Electricity bills
Saturday, March 23, 2013 @ 7:48 AM
Like me you have probably noticed the cost of living is getting higher and higher here in sunny Spain.When I first arrived on the Costa Del Sol, it was the good old days of the Peseta, living was cheap, coming from Uk then France to live in Spain prices seemed so much lower. Work was easy to find...ahhh The land of milk and honey!
No move forward 15 years, little or no work for many, and the cost of living getting higher. One thing I have noticed is my electricity bills, maybe its me becoming a skin flint in my old age but after break most of the bones in foot trying to fight the bush fire last year, I was unable to work and having no income, ( the 7 years of paying self employed social did not seem to of provided any help ) I have been forced to look at the household outgoings.
So I focused on several areas, electricity is one, our average bill was running at around 220 euros per month, that is 3 people ( I think our teenage daughter is a person...sometimes Not so sure...) living in a large 3 bedroom apartment, we cook on electric, heat the apartment, run the washing machine ( almost everyday!! ) and dishwasher.
I have now been able to get the bills down to an average of 120 Euros per month, ( last 4months )...what Did I do? You may well ask or you may not!
Well I replaced all bulbs with low enegry ones. I turned down the thermostat on the water heater, the water comes out nice and hot but not scolding. We use the washing machine loaded full and have reduced the temp of the wash and also same with the dishwasher run it on 35 not 50 degrees, plates still seem clean. We use gas heater not run the warm air (air con). 2 gas bottles last a month cost 33 euros.
Now if only I could run the car on fresh air.......