Last June, around June 22, the annual final bill of the utility bill came in. “Congratulations, you have consumed more economically in the past year and will receive a refund of 600 euros” I check my bank account and indeed 600 euro is credited. Within 24 hours a new message with the following sentence: “Your new monthly amount is 594 euro and must be transferred before June 23, 2022” Just for the record. The five of us live here in a detached house. So who knows, it will cost so much. For a detached spacious home, you pay more in terms of energy. I was familiar with that. But equally,. so then, Jantje laughs, Jantje cries. I was allowed to enjoy that 600 euros for 24 hours, but luckily we had only saved it for a while.

I knew that energy prices were going to rise, but that I would go from 278 euros to almost 600 euros a month fell a bit raw on my roof. I decide to call the energy supplier and ask how it is possible that I am first made happy with a dead sparrow, actually and then return the amount again. The lady in question indicates that it is due to rising prices for energy and gas and that this is a new estimate they have made for what will be our new monthly fee.

I say, “But I still have a permanent contract?” To which the lady replied: “No madam, not since today, your permanent contract expires and will be converted to variable as of July 10. This is therefore possible, without being reported in advance, but it turns out that almost no energy company still works with permanent contracts. Of course, that has all been thought about. So let's all go to the variable. Well, I know, that 600 euros a month is not doable. Not just for me, but for a lot of people.

Image of Steve Buissinne via Pixabay

But yes, you have to. Still, I decide not to do that 600 euros a month immediately, because hey, it's summer and the stove is off. We are still going on vacation and are therefore not at home. We have a smart meter that gives a printout about the state of affairs every month. So come on then. In July and August, I set my installment amount at 278 euros, which I previously paid. I think and decide, as soon as the month of November comes, I change the installment amount to 600 euros. So July, August, September, October no heating on.

We have a wood stove outside in the canopy, only needs to be connected with pipe for October and then when we are really cold we sit there. Inside, from now on, we are already getting used to that temperature and warm ourselves with fleece blanket, bathrobes, sweaters, slippers, bed socks. It can! We also have hats and gloves if necessary. No fun, because I realize that we are doing well here at home, even though it is financially pressing. It can altijd nog erger denk ik dan.

All right, we're going to turn the heating back on from November. But then we're going to put it on, heat the room and turn it off again, so we don't burn all day long. We're going to get used to 18 degrees. If it's cold, add that extra sweater. In March next year, the heating will turn off and we will adjust the installment amount again to 278 euros and then I am very curious what the final bill will be. I already take into account that we have to pay extra, but now coughing up 600 euros every month is not possible. But that also means that I do try to reserve some money every month as a buffer towards June next year when those financial statements come. Then I have already saved an amount to receive it.

Image of Gerd Altmann via Pixabay

How we started doing it from June last. There are four themes, namely, GAS, WATER, ENERGY and GROCERIES. So you have to monitor those four things very well if you don't want to be surprised, which we're probably going to experience after all, but you have to do some. Doing nothing is not an option. That's sticking your head in the sand and you're only getting further into the crap. So I decided to do the following:

- The dishwasher turns on a maximum of once a day. Preferably as full as possible. Haven't had a dishwasher for a few years, but recently got one for free that was less than a year old. Washing dishes by hand, you automatically grab a lot of water, because your nipple gets dirty faster. So dishwasher on once a day. At eco stand.
- The clothes dryer goes out.
- The clothes racks are standard outside now and the laundry smells wonderfully fresh with that breeze.
- I make more use of the oven to cook a little less on the gas. So, making casseroles, for example, or vegetables on the baking tray.
- I light the bbq more often.
- Showering. Switch on, turn off, soap, turn on. Maximum 5 minutes and no more 20 minutes which happens regularly. I set an alarm clock and when it goes off, you have to leave under it.
- Do not let the tap run while brushing your teeth.
- Washing machine should never be completely full, well too bad we pack it just a little fuller.
- The wash at 40 degrees goes to 30 degrees. Gets clean too. 90 degrees goes to 60 degrees.
- Water left after cooking or kettle is stored for the plants and iron.
- Not everything is ironed anymore, just the much-needed.
- Unplugging plugs from the sockets when you're not using them is safer anyway, especially those mobile chargers.
- Car only for groceries, the rest on foot or by bike.
- Groceries are only done in the cheaper supermarket and the somewhat more expensive supermarket only if they are 1 euro items and that you actually use.
- I keep receipts every week so I know what I bought, what the expense was and so you can see if you're doing a little bit of the same thing every week.
- Budget cooking. Go for 5 euro meals.