Muang Mai market area: expensive?

[Konini]

I thought it was a bit high at first, but then forgot about it. It's always between 1,200 - 1,250 when we're here; water cooler and no aircon but ceiling and/or stand fan on 24 hours a day, laptop and/or tablet running from power about 18 hours a day, water heater sometimes in the shower (often just for the first 30 seconds or so, not saving money, just more comfortable but that will change next month when it starts to get chilly) and TV maybe an hour a day if at all during the week, not turned on at all weekends, lots of tea and coffee every day, cooking/baking pretty much every day and washing and ironing once a week or so. Actually, now that I've listed all of that that for about 500 a month, the do fridges seem expensive.

Does anyone know how I can check this out? We're in Rimping Condo's renting directly from the building owners and I have no doubt at all that they are totally honest and not pulling a fast one like charging pro rata for the electricity for lifts, pool, gym and lighting in communal area's (unlike somewhere we've lived previously).

[beau thai]

I thought it was a bit high at first, but then forgot about it. It's always between 1,200 - 1,250 when we're here; water cooler and no aircon but ceiling and/or stand fan on 24 hours a day, laptop and/or tablet running from power about 18 hours a day, water heater sometimes in the shower (often just for the first 30 seconds or so, not saving money, just more comfortable but that will change next month when it starts to get chilly) and TV maybe an hour a day if at all during the week, not turned on at all weekends, lots of tea and coffee every day, cooking/baking pretty much every day and washing and ironing once a week or so. Actually, now that I've listed all of that that for about 500 a month, the do fridges seem expensive.

Does anyone know how I can check this out? We're in Rimping Condo's renting directly from the building owners and I have no doubt at all that they are totally honest and not pulling a fast one like charging pro rata for the electricity for lifts, pool, gym and lighting in communal area's (unlike somewhere we've lived previously).

I guess the first step is to check the meter reading - and the unit cost to be sure you are on the government scheme, but that is so obvious you will have done that already.

For the usage you describe, with no aircon, unless the water cooler is power hungry, your bill seems way too high. I wonder if the fridges are over heating? Do they have plenty of room for air to circulate? Do they get (too) hot on top?? You said they are modern so auto-defrost I expect, so no ice build up to hit the efficiency.

Maybe check bills with your neighbours although everyone has differing usage patterns.

Out of ideas now-sorry!

[masuk]

Masuk, i am perplexed by your comments about frozen food and power bills. Do ou mean that keeping a stock of food in the freezer is more expensive than keeping an empty freezer? I do not understand how the cost of song tiaw and restaurant food relates to the op either... care to clarify?

Certainly. I over-stocked on some occasions, and buying frozen goodies at TOPS and RIMPING was nice, but far from cheap.

It's more economical to buy fresh or eat out, the majority of times. As you suggest, it makes little difference to the operating costs once goods are chilled or frozen.

I thought it was obvious; if the OP lives within a km or two of a market, it only costs around 20baht to get there. She may not have been aware of the cost of a song tiaw.

[stigvinck]

I believe freezers are cheaper to run full than empty - maybe we have an expert who can confirm?

I remember this question from a science class in high school...

it is true and not true.

A full freezer is more efficient because when you open the door there is less cold air that escapes and less hot air that goes inside. That is why my grandmother always filled up the empty spaces in her freezer with empty Tupperware containers.

But

If you look at it technically, and you never open the freezer, then an empty one is more efficient, because in a full one, there is a tiny bit of friction between the air flowing around from the cooling outlets and the materials inside and friction generates heat.

[northernjohn]

I thought it was a bit high at first, but then forgot about it. It's always between 1,200 - 1,250 when we're here; water cooler and no aircon but ceiling and/or stand fan on 24 hours a day, laptop and/or tablet running from power about 18 hours a day, water heater sometimes in the shower (often just for the first 30 seconds or so, not saving money, just more comfortable but that will change next month when it starts to get chilly) and TV maybe an hour a day if at all during the week, not turned on at all weekends, lots of tea and coffee every day, cooking/baking pretty much every day and washing and ironing once a week or so. Actually, now that I've listed all of that that for about 500 a month, the do fridges seem expensive.

Does anyone know how I can check this out? We're in Rimping Condo's renting directly from the building owners and I have no doubt at all that they are totally honest and not pulling a fast one like charging pro rata for the electricity for lifts, pool, gym and lighting in communal area's (unlike somewhere we've lived previously).

I looked in on them and the government rate was quoted to me. I don't think you are that high with the computer and the constant cooking plus the fan 24/7 If you are it is not a lot. The government separate from the power companies have some one they can send out to check your meter.

I recall the first time I came to Thailand I met a fellow who said he just used a fan and his power bill was less than 500 baht. I believe it was about 8 years ago when I first visited Chiang Mai. You do indeed have a good close location for Muang Mai market. Many of the others require a songthell. Yours is far more expensive a rent than Veerachai Court. It would depend on the OPs financial situation. Both are walking distances.