use it wisely

I'm the sort of person who is very stingy careful with resources. We don't have our wifi on overnight or else we'd have to power all those flashing blue lights. If I'm buying a product (and let's face its that's not very often) I check that it doesn't have any unecessary use of electricity like a digital clock on it, and consider it's efficiency rating, the amount of packaging it comes with, etc etc etc.
So imagine my horror the other day when I discovered that the kettle somehow malfunctioned and was running its element for the whole night. Instead of clicking off when replaced on its base having done its usual two minutes intense heating job, it remained boiling water (til that ran dry) for a continuous 9 or so hours, and when I picked it up in the morning (thankfully it was the holidays and I unusually fancied a morning brew), it was hot hot hot. Just how much electricity that will have used I can't begin to imagine. Of course I'm trying to reframe it positively - it could have resulted in a very damaging fire and didn't, so that's good. And there's nothing I can do about it - it's already happened so I have to let it go. All I can do is try to ensure it doesn't happen again. I don't know if it means buying a new kettle. For now I'm turning it off at the socket after use, just in case.
I want to call the electricity company and protest "but I didn't want to use it!" but of course it doesn't work like that. I know of folk who buy stuff thinking they want it only then don't really use it much at all - we can't take things back to the shop just cos we realise we were hasty in our purchasing. And we can't call up the water company and complain that we didn't mean to leave the tap running all day. I already nag my kids plenty about not wasting things. It's a fine balance as I want them to be careful too, and would like them to check they have turned things off properly, but I also want them to enjoy life without a whining mum forever in their ear.
And so I try and talk about (and of course demonstrate) love with them far more than I talk about resources. Cos love can never be wasted, or run out, or have to be paid or accounted for. I hope today that you use up way more love than you use electricity :D
...
how many times do you think I'm going to tip cold water onto a teabag before I get the hang of turning the kettle on at the wall each time...

Also, I've looked up average costs and it probably only cost £6.75 for my kettle to be on overnight. I took a while to work out if it was actually £67.50 as that was nearer what I expected, but no it's only apparently 2.5p to boil a kettle. I don't feel so bad now.