Coping with way too high inflation (....thanks a lot)

We are all ready kinda. Enjoying some freedom of not having to find someone to watch doggos if we decide to take off for the weekend or whatever. But always have had one or two around and I used to do a lot of field trials which is a whole nother thing. I’ll only buy from a select few breeders and bloodlines, chocolates are my preference but I’d take another black if need be. Want born in January or February so I can get them home in spring and start training in good weather.

 

So what is your actual usage and cost per kwh?

My cost per kwh is 0.22 cents - just for the electricity itself. And my next bill will go up to 0.28 cents per kwh Then the other charges come up to almost 0.13 cents/kwh. So BEFORE the rate hike that goes into effect this billing cycle, I am paying a total of 0.35 cents/kwh.

I used 338 kwh for August. But I work from home so have my computer and two monitors going for 12-14 hours a day. That is with the mini split going (the hottest August on record if I remember correctly). I actually used 30 kwh less than July and but the bill is $30 more than the July bill (368 kwh at $90.70 for July)



I fully agree that you probably use a lot less electricity than most people though.

Heck, my base metering charge when my solar array is installed may be more than some of your electric bills.

 

I started my pup on blue buffalo large preed puppy, she was good for the first couple of months and than she started having issues. runny craps (sometimes explosive), hair started falling out and getting these bumps on her skin.
I'm still dealing with the skin condition, I"m not sure if it is still from that food or another issue.
It's been a bag and a half since than so I hope it will start to clear up or there is something else she is allergic too.
Most blue dobermans if not all, eventually lose their hair anyway. She is too young for that to start though.
I have switched to solid gold for the minute.
For a cheap decent food I fed my last girl rachel ray just 6, not great, I think better than purina.
I'm not sure what I plan to switching to for adult food at this point. Stuff is pretty pricey, but health issues are more expensive.
I use to feed my one boy nutro back in 2008 but it killed him. This was when a lot of different brands were sourcing food from China and it was contaminated.
It is kind of hard picking a food you can feel good about besides making your own.

 

Just think, if you did get one you can have this sticker made for it...

 

From where?
The one I bought 3 or so years ago for ~$900 is double that now (regular price)...but still not $3500!

 

Maybe with a tough install and a generous tip.

 

I wanted to read the ingredients off of the package of the iams dog food just to see how much better it was. The percentages totaled up to about 60-64% if I remember. So, what is the other 1/3 of the dog food comprised of? filler???

• NUTRITIONAL INFO
  Calcium 1.2%
  Chondroitin Sulfate 35 mg/kg*
  Crude Fat (min.) 14.0%
  Crude Protein 27.0%
  Crude Fiber 4.0%
  Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) 0.10%
  Glucosamine 350 mg/kg*
  Moisture 10.0%
  Omega-3 Fatty Acids 0.45%*
  Omega 6 fatty acids 2.25%*
  Phosphorus 0.8%
  Selenium (Sodium selenite) 0.35 mg/kg
  Vitamin E 60 IU/kg

I'm getting 59.8% when I add them up. Am I doing something wrong? Or is iams ashamed of the other 40%?

 

Still need your kwh usage to compare what the real difference is. Once again, I am sure you have quite low usage, so that is not my objective. I am honestly curious.

Comparing $ charged does not tell me anything but what I already am well aware of - that I am paying one of the highest rates in the country.

Average residential electrical usage in NH, according to google, is 980 kwh. I am pretty low for usage averaging about 356 kwh (using figures from spring 2019 thru this year), Who knows how much of that average residential usage is due to households having electric heat that massively raises the average?

My neighbor said his electric bills last year were about $400/month during winter for about 950 sq/ft. His summer bill (he doesn't have A/C) was $60. The cost of electricity has gone up quite a bit for this coming winter so he could easily pay $600 or more per month for the same electrical usage to heat with.

My provider also don't have differing rates for peak/off peak, nor is there a senior discount (to my knowledge), which looks like it means about a 10% discount for you.

 

Here is our efficiency web down from June

 

Move up to NH Dave, winter is not above freezing.
Just put a rack in wood stove room

 

We have an extra large laundry room. Everything goes on clothes racks and air dries in cooler months. Clothesline in warmer months.

 

Had to purchase a light switch for my other Kubota with the cab, not pictured and I had to buy an OEM switch as it has a special cutout in the headliner for it. 70 bucks my cost for it with my employee discount (remember, I work part time at the local Kubota dealer). 70 bucks for an illuminated rocker switch that was probably worth 3 bucks. That hurt. Been a money week as it is. Had a new Bryant Plus 90 condensing furnace installed in the basement yesterday to replace out old Bryant Plus 90 that was installed in 1989. The new ones are 97% efficient, not that it matters much because we only use it when the biomass stove cannot carry the heat load so it's used infrequently and I get my corn for free so it's pretty cheap heat overall.

Our electric bill (DTE) runs about 325 bucks a month consistently but the shop is on a 200 amp split so if I'm doing a lot of welding or fabricating, it eats up the juice. Back when we had cattle and heated stock tanks, we saw 500 buck monthly electric bills. We eat out quite often, mostly Culvers or Applebees. Averages 30 bucks a time. No booze. Booze is what cranks up a dinner bill.

Least off road diesel came down a bit. Just filled my 500 gallon farm tank and it was less than 2 grand this time and it was empty.

All 3 propane bottles are at 85% and I pre bought an additional 500 gallons at $1.99, local propane is at $2.70 here yesterday. 4ton of pellets in the barn and 6 ton of dried corn in supersacks which will be fine so long as the mice don't find it. I'm counting on my barn cats to deal with that issue, that and the 2 'walk the plank' bucket traps I have (loaded with Skippy).

Pretty well set for whatever Mother Nature brings this winter. far as next winter, I'll deal with that as it comes. At my age (72), I don't project that far anymore.

On a less desirable note, the tree guy who was taking down the wind damaged trees on the rental property, ran over my Echo top handle saw with his bucket truck and flattened it, literally. Was gonna buy a new one until I saw what a new one cost (I need a top handle for cutting limbs and stuff) so I went on Amazon and bought one of those Chinese copies for 135 bucks delivered. Don't run bad actually though it says to use a 24-1 mix ratio, it seems quite happy on my 40-1 Stihl pre mix oil. For 135 bucks, it if sticks, oh well. Chain and bar looks iffy but time will tell. I removed the chain brake entirely, it was impossible to get the side cover on with the brake installed. Seems to have plenty of suds, pulls the tiny 12" roller nose bar ok. Time will tell. I don't use the little saws all that hard anyway. Kind of pizzed about my flattened Echo. Tossed it in the rubbish.



The Chinese saw even has an adjustable oiler. Hopefully it lasts a couple years at least. Fingers crossed.

 

I’m young enough that this is my first real exposure to high inflation. We’ve had a couple years now of very high inflation. They tell us that wages grow to match. Are you working folks seeing wages grow at even close to the same rate as inflation?

Union contracts often have Colas, lots of government jobs do too. Even my dads social security income has seen some big increases.

I heat with wood, use an antenna for tv, and a phone line for internet. My big costs really haven’t grown much with inflation. I mean sure, fuel is double but I just don’t spend much on fuel.

We noticed today at the discount grocery stores that even basics like dairy have noticeably risen. Still able to afford ice cream and chocolate. Mmmmm, 90% Walmart brand dark chocolate is delicious.