To not allow the tumble drier to be used apart from emergencies

some of the newer ones are not safe to use either, as they can catch fire, so we were very careful indeed and did some research before we bought a new one.

I have never had one, except when my mum lent me hers . I kept it for emergencies, eg sports kit needed next day after return from cub camp. When it packed up, I did not replace it. The only thing I miss it for is drying towels as it keeps them soft.

Yes, I think you were being unreasonable as the person was leaving next day.

Modern tumble driers with a AAA rating are economical to use Jalima, but a 40 year old rarely used and probably just as rarely serviced would be neither economical, nor safe to use.

Congratulations on having a tumble drier last 40 years.
But it will not be very energy efficient, unlike the new ones.

and DH has not grumbled; as he is the one who keeps an eye on energy use it can't have used too much.

shh please don't tell anyone but I used the tumble dryer today - it's been raining and I needed to dry stuff and I also dislike using towels that are hard from drying on the line.

Now my house guest is going to do some washing so I can't tell her not to use it can I?

It is a new one and A rated

A tumble dryer doesn’t use loads of electricity but I use mine with care. I never put wet washing in straight from the washing machine, I finish it off in the tumble dryer to avoid ironing or soften items dried indoors. Apart from that, emergencies only.
I could easily live without mine.

I brought up 3 children without a tumble drier, it was not easy. I remember radiators covered in Terry nappies, towels, school shirts, bed sheets, etc etc. I bought my first tumble drier about 15 years ago, replaced it with a more efficient model recently. I love it. Part of the reason I didn't have one earlier, was I feared the additional electricity bill and I confess to having somehow stupidly believed it wasn't an essential item.
It so is. I haven't used it at all during the hot weather spell but was so thankful to be able to dry the bedding and towels I washed yesterday. I don't think it's affected our bills significantly either.
OP, I'd be inclined to get rid of your tumble drier. As BlueBelle says, a lot of house fires are started because of faults in tumble driers. Plus, if you never use it - why keep it taking up space you could use for something more useful.

I use a tumble dryer on rainy days and have never noticed my bills to be very different and I really can’t see what problem a one off would be apart from the fact at 40 years old it’s probably unsafe to use if the lad was leaving the next day he would need his items to be dry for packing so yes I think you were being unreasonable

A lot of house fires start with tumble dryers

I think you were completely unreasonable ..not for using the tumbler frugally but in the way you handled it and the way you spoke to the young house guest but I'm only reading what you wrote and could be reading it in the wrong way. However , now you feel bad about it so I think I read it in the right way.
Your 40 year old tumbler probably uses more electric than newer ones . Mine uses about a penny a day if i use it every day .

I have one for 'emergency' use. I rarely use it but have on occasions used it for drying bedding in case of accidents or for the odd times when I wash the dgc clothes and want to make sure things are dry before packing them up. And I use it to dry down filled coats.

I think I would avoid anything that would make a guest feel “at fault” and unwelcome. Even if I had to grit my teeth very hard.
I was taught never to correct guests and make them feel uncomfortable. A lodger yes, but someone I’d welcomed in, no.

If you very rarely, if ever, use it, what's the point of having it? And what kind of "emergency" would qualify for using it?
Had you mentioned to your young house guest that although their was a tumble drier, it wasn't to be used? If not, I can understand why he used it.

I can see where you are coming from. When you are used to saving it's hard to feel others are being needlessly extravagant. Congratulations on having a tumble drier last 40 years. The younger generation in general just don't see it the way we do. Easy come easy go. He may well have been brought up to freely use a tumble dryer. Guess it depends how you said it whether he sees it as mean or not. Maybe you could explain in a kindly way why you felt he shouldn't use it. He may well then understand where you were coming from.

I would say yes you are, if your tumble dryer was not so old!

I think it’s probably a bit risky to use it, unless it’s been checked recently.

I can’t see much harm in using one, I use it for towels all year round, but my daughter never uses hers.
Bearing in mind all the problems with tumble dryers I would just get rid of it, it’s only taking up room.