How to Make our Appliances Work Harder and Cut Costs!

From the 1st October 2022, energy prices have risen again (we saw the first increase in April 2022), and if you have a smart meter the dramatic increases are really starting to show. You’ll  have a better understanding of how different appliances are shooting up the prices on that smart meter screen. 

There are some ways we can help to reduce the amount of energy we use, and there are even some swaps we can make with appliances that are considered to be more efficient.

So here we go, what are things costing now and how can we make them more efficient?

What’s Cooking?

When we’re cooking, we don’t usually take into consideration how much it costs to actually make the meal. Instead, we presume it wouldn’t be that much… Would it?

From a recent study by Go Compare, it was announced that from October 2022 the cost to use your oven for an hour would work out between £1.04 and £1.14. Prior to October, it would cost you between 56p and 61.60p.

This price jump is pretty extreme, especially when there are other appliances you can use to halve the cost of your cooking - and no, this doesn’t involve loading the Deliveroo app!

Microwaves

(Prices from Go Compare)

Admittedly, they’re not everybody’s first choice but running a microwave for 10 minutes will cost you between 5.20p and 12p per hour. 

Whether you’re going to batch cook your meals for the week and then use the microwave to heat them up, or if you find ways to cook your meals from fresh using a microwave, this could be a cost-effective option towards the cost of cooking.

Air Fryers

(Prices from Hometree)

Yes people were starting to buy air fryers a few years ago, but since the announcement of the energy bills rising, air fryers have become a popular and firm favourite in our households.

Using an air fryer for 10 minutes costs around 5p, so using it for an hour would cost around 30p.

The great thing about air fryers is that you can cook practically anything in them! From roasted veggies to meat, eggs to cheese on toast… Great meals for the fraction of the price of turning on the oven!

Toasters

(Prices from Go Compare)

To use your toaster for 30 minutes is going to cost you between 20.80p and 39p. This seems like a lot for toasting some bread doesn’t it?!

Another alternative is to use an air fryer; you can cook some amazing recipes in there! (See above)

Slow Cookers

(Prices from Hometree)

Slow cookers are great for cooking large pieces of meat, stews, curries and more. People tend to use slow cookers in the colder months, or for the convenience of putting something in the slow cooker and leaving it until meal time.

To use a slow cooker for 8 hours (the standard use) costs around 5p per hour which is 40p.

Washing Your Clothes

(Prices from Go Compare)

We all need clean clothes and the majority of us do this at home using our washing machines.

As of 1st October 2022, washing your clothes will cost you between 5.20p and 13p for ten minutes. Although these prices are quite unavoidable, there are some options to help make it more efficient.

Try washing your clothes on a 30° or even 20° wash, to stop using as much heat. When you need to put a wash on, make sure you’re doing full loads so you don’t need to use the washing machine as frequently.

Many of us have tumble dryers to dry our clothes, however when it’s fine weather we have the option of putting clothes outside to dry (if you have access to an outside area), or using a clothes horse. When we start to enter the colder months, we can’t really use Mother Nature’s services to dry our clothes, so we end up using a tumble dryer or a clothes horse indoors.

A tumble dryer sounds lovely and cosy, but from the 1st October it will cost you between £1.04p and £1.56p per hour to warm your pyjamas up. That price is extortionate, especially if you have multiple loads of washing and a busy house with no option to dry your clothes outdoors! However, drying your clothes indoors without proper ventilation can come at a cost too, as this produces damp and mould.

Once all your washing is done, most people like to give their clothes an iron to make them look more presentable. The cost of using an iron has risen to 72.80p per hour. 

So, what can we use instead?

Heated Drying Rack

(Prices from Go Compare)

Ever since the energy prices have increased, heated drying racks have become a must have! You should see the queues in Aldi with customers drying to get their hands on one.

Using between 13p and 26p per hour to run, they are the new alternative to a tumble dryer and drying your clothes indoors…(basically the two options at a fraction of the cost) Heated drying racks are upright or wide, and they normally hold a full wash load.

You’ll no longer have to grin and bear the tumble dryer costs or damp clothes, and you’ll no longer have to pile on the jumpers either. Heated drying racks give off heat so the temperature will increase in the room your clothes are drying in and give you that added extra bit of warmth. As your clothing is drying hanging up, the creases will drop, reducing the need to pull out the iron and use another 72.80p!

Here are just a few ways you can reduce your energy bills this winter and turn your home into efficiency central. We’ve got plenty more tricks up our heated dryer sleeve, so feel free to give us an email or message us on our socials and we’ll let you in on a few more energy saving techniques. Who knows, with all these pennies you’re saving you might just be able to open up the Deliveroo app at the end of the month after all.

Property Guardian Testimonial - Mark Van Der Zeyden

Property Guardian Testimonial by Mark Van Der Zeyden

I currently work within the government sector. Although it’s a stable job, the remuneration could often be described as ‘lacking’. The price bracket for Guardianship in my current property seemed really appealing to me, and as a bonus it’s well-maintained, close to shops and public transport.

In my case, I found this property on Spareroom and the process of applying to view and all the vetting required upon acceptance, happened within a quick turn-around timeframe.

This is my first Blue Door property that I’ve been a Property Guardian with, and I have been resident since April 2022. The current group of Guardians have been very easy to get along with, and there is a communal perspective whereby everyone is kept abreast of any updates or changes within a group chat. The property is kept clean and collectively, we contribute to having a cleaner attend for an intensive clean up of communal areas which all lends to the mutually agreeable environment.

From what I have come to discover, the properties available through Blue Door are in general more than initially expected in terms of available space. Also, the affordability aspect is a major contributor especially in the current economic climate! 

Property Guardians are adequately vetted prior to acceptance, with the same base expectations from the start. There is a mutual respect and simultaneously the security that comes with a group of people all looking out for one another, whilst securing and utilising a property that would otherwise be left vacant and unsecured. 

The communal acceptance has led to many opportunities to share meals and the occasional drink out, which in itself can’t ever be overlooked. The fact that this can be so readily available closer to home is hard to turn down. I would happily recommend trying out Property Guardianship.

Property Guardian Testimonial - Former Office, London

Property Guardian Testimonial by D.L

I have been securing properties on and off for many years. Currently residing in my fourth property, a former office block. I’ve been a Property Guardian in East London and North London with the opportunity to live in a broad range of unusual and spacious properties.

When you register as a Property Guardian, you become familiar with other companies through other Property Guardian’s recommendations. Blue Door Property Guardians are one of the few companies that are staying true to affordable accommodation and really maintain their buildings.

I have been lucky to live with the same core people for two moves, and the community that we built together has been really enjoyable. We celebrated holidays together, held mini festivals, built outdoor bars for the summer and cooked and enjoyed meals together. It really has been a real community.

Some of the many benefits of being a Property Guardian are the low Licence Fees, and the living environments/locations that are unusual and unique. I would recommend being a Property Guardian 100%!

My advice: Live light! Save furniture and home accessories for when you’ve saved enough to get your own place.