Brightening the Holidays: Our Journey to More Affordable Electricity in Portugal

👋 Good morning friends! The countdown is officially on—Christmas is just 18 days away! Whether you’re fully decked out in holiday cheer or still wondering how it snuck up so fast (guilty), it’s the season to embrace the chaos and the charm.

What’s been the highlight of your holiday season so far? Is it discovering new and quirky Portuguese traditions, or just surviving the madness with a glass of wine in hand? Whatever it is, I’d love to hear—hit reply and let me know!

Also, a shameless festive request: if you enjoy this newsletter, share it with a friend, please. It’s basically the digital equivalent of leaving cookies out for Santa. 🎁

What you can expect to bite into today:

🍾 The Ultimate Wine Bottle Hack (cheap wine, fine taste—you’re welcome)

⚡How We Got Some Light On Electricity in Portugal (because paying less feels festive)

🎄A Christmas Hustle Worth Getting Jingling About (turn clutter into cash)

Let’s dive in, shall we?

No pain no gain? Not with this natural pain relief remedy. More details down below.

CHRISTMAS HUSTLE IDEAS

Rent-A-Christmas: Deck the Halls Without Losing Your Sanity

Let’s be honest guys: Christmas decorations are a joy to unpack but an absolute nightmare to store.

If you’re living in an apartment or house without a garage (like most places), space is probably tighter than Santa squeezing down a Portuguese chimney, and you’ve likely cursed your way through trying to jam another garland into a closet already crammed with your “just in case” summer gear.

Solution: The Holiday Hustle of Your Closet Dreams

So, here’s the idea: Rent out your Christmas themes! If you’ve got a stockpile of decorations from years of seasonal enthusiasm (or a minor shopping addiction—no judgment), why not put them to work?

One year, rock your Scandi-chick minimalist vibe, and the next you can dive headfirst into tinsel and blinking lights. Meanwhile, the themes you’re not using can make someone else’s home merry and bright—for a fee.

For fellow expats and locals on the receiving end, this idea is genius. It saves you from forking out a fortune on decorations every year the latest shiny baubles hit the shelves, and it spares you the embarrassment of explaining why your balcony still looks like an exploding North Pole in April.

Why It Works

Renting decorations is sustainable, space-saving, and, dare I say, festive hustling at its finest.

Whether it’s the adorable Christmas goats with oversized eyes that you bought a few too many of last year or the outlandish inflatable snow globe you can’t find space for this year, renting decorations is the holiday hustle you didn’t know you needed.

Less clutter, more cash. So, this year, make your decorations work harder than your credit card did when you bought them, and add an extra jingle to your pocket while you keep your sanity intact.

QUICK TIPS 🗲

How to Spot Fine Wine Dirt Cheap 🍷

Now, this might not be the most scientifically proven hack I’ll ever share with you, my dear reader, but after three years in Portugal—a country where wine is practically cheaper than water—it’s a hack I swear by. And it’s never let me down.

The Secret’s in the Bottom

Not sure if that extra €5 for the “premium” bottle is worth it? I have a little trick up my sleeve: the deeper the hole at the bottom of the bottle, the better the wine.

Yep, you heard me. That little indent at the base—technically called a “punt” but who needs formalities—is my unofficial, unscientific quality detector. Take Conde de Arraiolos, for example. At just €2.99 when it’s on special at Pingo Doce, this one is one of my all-time favorite reds. And guess what? Its bottom is satisfyingly deep.

Flat Bottom, Flat Taste?

Call it superstition, call it a life hack, but I swear the wines with flat bottoms never taste as good. I’m not saying flat-bottomed bottles always disappoint, but let’s just say my taste buds and I have noticed a pattern. And honestly, please don’t fact-check this and ruin the magic for me. Let me live in my happy little wine-punting bubble.

Punt Yourself to Wine Nirvana

So, next time you’re cruising the wine aisle, skip the pretty labels and go straight for the base. If you spot me crouched in the corner at Pingo Doce, giving bottles a bottom check, just nod knowingly and grab the deepest punt you can find.

Cheers to great wine and (maybe next time) even better hacks! 🍷

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HUSTLE SPOTLIGHT

Do You Understand Your Electricity Bill? Neither Did We.

Do you look at your electricity bill and think, “Not even Einstein would know what’s going on here”? Welcome to the club. Moving to Portugal taught me there’s more to electricity here than just flipping a switch. After some painful (and expensive) lessons, I’m here to share what we learned so you don’t have to stumble through it yourself.

Shocking Surprises: What You Need to Know About Electricity in Portugal

We were still basking in the glow of our “honeymoon” phase after arriving in Portugal, singing lofty praises of everything that stood in stark contrast to life in South Africa. Opposites seemed inherently good back then, and we were head over heels for our new home, blissfully blind to its quirks—like its electricity billing system.

The First Stab at Our Honeymoon Bubble

Our first Christmas in Portugal was celebrated with my brother and his wife. My sister-in-law, visiting from Belgium, was curious about the nitty-gritty of life here and casually asked if we were paying a monthly fixed fee or the actual meter reading. Weird question, I thought. Of course, we were paying for what we used—what else?

Fast forward a year, and that innocent question came back to haunt us in the form of a €700 bill from our electricity provider, EDP.

Breaking Down the €700 Surprise

By our second Christmas, we received an unwelcome “gift” from our electricity provider: a €700 bill for the year. It felt like Santa came down the chimney and helped himself to our presents instead.

Here’s what happened: we’d unknowingly signed up for an average monthly payment plan. This plan estimates your usage and charges a fixed monthly fee. At the end of the year, the provider reconciles your actual consumption with what you paid. If you’ve used less, you get a refund; if you’ve used more (as we had), you're hit with the difference.

For context, that €700 was the equivalent of 14,000 South African Rand—a sum that had once covered our monthly rent back home. While this payment method works for some, especially if your budget aligns with a year-end reconciliation, it’s a painful surprise if you’re unprepared.

Fixed Payments vs. Actual Readings: What We Learned

We quickly switched to a “pay-as-you-use” plan based on actual readings. Problem solved? Not quite. The following month—a bitterly cold January—our bill came in at €250. Portugal’s winters are no joke, and neither are the electricity costs.

Then we discovered Portugal’s competitive electricity market. Unlike South Africa’s monopoly, Portugal let’s you shop around for better rates. We switched to Gold Energy, and even during peak winter months, our bill never exceeded €150.

Pro Tip: Switching providers is seamless—your lights won’t even flicker. They handle everything via telephone, and yes, someone will help you in English.

Hidden Costs: The Service Package

Just when we thought we’d left EDP behind, they found another way to surprise us: an additional monthly charge for a “service” package we’d unknowingly signed up for. Even after switching providers, they insisted we owed them payments.

A quick fix? A polite, registered letter both in English and translated into Portuguese, explaining that as clueless foreigners, we hadn’t fully understood the contract terms. We played the “estrangeiro” card, and a week later, they canceled the service agreement—no refunds, though.

Understanding Tariffs: Simple vs. Bi-Hourly Plans

Electricity in Portugal come in a few flavors. Here’s the gist:

Time Periods You Should Know:

• Off-Peak (Vazio): Nights, weekends, and public holidays.

• Peak (Ponta): Daytime and evenings.

• Mid-Peak (Cheias): Moderately priced times, just outside peak hours.

Optimizing Your Power Supply

Another factor to consider is your contracted power supply (measured in kVA). Lower kVA means lower costs, but it can cause outages if overburdened. Higher kVA avoids trips but increases your bill. Find the balance that works for your household.

Pro Tip: Use ERSE’s online tools (Portugal’s energy regulator) to compare tariffs and suppliers based on your consumption habits.

Energy-Efficiency Tips (and a Bonus Link!)

Want to lower your bills further? Small changes make a big difference:

• Use energy-efficient appliances.

• Schedule high-energy activities (like laundry) during off-peak hours.

• Insulate your home to reduce heating costs.

For more tips, check out my earlier article on energy efficiency here.

To Sum It Up

Electricity in Portugal taught us two things: don’t assume you understand the system, and always question what you’re paying for. Here’s a quick recap to save you from repeating our mistakes:

1. Understand your plan: Fixed billing vs. actual consumption.

2. Compare providers: Gold Energy, Iberdrola, and Galp are great options.

3. Check your kVA: Adjust contracted power to fit your needs.

4. Scrutinize your bills: Look for hidden fees.

Our Takeaway

Moving to Portugal was a dream come true, but understanding the electricity system felt like solving a Rubik's Cube blindfolded. The good news? It’s manageable once you know the basics.

So, if you’re feeling lost in the billing jungle, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Together, we can shed some light (pun fully intended) on navigating electricity in Portugal.

LOST IN LINGO

How to Make A Complaint (For When You Call the Electricity Provider After Reading Today’s Newsletter)

Feeling ready to tackle a phone call in Portuguese? Portuguese Lab has you covered with a fantastic video on how to make a complaint over the phone. It’s a bit advanced, but don’t let that stop you—grab the transcript available here and follow along.

Sentence of the week ✏️

Pá... não sei o que te diga

Literal translation: Well... I don't know what to tell you.

Explanation:
Seriously, I’ve got nothing, folks. It’s been a long week, and this whole “having a job” thing is still new to me. Let’s call it a work in progress—I’ll come up with something brilliant next week. Probably.

And, if your Portuguese spelling has Santa shaking his head, don’t worry—he’s starting with an English intervention first.

Thanks for reading! 💌 

Hustle on!

Angelique🧞‍♀️

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