Night chores save couple's cash

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Midnight chores to save money

Two pensioners are trying to save cash by getting up at night to do chores.

Bill and Glad Devine, both in their 80s from Cambridgeshire, reckon by cooking and cleaning between 2300 and 0700 they can use cheaper electricity.

Mrs Devine, who gets up at 0200 to put the washing on and again at 0500 to hang it out, said it leaves her tired.

But the couple said it is the only way they can afford to run their home in the face of spiralling food and fuel costs.

They have switched to a deal with their energy suppliers which offers a 3.9p per unit rate at night - compared with 7.9p during the day.

The couple go to bed at about 2200 and then set their alarm clock to get up for different tasks.

'It mounts up'

Mrs Devine said she even rose at 0300 to put a chicken in the oven rather than cook it during the day when electricity prices are higher.

"I do feel knackered, but it'll be worth it when they cut the bill," she said.

Mr Devine told the BBC: "We had to pay £50 to put a meter in at a dual price rate.

"The rate is 3.9p to 7.9p - obviously you're saving yourself 4p on every unit you've used.

"I don't know how many units we use in a day but it's surprising how it mounts up."