunch time.

 

Somewhat confusingly, in a separate interview with the Times, Shapps said he was “not attracted to the bureaucracy of registration plates”, adding: “That would go too far.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/aug/17/grant-shapps-bike-licence-plates-proposal-a-strange-and-pointless-idea

[jthompson]

Yes, if you wanted to discourage children from cycling anywhere, make it illegal to ride without insurance, safety equipment, a cycling license (requiring both a practical and a theory test), vehicle tax, registration plates and an obligatory annual roadworthiness test of your bicycle by a registered tester. Edited August 18, 2022 by jthompson

[siuko]

The best option would be to provide completely seperate safe Cycle paths (none of these cycle lanes where everyone ignores them or parks over them etc)

 

And make them completely seperate from the pedestrian paths as well

 

Then allow reasonably speced Ebikes and Escooters (500w engines with throttles) and you would get way more people off the roads and commuting that way

[DeGrimmy]

• In winter, depending on the smoke/smell situation or if you have pets/kids who may do themselves harm, use the heat from your cooking to at least add heat to the next room. Leave the oven door open after cooking, too.
  

 

I'm very late to this, but we started doing this last winter. Unfortunately, we have a cheapish oven and by leaving the oven door open after cooking, the most pronounced effect was that the oven knobs melted a little! We now have a couple of slightly mis-shapen oven knobs which we can replace, but they're still working, so there's no real need to spend the money right now.

[Andrew_C]

The best option would be to provide completely seperate safe Cycle paths

 

That ONLY works if the paths go where you need to go (which roads do already) and are sufficiently used/overlooked for people to feel safe on them.

 

MrsC lived on an estate built in the 70s with meandering paths to front doors, and no pavements alongside the road. People just walk along the road, and use the back door for everything.

[LeMarchand]

I'm very late to this, but we started doing this last winter. Unfortunately, we have a cheapish oven and by leaving the oven door open after cooking, the most pronounced effect was that the oven knobs melted a little! We now have a couple of slightly mis-shapen oven knobs which we can replace, but they're still working, so there's no real need to spend the money right now.

 

Ooops!

 

Ours is a fan oven, so maybe the fan helps expel the air!

[CHiLL]

I've known about the current account switching services and banks that offer bonuses. First Direct are offering £175 if you switch your main account and bills and use the switch guarantee service, plus an extra £20 if you use the app/online banking within the first three months. Santander are also offering £160 for using the switching guarantee too. It's worth noting that most banks say you're not eligible if you've used them in the past x number of years though.

 

Despite knowing about this for a a few years, I was always put off because it's a faff changing banks. But with costs are they are at the moment, I think I may as well do it.

[Ditto]

I don't think switching is as big a faff as it was years ago, but I still struggle to be motivated to do so.

[nicholab]

I've known about the current account switching services and banks that offer bonuses. First Direct are offering £175 if you switch your main account and bills and use the switch guarantee service, plus an extra £20 if you use the app/online banking within the first three months. Santander are also offering £160 for using the switching guarantee too. It's worth noting that most banks say you're not eligible if you've used them in the past x number of years though.

 

Despite knowing about this for a a few years, I was always put off because it's a faff changing banks. But with costs are they are at the moment, I think I may as well do it.

 

I was once was a non changer of banks then my bank annoyed me and both my wife and I move using the 7 day switch.

 

Months latter wife sister transferred money to the old account it found its way to the correct account.

 

One of the tools Monzo has is to pay DD and standing order bills from a pot. So on payday the funds for these gets transferred into the pot.

Edited August 19, 2022 by nicholab

[lifeisshort]

Just switched from my Sky Mobile £6 for unlimited calls/texts and 2GB data to Lebara, who have an amazing deal at the moment. Unlimited calls/texts and 12GB data, 5G and EU roaming for 1p a month for the first six months, then £6.90 thereafter on a monthly rolling contract. https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/lebara-12gb-5g-data-unlimited-min-text100-international-min-eu-roaming-now-01p-for-six-months-ps690-after-at-lebara-3978870. That'll save me £35.94 over the next six months and then only be 90p a month more than I was already paying after that, while getting 6x more data. It's a good deal for those who are looking to save or are able to switch. It's worth noting that Lebara utilise Vodafone's network, if that matters for some people signal wise.

 

I got the Lebara 12 GB deal a couple of weeks ago, it saves me some money from my previous contract with Three.

[foofighterjim]

Did my first weekly shop at Lidl instead of ASDA this weekend, didn't quite get everything on the shopping list but saved £15 on a like for like comparison on the items I did get.

[mavhc]

Everyone's getting a heat pump, if they were experienced with AC/heat pumps they'd know that AC is a heat pump.

 

I consider myself sensible and I am considering (though haven't researched yet) replacing our conservatory AC and adding something like mini-split elsewhere, but I don't have a clue about heat pumps, either in AC or in the world of EV's where having one/not having one is a bone of contention amongst some owners.

 

Do enlighten us...

 

That's it, get an air to air mini split that does AC and heating, and don't bother with air to water heat up your radiators system that won't also cool, also so much reclaimed wall space

[enjay]

Cycling may not be as cheap as it currently is if this goes ahead https://amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/16/registration-plates-and-insurance-for-cyclists-on-table-in-review-of-road-laws

 

I'm assuming we're not talking about licence plates and registration for, say, 5 year olds, so when would this start and how you would determine whether a cyclist was of that age or not? It certainly sounds like a way to discourage cycling, especially casual cycling, and the health and environmental benefits of cycling are clear.

 

Slightly mixed language in Grant Shapp's comments too. He switches between talking about cyclists speeding and acknowledging there is no speed limit for pedal cycles. You can't speed if there isn't a limit!

 

I wonder if these changes will also include taking action against e-scooters, which are illegal on roads or pavements.

[maark]

I'm assuming we're not talking about licence plates and registration for, say, 5 year olds, so when would this start and how you would determine whether a cyclist was of that age or not? It certainly sounds like a way to discourage cycling, especially casual cycling, and the health and environmental benefits of cycling are clear.

 

Slightly mixed language in Grant Shapp's comments too. He switches between talking about cyclists speeding and acknowledging there is no speed limit for pedal cycles. You can't speed if there isn't a limit!

 

I wonder if these changes will also include taking action against e-scooters, which are illegal on roads or pavements.

 

It will never happen - more distraction tactics.

Can't stop illegal scooters - halfords sell about 10 sorts. In fact just legalise scooters and say they can go same place as bikes.

[Andrew_C]

That's it, get an air to air mini split that does AC and heating, and don't bother with air to water heat up your radiators system that won't also cool, also so much reclaimed wall space

I'd guess that you've not lived in a house with forced air heating. It isn't all that it is cracked up to be. Stratification is a real issue.

[mavhc]

I'd guess that you've not lived in a house with forced air heating. It isn't all that it is cracked up to be. Stratification is a real issue.

 

How is that different to any other heating method?

 

Mini split systems aren't the same as forced air AIUI.

 

How was your system setup?

[elsiegee40]

This thread isn’t about the finer details of central heating systems.

 

No more please. Back on topic.

[howartp]

This thread isn’t about the finer details of central heating systems.

Any chance of splitting them off into another thread because it is actually a useful discussion that I'm following with interest!