Life Talk

Retiree's guide to a lower power bill without sitting in the dark

Spent 30-odd years in logistics, so I can't help treating the house like a warehouse. Here's what moved the needle for us, roughly in order of payoff:

Find the big users first. A cheap plug-in power meter for a week told me the old beer fridge in the garage was a bigger cost than the TV, kettle and lights together. Gone.

Heat or cool the person, not the house. Ceiling fans and a decent blanket do a lot. We only run the aircon in the room we're in.

Shop around once a year. Ring your provider, tell them you're comparing. It's boring, it works.

Hot water timer. Ours was heating water all day for two people who shower in the morning.

None of this is clever. It's just looking at the numbers instead of guessing.