The Retirement Thread

[Dave7]

We've discussed how to cook more economically and perhaps buying some of the new cooking appliances. We reached the conclusion it would be worthwhile if one already owns one but the likely savings don't justify the purchase price. We will stick with what we have which is a gas cooker, microwave and slow-cooker. We've always batch cooked but I think this will increase, especially with the slow cooker, and we will eat more casseroles, stews etc. While I'm not keen on micro-waving veggies this will happen and I'll have to learn to do it better. When a pan of boiling water is needed then boiling a kettle and emptying this into the saucepan is cheaper. After cooking potatoes, past etc. I started retaining the boiled water in a small pan for cooking, usually steaming, the veg. Myself I feel the biggest savings will come from the slow-cooker, the results are always good and very easy.

I think we have at least two years of these prices ahead of us and possibly they will never return to what we think of as "normal" levels. It's be interesting to learn how many people retain their newfound love of energy efficiency? I've never been so careful, to my shame, hopefully we will keep it up. An awful lot of people changed lifetsyle in lockdown but what I ssee day to day suggests all that has gone by the wayside.

If I do a slow cooker casserole I chuck the lot it eg veg and potatoes. I seal the meat first though.
Next one will be Moroccan lamb....yummy.

 

[Dave7]

Correct in my view. See above.

I am thinking of one of those Ninja dodaas as they seem so versatile. Someone I know has a cheapo version and swears by it.
We have a Tefal Actifry which imo is only good for chips. It does sausages well but makes such a mess.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I've had my pharmacist hat on this morning, I've been topping up my Good Ladies weekly tablet box.

 

[Dave7]

Good morning all.
There I was, lying in bed, thinking it must be 0630ish. Got up to find it was 0750. Suppose I must of needed it.
Today I feel like doing, erhh, nothing

 

[Mo1959]

If I do a slow cooker casserole I chuck the lot it eg veg and potatoes. I seal the meat first though.
Next one will be Moroccan lamb....yummy.

All the way to Morocco for a lamb!

 

[Dave7]

W

I've had my pharmacist hat on this morning, I've been topping up my Good Ladies weekly tablet box.


View attachment 659891

WOW......you could open your own shop with that little lot.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

W


WOW......you could open your own shop with that little lot.

I know, I had to do mine when I'd finished, not so many though.

 

[Dave7]

I thought you were Classic at first then realises he doesn't get up this early.

 

[welsh dragon]

I have a large actuary and a slow cooker. We have been putting meat into the slow cooker and cooking it there rather than the oven, then put it in the oven for the last 19 minutes to brown. Works a treat.

When we had the wood burner put in, I wish we had had one that has an extra compartment on the top where you could cook casseroles etc. It would have been brilliant for that, but to change it now wouldn't be economically worth it to have to spend a couple of thousand pounds just to cook casseroles in the winter. It is brilliant for baked potatoes though, and I have a kettle that can be put on top to heat water to nearly boiling point.

I also fancy one of the ninja thingies. Bd I go round turning everything off that I can, even the kettle

 

[Mo1959]

I have a large actuary

Wots that then?

 

[welsh dragon]

Wots that then?

Shut up smart arse.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Just returning to this. Overall I doubt much of what we can do is going to have a real impact. Firstly the standing charge is around £1/day so £365/year. Our total bill used to be +/- £1100-1200! My economies are to cook more efficiently, stop using the tumble dryer, knock the CH down to 19⁰, reduce the hours in use by two, switch off anything on standby, shower for less time, switch off lights, increase the use of our multi-fuel burner, only fill the washing up bowl to one-third. Beyond this I can't see what else can be done. How much real difference will it make? No idea.

The other is the washing machine. We already wash at 30⁰, have done for years. The machine has an eco function which halves the wash time on all programmes so I need to investigate this. I already use it for sportswear of which we have a lot, run the 30 minute programme on eco mode and it reduces to 15 minutes.

Right must go.

I agree with your general sentiment and am of the view that the situation is what it is and requires further government intervention to make any substantive difference.

We are fortunate in that we can absorb the increases but have still looked at what we can do to reduce consumption - not much!

For some people it might be better to look at compensating by cutting back in other areas of expenditure eg mobile phone contracts and other subscription services, pub visits, takeaway food, non-essential clothing purchases etc.

At least that's the advice we are giving to our (grown up) kids.

 

[welsh dragon]

Looks like it's brightening up a bit here.

 

[Mo1959]

Looks like it's brightening up a bit here.

Rain rattling down here. I have a notion for a slice of toast with my next cuppa.

 

[Dirk]

Wots that then?

An obese accountant?