Urns, much like a coffe pot, have internal thermostats which cycle on 100% to bring the water up to temp, then, based on ambient temperature, cycle say 20 – 60% to hold temp & not let it boil over. Your math assumed 100% which is not the case. Regardless, let’s assume 50% over several hours which would still be around $0.15 – still much higher than a microwave.

We to have gone to an electric kettle which comes up to a boil in 2-3 mins & shuts itself off, staying hot enough for about an hour allowing the family to mix their drinks, etc for for the morning. Probably on par with the microwave or a penny or two more.

Here’s a thought if you don’t care for them: don’t read em!

For a few cups an electric kettle is ideal, esp as you can switch it on the boil and forget about it as it switches itself off. BUT you do need to top up the water if you want more than ~8 cups so if there is not a sink in the room…
Combining the urn with a timer switch would save it from being on all night. I suppose saving electricity for the environment is still worth doing.

Another example – I have friends who make an effort to buy sodas for home consumption only on sale (or not buying them at all), but then thinking nothing of getting one every day for lunch at the fast food counter for over a dollar each.

To #13 Jim – your point would be more valuable if it was an everyday expense but the writer clearly states “Here is a practice that my mother does when the extended family is over for the weekend” so you probably at best looking at a 12 to 24 days during a year; cost savings probably much less than $5 per year.

Each of us does hundreds of little actions every day that impact our resources. It is interesting to one time make the effort to figure out which is the cheapest way, then make it a habit to do it the cheap way. For example, there are two routes I can take to the major city near me. It’s worth it to measure the mileage, and then forever on drive the shorter of the two routes. I figure each action out one time then never think about it again.
As previous posters said, the cumulative impact of these small changes, over time, can add up to significant money over the course of a year.

For what it’s worth… I’m also not the type to use a crockpot unless I’ll be home all day.

On another note, is an electric kettle the same thing as a hot pot?

To those who think saving pennies is useless then please note that 31¢ vs 3¢ is 28¢ per day which adds up to $102 for a full year. $102 in a year is not trivial especially if you find a few things like this. Yes obviously bigger financial issues have more impact but that doesn’t mean that wasting $100 a year is a good idea now does it??

All of these saving pennies posts have been pretty useless. And if you go back & realize you’re doing some & not the others, it all balances out.

For example, I have been a loyal brand-name gasoline buyer forever, much to my spouse’s chagrin. But I figure the extra 10 cents/gallon pays for itself because I have tracked & really do get better mileage with the better gasoline. [No need for anyone to explain to me it may all come out of the same tanker truck.]

The only way to really save money is to tackle the big stuff and costly bad habits. This nit picking is just a diversionary tactic IMO.

Sorry! :)

Just use whatever option is most convenient for you.

There has to be a better way to spend your time than worrying about the pennies your saving on something trivial like this.

I remember an episode of Good Eats years ago where Alton was using an electric kettle (for coffee?) so while not popular, they have been available for quite awhile.