Mr Thing’s PeakSave prep
Tips for making the most of PeakSave Sundays
Do you know what Mr Thing thinks about when he hops out of bed on a Sunday morning? Saving money. You see, Mr Thing is a PeakSaver which means that every Sunday, between 11am and 4pm, he gets half-price electricity. And this is something he takes quite seriously.
We swung by The Things’ house a few Sundays ago to see him in action – and pick up some tips. “The thing about us Things,” said Mr Thing. “Is that we love a challenge. So every Sunday I have a few strategies to help save a few bob. Then, at the end of the month, I put those savings towards doing something nice with the family.”
Get your laundry going at 11am
75% of PeakSavers save their laundry for PeakSave Sundays. Mr Thing is one of them. He’ll have whites and colours separated and the laundry ready to go at 11am on the dot.
“Don’t get me wrong, I like to let my hair down of an evening,” says Mr Thing. “But if I find myself separating the laundry in front of Match of the Day on a Saturday night, I’m not unhappy.”
Batch cook while you sit back for Sunday lunch
Whether it’s beef, pork, chicken or an experimental nut roast, Sunday lunch is usually in the oven by 11.30. Then Mr Thing gets some batch cooking going for the rest of the week.
So when the family sit down to eat, the oven’s still whirring away cooking up a Bolognese, stew or curry. This saves money – and time – during busy weekdays.
Getting the dishwasher going is another important piece of the puzzle…
“In an ideal world, I like to have everything in the dishwasher so it can be done by the time PeakSave ends at 4pm.” said Mr Thing.
“If the dishwasher’s not loaded by 3pm,” added Mrs Thing, “my husband starts to sweat.”
Charge your devices
Like a lot of families, Mr and Mrs Thing are always trying to find the right balance of giving the kids screen time, without it taking over.
One rule they have is no screens at the table during mealtimes. And with everyone chatting away over Sunday lunch it’s the perfect time to charge up. So the family get all their phones, tablets, laptops, electric toothbrushes – and anything else that needs a boost of electricity – all plugged in.
It might seem like a little thing but it’s a nice way of getting everyone away from their screens and saving a few pennies too.
Work with the weather
If there’s one thing you can be sure of it’s the unpredictability of British weather. So on days that the weather is fine, the family makes the most of the garden. “I love a lap or two around the garden with the electric lawn mower,” says Mr Thing. And if the weather isn’t so good, the tumble dryer gets put through its paces. “You just can’t beat a fluffy, warm towel straight from the dryer.”
Save up for something special or set it aside
At the end of every event, British Gas credits half of what Mr Thing spends on electricity during PeakSave back to his account. It shows up as 'PeakSave Sunday Credit' – normally within two weeks. “I use the app to check this. It’s really rewarding to see those savings add up.”
Now it’s become a tradition to use those savings for a family treat. Since signing up, Mr Thing’s put them towards a trip to the cinema, going bowling and a meal out. Though the kids ordering the most expensive dishes on the menu did put a slight dampener on things.
So far, British Gas has paid over £28 million to more than 1 million customers taking part in PeakSave.