How to survive through load shedding

1. Fill a few 2L bottles with water and freeze them. When the power goes off, move 2 or 3 into your fridge and limit opening and closing the door. 

Leave the other frozen bottles in the deep freeze and only take them out once the others are down to about 25% ice. Swap them out for more frozen ones. This should keep your fridge cold enough to preserve your food for at least 8 hours. The ones in your deep freeze should stay frozen at least 12 hours. Remember, don’t open and close the doors unless entirely necessary! 

2. Keep your power bank charged up and ONLY use it when the power is off. If you know you’re in for a few hours down time in a day, put your phone on low power mode ASAP to preserve battery life. 

3. Invest in decent rechargeable camping lights from a place like Cape Union Mart. They last a few hours and are bright enough to read/play board games/shower by. 

4. A car phone charger is a necessity! 

5. Keep groceries in the pantry/fridge that don’t require cooking (if you have an electric stove/oven.) Tapas anyone? If you’re desperate, a little camping gas stove is a good idea for easy meals like scrambled egg, 2 min noodles etc. 

6. When the electricity is on, boil the kettle and fill a flask or two to use for babies bottles/tea/coffee. 

7. Plan outings for your scheduled load shedding time. During the day it’s not so bad, but at night it can get real depressing sitting in the dark night after night. A movie, a date night, a meal out, late night Christmas shopping, hanging with friends on a different schedule to you - all do wonders at boosting your mood and reducing the effect load shedding actually has on you. Don’t be scared to call on your community! 

8. If it’s within your budget, look at getting an inverter system, or generator. Even the most basic system will give you a few hours of the minimum: lights, chargers, tv maybe a fan. 

I know it sucks, and is frustrating and makes you shake your head and swear and rage. But try remember the many wonderful things that you do have as a result of living in SA. And enjoy all the candle lit bubble baths you want!