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.