Wednesday 22 June 2022

Saving Money

 We got through the ten years of economic crisis when pensions were suddenly cut in half, austerity measures and emergency taxes cut wages even more  and captial controls stopped us from having free use of any money in the bank.  Now we've had a couple of years of a strengthening economic climate in Greece.  And BAM.  Here we go again.  Petrol costs have risen, as they have all over the world and the electricty  bill has doubled.  So, like everyone else, we are trying to reduce our use of electricty and of petrol.  


We already have solar heating for hot water so that cuts costs and during the winter we heat the house with a wood fire and do as much cooking on that as possible.  In the last month or so we had been slacking.  With no wood fire I had been using the oven for cooking and our bill seemed to be shooting out of control.  So, we are using a slow cooker for baking and wherever possible our little gas cooker for anything needing a longer boiling.  I dislike the gas cooker.  It's outside next to the bbq and in the middle of K's tools and treasures.  It also cooks, fries, at a much faster rate and I need to be careful and not wander away or it's burnt offerings for tea.


These are stuffed tomatoes in the slow cooker.  Same recipe but they taste so different.  There isn't that nice burnt taste of the tomato tops and everything is soft but without that colour of baked goods.  I've read lots of recipes.  Yes, I can bake bread in it, but I don't .  It's far cheaper to pick up a half kilo loaf for a euro.  Instead of cakes or biscuits I now make a cheap icecream with condensed milk and that keeps forever in the freezer.


Our slow cooker is very old but works fine.  We got it through a friend when some expats returned to England.

We were also given a microwave. Haven't used one in years but now it's used to bake/ cook potatoes and heat up leftovers, instead of a pot on the stove 

Today is the beginning of our first heatwave.  We won't be using the aircon unless absolutely necessary.  There are fans in every room.  When we leave the room we turn off the light and turn off the fan.  Reminds me of my father yelling, turn off the light, close the fridge door.

We have put up awnings front and back to keep the worst heat out of the rooms and sit outside naturally to catch any breeze.  It's still early in the summer so this heat wave is not as viscious as it will be later on.  Mornings are still relatively cool.  Till 10am.  Any serious work has to be done early or late.

We rarely go out to eat.  But the last two years of isolation meant that we had already got used to fewer outings and coffee on the waterfront is a special treat.  Used to be that we could eat very well for 15 euros a head, it's now more like 20-30 euros.  If we do go out it's for a jug of wine, a can of soda water to eke it out and a small meze, snack.  That's fine.  We can sit back and people watch of an evening and chat with friends and neighbours in the same situation. 

Any big celebrations are strictly family affairs and K does the cooking.  Thank goodness for a husband that likes to cook and loves to provide.

Petrol prices mean that we no longer use the car unless we have to get off the island to reach a hospital.  K rides his motor scooter and I my quad bike.  It's amazing what we can carry on these mechanical donkeys.

Life continues. As long as we are healthy, we are happy. Well that's the way I see it. 

23 comments:

  1. The toughest part of retirement is fixed income vs price rises. I'm not there yet but aware that a return to UK will be frightening. I have been spoiled by laiki food prices and prices there have been remarkably stable over 4 years we've been here - and a fraction of what we will pay in UK. I don't cook much in summer (too hot) but have noticed the hike in electricity bills. You seem to have z good range of alternatives; at least you aren't hay-box cooking yet (or using the heat in the compost heap! Yes, I've seen someone prove you can cook in a compost heap.)

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    1. We did try out a hay box once years ago. Too fiddly but hey I'll put it on my list if things get worse. Don't think I'll try the compost heap for cooking but it's growing a few pumpkin plants at the moment.
      Our laiki isn't all that cheap, but as summer continues prices should get better. Definitely only buying what is in season. No iceberg lettuces on the shopping list. It will be tomato salads till November. I hope our plants produce a few .

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  2. Our electricity bills have not been too bad so far but not sure how long that will last. Food prices locally have shot up over the past week or so. Today we had a look around the supermarket and decided to change our buying habits and try some different options. There are some things I won't change but others will be replaced by cheaper alternatives.
    We shall not starve anyway.
    I hear that a certain person is talking about turning off Europe's gas supply this winter.
    I am off to the charity shop to stock up on more jumpers.

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    1. We have changed our buying habits all right. I have been stocking up on rice and macaroni and they are the basis of many of our meal s . K hates it and complains we don't eat enough meat. We eat far less but it's summer for a start. Lighter meals are always on a summer menu. We won't starve either.

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  3. It’s getting really hard now. Everything we do is getting more and more expensive. I even got a message from the dog groomer, she is a mobile groomer and drives her her big van to the job. The prices are going up ten dollars per dog just to cover the cost of petrol

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    1. Anywhere we can save money we will do it. I buy my clothes now, when absolutely necessary from Shein, the Chinese giant. I'm happy doing it. I bought some headphones from them three months ago. One euro fifty, free postage. They're still working fine. Here the same thing is 8 euros

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  4. The same things happen here. Rising prices, heat waves, strikes and now also political crises that will not make life easier.

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    1. Yes, it's not only the economy. The threats from next door Turkey are frightening. It may be just rhetoric but I don't want to hear it

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  5. Yes at one time the price rises were a cent here and there- now I’m noticing a $ here and there. Fruit and veg are no more cheaper from the greengrocer/fruiterer than the supermarket any more so I’m shopping in the one place now rather than a bit here and a bit there.
    And yes The Golfer has turned into his father (and mine)…..turn the light off, shut the door (we’ve stopped heating the whole of house, just the lounge)
    I’m with you on crockpot cooking not being the same, it does work wonders for cheaper cuts though. We’re lucky to have gas to the house but that Is going up in price as well. Can’t win can we.

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  6. Yes, in the beginning a few cents here and there was hardly noticeable. Cherries and strawberries tripled in price here. I'm not buying them. Apricots are double last year's prices but I have bought a few. The market or the supermarket , theres hardly any difference. I do keep an eye out for special offers. Thank goodness we still get presents of surplus produce from neighbours.

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  7. I have a friend here in France (a New Zealander) who would, every morning, turn on all the lights, the TV, the radio, and anything else she could find. If I visited her in the mornings, I would go round turning them all off. She called me a skinflint. These days she is much more cautious.

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    1. Everything is turned off here. Plugs pulled from sockets. The TV no longer gets turned on early morning and turned off hours later. We are waiting for the next bill to see if there is a difference.

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  8. Price rises seem to be worldwide - it is the same here. I'm seriously considering growing more veggies this year so we can be more self-sufficient in food, something I thought I would never need to do again.

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    1. Price rises are world wide. I'm not sure why local tomatoes and fruit should have gone up so much though. I know growers have more expenses but three times the norm?

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  9. Fuel prices have gone through the roof... just as we are about to embark on a motorhome tour of the country. We might stay longer, travel less.

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    1. Changes have to be made everywhere though as usual the rich remain rich.

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  10. It is disheartening to read how people in other parts of the world are also finding ways to cut back. We in Canada are, just like you, experiencing ridiculous gas prices, food prices, and real estate prices. I tried to plant an extra full vegetable garden this year. We don't eat out unless it is a very special occasion. However, because we live where we do, using gas to drive is unavoidable. Take care! -Jenn

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    1. We were already used to economies so now we carry on. There did seem some light at the end of the tunnel but it has dimmed

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  11. Were the pensions that got cut in half restored to full rate? Are you talking about government pensions that are paid to all seniors in Greece?

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    1. All govt pensions were cut. As a naval officer k lost investment bonuses and over half his pension. Overnight. They have not been restored and I doubt they will be although there have been all sorts of court cases. He has had a few increases but very paltry ones.

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    2. Thank you for replying. Sobering news for anyone on a pension. Not to count on it being there in your old age. I think most retirees just try to make the best of things and are grateful to have a home, food and a supporting family.

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  12. Seems the same things are happening the world over, one supermarket here says no fresh herbs, zucchini and something else I have forgotten for a month, going to try and grow more veges here too. Petrol, electricity and gas are all going up too.

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    1. These shortages are weird! Haven't noticed any here but am reading about them elsewhere.

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