Marlene (59): ‘I bought nice thick cardigans and thermal underwear’ | Money

How do you live?
,,I live in a maisonette on the second and third floor of this complex. That is also the highest floor. It is a small complex with eleven houses. Due to the sloping roofs, I have an official living space of 94 square meters. It is a social rental home from 1989. Since then, the house has had roof and cavity wall insulation, but nothing else has been done about extra sustainability measures. There is still double glazing everywhere and I have draft strips at the balcony door. But no solar panels or a heat pump, no. I do have an efficient boiler. It’s only two years old and it’s at 60 degrees.

I have neighbors left, right and below me. The house has recently received energy label C. Water consumption is included in the rent, which I pay 15 euros per month. ”

,,I have a one-year contract with Essent. My monthly amount is set to 0 euros. That’s because I get more money back than I use. My consumption over the past year was 928 kWh of electricity and 34 cubic meters of gas.

Due to the energy tax refund (825 euros) and the welcome bonus of 175 euros, I will probably even receive money at the end of my contract.

Because I have a social security benefit due to illness, I automatically receive the energy allowance that the cabinet has distributed to minimum wage earners due to the rising energy prices. That’s 800 euros plus another 500 euros. It makes me a little uncomfortable because I know people might like this, but I’m not doing anything wrong. I am doing too much right. I just live very frugally.”

“I live alone, so of course that makes it easier than for a family with children. But I do believe that it is better to live frugally than to complain all the time that you are short of money. I never have the heating on. Only when visitors come. But then I’m in a shirt and my visit is still fresh. It’s just what you’re used to.

I have bought nice thick cardigans and thermal underwear, which I use for years. And when I’m on the couch, I have a warm duvet – with a nice cover that matches the interior – over my legs. Now I have to say that I have an electric heater for really cold days, but I have used it twice in the past year. On those days it is at its coldest 15 degrees in the house. Furthermore, it is always warmer than that.

I shower briefly every other day and not too hot. I wouldn’t know how long, but I once calculated that taking a shower costs me four cents. Furthermore, I was old-fashioned cold at the sink.

I always wash dishes immediately under cold water. And the pans that are still warm after cooking I put away in cold water with washing-up liquid, so that it already takes effect. I don’t use the gas stove, just an induction hob and my airfryer. I also lived in this way before the energy crisis and am sometimes told that it is ‘poor’ but it is a matter of making choices, I think. I always ask myself: does a warm house make me happier or that I drive a car? Give me the freedom of that car.”

* Marlene does not want to be called by her full name for privacy reasons. Her last name is known to the editors.