KAREN ANDERSON: Bath-time silver linings in most challenging of times

I’ve had one of those months that, thankfully, don’t come around too often – I sat down at the computer and had no idea what I was going to write.

Most months, I go for a walk and let my mind wander and by the time I return home I have the column virtually written in my head. But this month, there is just so much going on that is negative in this country that I’m searching for an idea that won’t annoy you, my lovely readers.

Realistically, number one worry for almost all of us has to be the rising costs of living. I am trying to ingrain new habits around use of lights during the day – unnecessary in my mind but ‘always done’ in that of others I live with. I also had a lightbulb moment (if you’ll pardon the pun) about running the hot tap to rinse things that are not filthy, like hands.

If you do turn the tap to hot with a combi boiler like ours, you don’t always run the water for long, but you have still caused the boiler to fire up and use a bit of gas and electric. Far better to set the tap just below the point the boiler fires up and get the left-over warm water in the tank. But again, not easy to change the culture of the home.

I never pay full price for something if I can help it. I get virtually all my clothes ‘pre-loved’ from a well-known online auction site, or in the sales if I am buying in a local shop. I haunt the yellow stickers for food shopping and compare different products to see what the real value option is. I will buy in bulk if there is an offer on and store things in the cupboard under the stairs – currently home to a laundry liquid and softener mountain.

But all of this takes an investment of time, effort and planning, and I wish I didn’t have to bother. But what’s the alternative? The thought of wasting money on something that we either didn’t need or could have bought cheaper is also a pressure in a different way.

And to put the tin lid on it just now, our shower has decided to have another go at providing us with an indoor waterfall through the ceiling into our living room. We are hoping that it is just the silicone seal needing to be replaced, but then there will be repairs to the ceiling and repainting to follow. Thankfully following a personal recommendation from one of the other parents from our boy’s disability swim team, we have managed to book someone who will be out to us early next month.

The bonus on this turn of events is that I now have justification for shutting myself away for an hour on a Saturday and Sunday while I take a proper bath – the ones before work during the week are very much a splash and dash affair. I do need to make sure I take some time to justify that boiler firing up and keep myself feeling virtuous in all my other attempts to save energy and money. An extra bit of time with a book and some nice bath liquid (bought on a BOGOF of course) is a price I will just have to pay!

Karen is Mum to an autistic son in his twenties and campaigns for the rights of unpaid carers to be supported in their caring role and involved in the decisions that affect their lives and the lives of the people they care for. You can find her on twitter @Karen4Carers.

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