Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Chatting => Chatting on the Plot => Topic started by: Growster... on September 03, 2021, 06:42
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Sorry to be the harbinger of doom, but I've just checked next year's projected bill, and it's 45% up on last year's..:0(
Another check on the comparison site confirmed this and it's still the cheapest around (EDF), and the only 'light at the end of the tunnel', is that the new charges are based on the awful winter and spring we had, as well as the saddest summer I can remember, so the following year may show a reduction! Great.
This is definitely not good for everyone here, and I'm exploring fixed rates now, as they seem to be the better of all the evils chucked at us these days. It appears that one needs to move fast to get these new rates too...
Anybody else in the same boat?
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We've got three months till our deal comes to an end. Will start looking soon. Not looking forward to it.
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I had an email from my provider yesterday first line "your energy bill is increasing" .. have to admit I closed it without reading as I'm just so sick of the hyper inflation on basic essentials, gas/electricity/water/council tax have all spiralled out of control lately. I may swap provider but there's always a smart meter catch and I don't want one!
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This is definitely not good for everyone here, and I'm exploring fixed rates now, as they seem to be the better of all the evils chucked at us these days. It appears that one needs to move fast to get these new rates too...
Anybody else in the same boat?
EDF pfft! I changed to a cheaper/fixed rate deal a good few months ago, when Mr Moneysavingexpert, warned about the coming price rises on his TV prog.... He's always worth a watch (or search his site) IMO.....
I love my smart meter Lardman, cos it means I don't have to check that their 'guestimates' match what the meter is actually showing.
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We use Shell as the previous householders had them for gas and electricity so we just continued with them for the time being and got a fixed rate deal. I then found out the gas meter isn't sending the readings like the electric, so I contacted them and a chap came out and said we need an updated meter but unfortunately they're not doing them until later in the year. Anyhow, they currently estimate my gas as I don't know where the meter is to send the readings to them! They recently emailed me to say my monthly DD is being increased by quite a lot due to our usage for both being over the average reading. :mad: :mad: :mad: I think I know why the electric was higher which has been sorted now but must contact them re- our gas because they haven't had any actual readings on which to base their facts. :wacko:
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We have everything (including our three mobile phones) with the exception of our broadband with Utility Warehouse and we're saving a decent amount on our bills.
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GG it's nothing unusual for gas meters not to be smart and from experience I read mine monthly the day before the DD goes out. I'd rather have an online account where I can send my meter readings monthly if the technology fails than be faced with estimates.
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We've been in an argument with Scottish Power over our gas meter for three years. It's never worked. We've been to the Gas Ombudsman who has told them to fix it. Still nothing. They asked us yesterday for a meter reading and we worded a very polite E-mail telling/reminding them that it doesn't work. Haven't heard back yet from them. The electricity smart meter works perfectly.
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We have everything (including our three mobile phones) with the exception of our broadband with Utility Warehouse and we're saving a decent amount on our bills.
Same here except broadband is included.
If your gas/electric direct debit has gone up due to higher usage beecause of the chain yanking weather the SE has endured this year, it will probably go down after next year. I think it happened once with me after a cold winter. The weather this year has been freakish with many parts of the UK getting on the poor end of locked in weather patterns, and by the theory of regression to the mean, next year should be nearer normal along with utility bills. My gas and electricity consumption will have been higher than normal over the last 18 months due to working from home throughout COVID.
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Hello my mother has a payment meter that I top up once a week at the local shop with a key ,have had the gas board round to check that the appliances are working correctly,we haven't any mains gas in my local village jezza
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Firing up the spreadsheet this week - there must be a better deal out there somewhere...
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Wasn't the cap lifted 12% lately ? I doubt you'll find anything available without that increase. I note my lot have increased the fuel costs only slightly but the standing charges a whole heap, so there's very little I can do as a consumer to reduce the costs.
Despite being as energy efficient as it is possible to be working from home, my fuel bill has increase 4 fold over the last 15 years, it is now my single biggest monthly expense.
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Don’t worry about the “Smart meter” Lardman I had one installed 2 years ago by OVO and it still doesn’t work properly. I have to send monthly manual gas readings using the new meter which is harder to read than the old non smart version!!! It’s warm today but every year I have the debate with my wife about when to turn on the heating. Seems to be a key battle with most couples I reckon. :ohmy:
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We had a smartmeter installed when we went over to EDF for a year, and immediately started to get real readings as the old clock was so wrong! Our Econ 7 readings went well into the daytime, so we were paying through the nose at night time!
I've just had an email from EDF to suggest that a three-year fix could be the answer, but being a nerd, I'll check out the others of course.
I'm amazed that the awful BBC etc., haven't made this a public issue, but there again, the disgraceful rises don't apply to people on inflated wages.
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Don’t worry about the “Smart meter” Lardman I had one installed 2 years ago by OVO and it still doesn’t work properly. I have to send monthly manual gas readings using the new meter which is harder to read than the old non smart version!!!
Hello fellow sufferer. Glad to know that it's nothing specific to me on the part of OVO. But I hear that people with other companies also have this problem.
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Don’t worry about the “Smart meter” Lardman I had one installed 2 years ago by OVO and it still doesn’t work properly.
Not working is only one of my concerns - I have far more and deeper concerns about it actually working.
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I think the issue with smart meters is the government obliged suppliers to install them once that is done they aren’t really that bothered from my experience. Companies prioritise installation of new meters over ensuring existing ones are actually working correctly. Probably down to not having an adequate number of appropriately trained staff.
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Martin Lewis from Money Saving Expert has been urging people who are on variable rates to check and fix now, as rates are indeed due to shoot up imminently. Even if the fix isn't much less than your current variable rate, you'll save into the future when variable rates go up. But yes, it's not cheap anywhere!
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Good advice Yorkie, thank you!
I was actually working out what to do when you posted this, looking at various comparison sites, poking around the 'maze' etc., and yet another check (the seven hundredth) with EDF seems to have got me the best deal - fixed for two years at any rate!
The new Ofgem 'cap' is confusing to say the least, and not easy to understand for sad nerds like me and my spreadsheet even, so goodness knows how many pleasant citizens are being ripped off without knowing how or why!
Anyway, thanks again! A glass of red here to celebrate!
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We've had problems for the last two years with Scottish Power and our gas meter and finally after a second intervention from the Ombudsman we have a result. We have received a refund of all the 'estimated' bills back into our bank account and within the next six weeks our gas 'smart meter' will be activated. All bills will then be based on that and a back payment for the last two years will be requested based on the first reading taken. We have put the amount refunded into a savings account we have so we won't be scrabbling around to try and pay the bill.
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Think I'll do that with Shell - thanks.
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Just read that Bulb are hiking their prices too.
They're all at it now!
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I moved from EDF back to Scottish Power this afternoon on a 3 year fixed so you can almost guarantee that rates will now drop like a stone :nowink:
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I moved from EDF back to Scottish Power this afternoon on a 3 year fixed so you can almost guarantee that rates will now drop like a stone :nowink:
Sounds about right ::)
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I moved from EDF back to Scottish Power this afternoon on a 3 year fixed so you can almost guarantee that rates will now drop like a stone :nowink:
Sounds about right ::)
I did another check online and saw the deal with SP, and then started the whole process again with EDF (current (?) supplier).
They'd 'recommended' a 3 year Fix, but the 2 Year Fix was cheaper, so I went for that.
Who knows, we may have 1,000,000,000,000 more windmills by the time it comes to change again!
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With the quidco cashback the 3 year worked out at a better price. The monthly DD is 50% more than my usage so that will need to be resolved swiftly (I don't like monthly DD for that very reason) - I'm not a family of 4 and actual usage is always lower than what the system estimates.
I figured now was probably the last chance to fix at an overpriced rate rather than an extortionate one later on but I also thought the same about mortgage rates in 2007 ::) :lol: so what do I know.
All those EV's we're going to be driving will need charging and HMRC will want to recover the lost fuel duty at the pumps at some point.
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I've just switched Mum from her Coop Octopus rate to a 2 year fixed with Sainsburys - there wasn't much to choose from, so hopefully the switch will go smoothly. Steered clear of the very cheap suppliers, as I'm not sure which ones are strong enough to survive ...
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"Steered clear of the very cheap suppliers, as I'm not sure which ones are strong enough to survive ..."
You get 'looked after' by the government if that happens, but I guess a lot of these shenanigans are down to the COP chats to go on soon, and gas wholesale costs are getting in on the act as well. I'm afraid that the great energy rip-off is going to be headlines for some time to come.
I also don't think anyone really knows what's going on at the moment - all I know is that I've just had a hike of £59.00 per month, so that's Mrs Growster's new hat gone out of the window..:0(
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No doubt the French will be thinking about turning off the supply cable under the channel, because we chose to be more friendly with America and Australia :lol: :lol:
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Stig had a good deal with one of the small providers, he just text me to say that they've gone bust :(
Worrying times - considering that I'm with a small 'greener' company and a couple of hundred in credit towards the winter bills :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy:
Mine (Green) has gone bust as well, according to MSE *sigh* at least it says that they can't keep any credit we've built up....
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Worrying times - considering that I'm with a small 'greener' company and a couple of hundred in credit towards the winter bills :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy:
Last thing I heard on this was the big 6 were taking on the customers and the Government (aka taxpayers) were subsiding it- Not sure what will happen with the credit on the bill but I image it would be transferred so you should be alright. A huge increase in price and the loss of account credit would really sting.
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Just done ours, a hike of £39.00 a month. Could have been worse I suppose.
If anyone tells me how easy it is to switch I will stake them out over an ants nest.
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If your supplier goes bust, the advice is to stay put and wait to be transferred - because your credit (or debt!) will transfer with you. But your tariff doesn't transfer so you are likely to be on a higher tariff once moved. The advice is to ask the new supplier to ensure that you are on its best rate, which may improve matters somewhat. Plus also check the whole of market comparison sites (e.g. Money Saving Expert's Energy Club) to see if you could save with a tariff on another of the bigger suppliers.
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Worrying times - considering that I'm with a small 'greener' company and a couple of hundred in credit towards the winter bills :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy:
If your supplier goes bust, the advice is to stay put and wait to be transferred - because your credit (or debt!) will transfer with you. But your tariff doesn't transfer so you are likely to be on a higher tariff once moved. The advice is to ask the new supplier to ensure that you are on its best rate, which may improve matters somewhat.
Green customers are being tranferred to EDF. That's who I left in June/July because their best rate was a lot more expensive than other providers, plus despite them installing my smart meter, the readings never showed on their site., whereas it did on Green's :wacko:
Oh well looks like I may be trying to find a better supplier again, shortly ::)
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The EDF usage definitely isn't easy to get to, but possible, Mum...
Login to your acc, go to 'Account activity', then click 'My energy graph'.
You'll finish up with a download of a CSV file if you scroll down to the link, but this is just a non-usable picture of your usage and costs.
After that, there are ways to convert CSV files to Excel, or what I do, Chrome Sheets, but for me to describe how isn't the quickest way to explain - you will, however, get to a proper spreadsheet, which you can use as you want, but they certainly don't make it easy, that's for sure!
If you use Chrome, then I'll try and take you through the process, but we'll need a whole evening, and a bottle of red each to compensate..;0)
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Holding my breath over gas prices after the winter. One thought? has anyone ventured into the exotic realm of heat pumps? We have ducted warm air driven by gas at present and I’m wondering whether I should be looking at “Air to Air Heat pumps”.
Probably not save money at present but I wonder whether it could be a way to guard against future price rises. HH
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Probably not save money at present but I wonder whether it could be a way to guard against future price rises.
My understanding (and it's been a few years since I looked) that from domestic use it would take decades to reach a ROI even with significant increases in running costs of a modern conventional heating systems. If all else fails jumpers are cheap :lol:
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I have the jumpers ready for action. :D
My thought was whether gas central heating will be banned outright at some point. I know it’s banned in new builds from 2025 which is an ominous portent. (I don’t want any protesters glueing themselves to my drive)
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Green customers are being tranferred to EDF. That's who I left in June/July because their best rate was a lot more expensive than other providers, plus despite them installing my smart meter, the readings never showed on their site., whereas it did on Green's :wacko:
Oh well looks like I may be trying to find a better supplier again, shortly ::)
Well, just had an email which says I'm actually being tranferred to Shell. Shell??? I've had a look at their tarrifs, and unless we're going to get a better option through Ofgem, on their cheapest tarrif I'll still have to pay at least £35 more per month :(
wrt gas being phased out, they better start building some nuclear plants pdq, how else will we make enough power to run all vehicles and for home heating? The mini ones look to be a step forward...
https://www.rolls-royce.com/innovation/small-modular-reactors.aspx#section-training
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Yep I thought that you were going to Shell not EDF. It's not offered the best option for a few times I have looked. But then again - the options I've always liked best were with obscure companies who came and went after a brief stay in the gas and electricity business.
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Sadly, Mum, it's about here for us all!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-57398732
I see Damian's in on the act, but he won't remember meeting me I suspect...
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Did anybody else watch the latest Martin Lewis MSE programme?
The energy cap per unit for April is set to go up to a horrible price :ohmy: Hopefully by then our need for heating will have gone down, and prices will ease back over the summer. Looks as if the next year or so is going to be difficult for a lot of people.
I've been going round the house to see if there is anything I can do to stay warmer, while hopefully using less energy. The back door will need a heavy curtain, and some new draft strips for a start ::)
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This is awful for you Mum, and my heart goes out to anyone - and everyone - in this predicament!
I just cannot believe that this government has allowed such a hike in power costs to consumers, and this is not a 'political' statement, it's about plain disastrous, national economics, and a wasteful misuse of our own resources like coal etc. For goodness sake, we 'import' wood chips from the other side of the world to burn over here for power! All that diesel, CO2 etc just to appease the wrong sort of noisy lobby.
I agree about draught strips too, as we have a sort of carpet 'sausage' to lay aross the bottom of our front door, because the wind just shoots through when it's cold, but extra strips must be a way to help out!
'Cotton Traders', here I come - new jerseys already on the list...
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Just received an email from my energy supplier advising that my 2 year fixed rate dual fuel contract ends in February 2022, and what my renewal options are.
Gulp!!! :ohmy:
Whether choosing either a 1 year or two year contract the electricity price will nearly double (to around 30p per unit,) and the gas price nearly treble (to nearly 9p per unit.)
Might have to go on a variable tariff initially in the hope that prices come down, but at the moment the 'expert' forecasters don't seem to agree whether that will actually happen next year.
My only consolation is that I can at least afford to pay more - I feel so sorry for those who will really struggle, and then of course there are the knock on effects feeding through to higher goods prices from businesses.
Very worrying times, as if there wasn't already enough to worry about. :nowink:
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Martin Lewis' advice at present is to stay on the variable rate, as it will be cheaper than any fix that you can find. But bear in mind that the price cap, which limits how much can be charged per unit on the standard variable rate, will go up in April, based on the cost of fuel in more recent months.
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I'm not looking at anything financial until April, it's all absolutely horrific at the moment and sooner or later something will have to give.
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With 15 minutes of sunshine in the last nine days and little to come for the next week, the electircity bills will remain elevated for those of us in the SE I think.
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I’m with OVO and I think my fixed rate expires in early March, so my plan was switch to their variable rate until things settle.
They did email me a few weeks ago suggesting I increase my direct debit to save a bit more in advance as a precaution, as they were not sure how this would all play out (or words to that effect). I don’t mind as they give me interest anyway and a lot more than the bank would. It made sense to me. I run my account myself on an app on my phone, so can up my payments or refund myself whenever, plus I submit my meter readings monthly and get an up to date balance to keep tabs on it all - no smart meters here ;)
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I'm with OVO too New Shoot, so you now have an inkling of what to expect! ::)
They upped my DD too last month, but not by anything like as much as will be required when the contract expires whatever course of action I take, although I've already decided that allowing it to revert to the default variable tariff is the only sensible option for the time being.
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I’m also with OVO made a a mistake last year and only fixed for one year rather than my normal 2 year fix!! I was annoyed that despite having smart meters installed at their behest a couple of years ago it’s only the electric one that transmits so I have squint at the gas in a cupboard every month. This despite numerous requests to get it fixed. Clearly once they have installed the meter they meet the government requirements whether it works or not is irrelevant. Perhaps will have to try the default tariff in the spring. They used to talk about death and taxes being the only certainties in life looks like we have to add energy cost rises!!
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Green customers are being tranferred to EDF. That's who I left in June/July because their best rate was a lot more expensive than other providers, plus despite them installing my smart meter, the readings never showed on their site., whereas it did on Green's :wacko:
Oh well looks like I may be trying to find a better supplier again, shortly ::)....
Well, just had an email which says I'm actually being tranferred to Shell.
Well, Shell finally got my account up and running, properly, and is showing the £300+ credit I had with Green. I was beginning to think that it had got 'lost' :ohmy: It means I start my first year, with Shell, in a good position and bills won't be too bad. What happens after that - who knows?
Big plus, for me, they have managed to find both my elec and gas smart meter readings, something neither EDF (who installed them) or Green ever managed ::)
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I’ve been transferred to Shell from Pure Planet so fingers crossed I’m in credit by tge next time I get an email from them, but I don’t think so, although I’ve been paying £200 a month :ohmy: :wacko: since before Pure went to the wall as they said I was lagging behind!
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I too am with OVO and have smart meters for both electric and gas. They did away with the bonus for not contacting them for support earlier this year, which was about £7 per quarter. I was a bit miffed and so only renewed my fixed tariff for one year instead of two. The advice is to just go on the standard variable when it expires and rely on the cap as no company in their right mind would good any sort of deal. I pay around £1k p.a. sometimes less which is about par.
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I thought how lucky I was when I collected all the tree wood from hedge cutting days and I bought a couple of trees when a tree surgeon felled them near our house a couple of years ago the woods all stacked up tidy and ready to use all I have to do is cut up a winters supply before winter its lovely and warm and we only use the central heating a couple of hours in the morning and then in the afternoon before I light the wood burner
and as was said about importing wood I helped unload 50 pallets from a sea container the other day of dried kiln wood for our local wood company and that came from Lithuania He's already sold one container load we unloaded in August
a friend of ours had solar panels put on there roof when they built there new build together with some large batteries to store the electricity of the panels a bit of a costly outlay but then they sell the surplus electric to a company
another chap had 6 wind turbines put up in his field and he said its the best thing he ever done every time those blades go round its money in the bank he loves green energy although there was a lot of opposition to the turbines being built at the time that's all fell on deaf ears now
so it looks like the greener we become the more expensive its going to be still that's what we all want because we done away with all the coal fire power stations for a cleaner planet so its no good complaining about the cost or renewable energy
look on the bright side there's plenty of gas in Russia Mr Putin loves selling his Gas to us :D
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I'm with OVO too New Shoot, so you now have an inkling of what to expect! ::)
They upped my DD too last month, but not by anything like as much as will be required when the contract expires whatever course of action I take, although I've already decided that allowing it to revert to the default variable tariff is the only sensible option for the time being.
They suggested £10 per month to me, but I went a bit further. May as well lay in some credit while my fixed rate still applies and I am not paying an arm and a leg. I was guessing that new variable rate would be awful and fixed rate deals even worse ::)
I have to agree with Lardman that something has to give sooner or later. Prices are sky high world wide and that will end up curbing demand and then profits.
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When we moved house last year the previous occupants used Shell so I continued with them as their rates were cheaper than Scottish Power which I used to have. I went for a three year fixed rate and glad I did. What will happen after that I don't know so will just have to see when it comes.
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I thought how lucky I was when I collected all the tree wood from hedge cutting days and I bought a couple of trees when a tree surgeon felled them near our house a couple of years ago the woods all stacked up tidy and ready to use all I have to do is cut up a winters supply before winter its lovely and warm and we only use the central heating a couple of hours in the morning and then in the afternoon before I light the wood burner
and as was said about importing wood I helped unload 50 pallets from a sea container the other day of dried kiln wood for our local wood company and that came from Lithuania He's already sold one container load we unloaded in August
a friend of ours had solar panels put on there roof when they built there new build together with some large batteries to store the electricity of the panels a bit of a costly outlay but then they sell the surplus electric to a company
another chap had 6 wind turbines put up in his field and he said its the best thing he ever done every time those blades go round its money in the bank he loves green energy although there was a lot of opposition to the turbines being built at the time that's all fell on deaf ears now
so it looks like the greener we become the more expensive its going to be still that's what we all want because we done away with all the coal fire power stations for a cleaner planet so its no good complaining about the cost or renewable energy
look on the bright side there's plenty of gas in Russia Mr Putin loves selling his Gas to us :D
Renewable energy isn't expensive. Fossil fuels receive huge subsidies which distorts the market.
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Renewable energy isn't expensive. Fossil fuels receive huge subsidies which distorts the market.
Fossil fuel subsidies are mainly now for decommissioning, but renewables also receive huge start-up subsidies, towards the costs of building/installing, which one could argue also distorts the market.
https://www.electropages.com/blog/2021/09/uk-government-offering-265m-renewable-energy-subsidies
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yep Il remember that comment a178 when i get my next electricity Bill Il ask my supplier why has our electricity bills gone through the roof when your saving all those huge subsides from not using fossil fuels maybe I should take that up with the ombudsman who deals with all these price rises and I'm in no doubt our energy bills will be rising next year for some reason or another
its a fact that all fuel prices have increased somewhat over the past months for the home user and businesses even filling up your car has increased I used to put twenty quid in the car weekly and now I need to put £25 quid in now to get the same fuel as i paid for £20 quid and off cause road fuel drives up transport cost's that's passed on to the customer
it will be very interesting to see how renewable energy drives down the cost of our fuel bills that's one I can't wait to see :D :D
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I was annoyed that despite having smart meters installed at their behest a couple of years ago it’s only the electric one that transmits so I have squint at the gas in a cupboard every month. This despite numerous requests to get it fixed.
Had a similar "discussion" - then the electric one stopped working and we had another "discussion" with no outcome. Suddenly a couple of months ago the IT department got it's finger out, looked at the system and at the moment readings are going in from both meters. Might be worth you asking them again. Experienced programmer from elsewhere suggests that IT has been told to fix the meter reading system as a matter of priority. Mind other people with other firms say that gas meters aren't the most efficient when it comes to smart meters.
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it will be very interesting to see how renewable energy drives down the cost of our fuel bills that's one I can't wait to see :D :D
My plan promises 100% renewable energy but that is not the whole story. They sell you power from the grid and then buy credits for renewables.
https://www.ovoenergy.com/blog/green/what-are-regos-who-needs-them-and-why
The more renewable sources contributing to the available power in the grid, the less they need to call on power stations using fossil fuels. Whether that feeds through to cheaper electricity for the consumer remains to be seen. Wind turbines are the majority of the power generators here in the UK, so all those blustery stormy days we get are good for something after all :lol:
Gas is a different matter and as we use a lot of it as a nation, worldwide price hikes hit us hard.
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Did anyone else watch Martin Lewis on MSE on Thursday? Frightening how much our bills will be going up to in the Spring :ohmy: :ohmy:
Unless the Gov do something help, a lot of people are going to be choosing between eating and heating.
My daughter's deal runs out shortly and the new 'best-offer' plan she has been offered by her supplier, would have her paying very nearly £250 a month :( That is over twice what she has been paying for the last 2 years ...
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It is truly scary. You'll have seen this on the show, doubtless, but I think Martin's current advice is that for the time being, and for most people, it's still better to go onto the variable price cap rather than a new fix when a tariff ends.
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You think we private individuals have problems? Think of your local village hall, church hall, other community meeting point, the local shop, the local café, local small traders - none of these have a price cap nor does any business.
There will be an impact and where you go and what you do in the very near future.
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Compounding effect of inflation and price rises, this year is going to be absolutely brutal for many :( and not just for energy,
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Plus the National Insurance hike and income tax changes. Grim all round.
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The 'likes' above are the opposite of course!
I'm not that keen on the 'heating versus eating' meme being punted around by the press and the BBC etc., as I would hazard a guess that if one also considers the huge mobile phone, the Sky subsriptions, two cars per family, takeaway food etc., even fags., which are all looked on as 'necessities' by some, then it becomes a matter of priorities, of which cooking and eating at home should be up there with heating, as definite 'firsts'!
Sounds a bit post-WW2 I know, but millions of families certainly kept to all those principles then! They just had to!
Our electricity bill has gone through the roof, as have coal bills at around £150 per month now, so it's down to extra jerseys and big fat soups to equate the balance! The soup works out at around 50p per meal for two, (OK, yes we chuck in a lot of leeks from the garden), and surely nobody has to be a Delia Smith to make that!
Family pressures are such that all the 'extras' above are multiplied with so many more children coming along, and of course, they must come first, but there has to come a time when there's a realisation that we're all in this together! Had the covids not appeared, it would be a different story I suppose, but there'll always be another moan on the horizon!
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The 'likes' above are the opposite of course!
I'm not that keen on the 'heating versus eating' meme being punted around by the press and the BBC etc., as I would hazard a guess that if one also considers the huge mobile phone, the Sky subsriptions, two cars per family, takeaway food etc., even fags., which are all looked on as 'necessities' by some, then it becomes a matter of priorities, of which cooking and eating at home should be up there with heating, as definite 'firsts'!
Sounds a bit post-WW2 I know, but millions of families certainly kept to all those principles then! They just had to!
Our electricity bill has gone through the roof, as have coal bills at around £150 per month now, so it's down to extra jerseys and big fat soups to equate the balance! The soup works out at around 50p per meal for two, (OK, yes we chuck in a lot of leeks from the garden), and surely nobody has to be a Delia Smith to make that!
Family pressures are such that all the 'extras' above are multiplied with so many more children coming along, and of course, they must come first, but there has to come a time when there's a realisation that we're all in this together! Had the covids not appeared, it would be a different story I suppose, but there'll always be another moan on the horizon!
I think the stereotyping about peoples' expenditure and priorities, whilst accurate for some, is almost certainly outdated and insulting to many. Lives are completely different now to 80 years ago, and comparison does no favours. People work in different jobs, further away from home, with less public transport, and need to get to work. Those people who have to use food banks probably aren't also getting takeaways twice a week. The mobile phone has replaced the landline, and there is a necessity for a mechanism of communication with an increasingly digital-only world.
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Yes I fully understand that Yorkie, but this is truly a time when, whatever the situations with work, food, heating etc., something has to give, because whatever happens, we just cannot expect to be allowed to continue spending where it isn't absolutely necessary.
Yes, you're possibly right about comparisons with the forties, and I accept that, but surely responsibilities come with much awareness these days, it's been a rotten eighteen months for everyone.
I bet you've had to give up something when times were hard, I know we have, and still do, hence my wish that the media could actually put pressure on profligate spending by governments, and couple it with a few home truths to help citizens see sense!
Liker most British people our income (pensions), will reduce our standard of living even further this year, so you could maybe see why I get a bit hot under this (frayed) collar on occasions!
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It is going to be hard for everyone coming out of this pandemic and being on a fixed and low income puts you in a more vulnerable position than most. Even if you work and can earn more in some way, you are looking at price hikes to run your home that will eat that up as fast as you get it and if petrol and diesel prices stay high, increased travelling costs to get to you to that work. I do think it is a bit naive though to say there is no link between spending habits and your perception of how well off you are.
If you need a food bank, then thank goodness they are there to catch you and hand that help to you. They do amazing work and people are usually more than happy to donate to help them. Fact is we are also one of the heaviest nations in the world and are also in the grip of an obesity crisis, just to add to all the others we have. It is not a palatable fact for the media to publicise to us all, so they don’t or shy away from the subject, but a calm cool look is badly needed.
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We have a food bank right in the middle of the village, by our cottage hospital charity shop, and the two stores and the bakery opposite are fabulous at keeping it stocked up!
I don't know how many courgettes finish up there each summer, but when we had 'The Patch', they'd have got a load of leeks for certain! (They used to go to a church 'minimal food' service around March)!
I just hope that everyone on low incomes will be helped, not by a VAT chop, which means everyone gets a saving, rich or poor, but by targetting the most vulnerable.
This is crunch month now.
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Bargain offer today on my heating and electric just double my current costs if I fix for 3 years. Not likely was my thought. Just going to let it roll onto variable & see what emerges from government. Good luck all
HH
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Bargain offer today on my heating and electric just double my current costs if I fix for 3 years. Not likely was my thought. Just going to let it roll onto variable & see what emerges from government. Good luck all
HH
It's generally reckoned that your way is the better option now, although last year, everyone was told to look out for fixed deals!
Looking at historical costs, I noticed that several years ago, I was actually paying only £15.00 less than we are now, at £188.00 pm!
Weleft Bulb over a year ago, so that may have been a stroke of luck, but it's not always that way!
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which ever way we look our energy bills are set to rise one way or another and it will certainly hit those most vulnerable with fixed income and those who have jobs with a minimum wage
as I've said before your going to pay for going green for most things like it or not lets take agriculture the lets go green gang want farmers to turn there land back to nature sounds good and with the subsidies offered if I was farmer I would jump at it
so we get all this land back to nature forget about growing food crops this year has seen a massive increase in cereal prices a farmer friend of ours is over the moon with wheat prices he's getting at around £260 per tonne and that not including rape seed if you grow a rape crop you can be looking at double the price for that and that's to the merchant so what's he selling to his customer for like the bakeries and those who produce cooking oil any price increases will without doubt be passed onto the consumer
then I see those with an older car like myself will be looking at an increased road tax from April for running
an old car petrol or diesel >:( and off cause fuel being at an all time high transport cost will rise and the increase will again be put to joe public
so basically witch ever way we turn cost of living is set to rise for the consumer on everything without question watch this space ;)
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which ever way we look our energy bills are set to rise one way or another and it will certainly hit those most vulnerable with fixed income and those who have jobs with a minimum wage
I sincerely hope there is something along the lines of the Winter Fuel Payment on the way for pensioners and anyone else who qualifies. I suspect benefits for anyone working will be a sliding scale based on income.
You are right though, it is only one part of what is going to be a difficult year with costs on all sorts of goods and services going up. There was always going to be a price to pay for the disruption caused by the pandemic and we are seeing it hit around the world now :(
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I take your point about the winter fuel payments New Shoot and it its something of a bonus to look forward to but its quickly eaten up when we need to keep warm over these cold winter months
now looking back when I was a shop steward when it come to discussing our yearly wage rise i can always remember my boss saying after much discussion there's a pot of money on the table what's on offer you can have it any witch way you want it but that's our final offer take it or leave it and we came away all satisfied with what we got
I think the same principle applies today there's a pot of money that's divided up to the NHS pensions social benefits and others required so how you do you determine who gets what and what's the priority spending and lets face it .it must me earned through taxes and put in that pot before it can be given
and yes we can blame the rise in the cost of living to the covid thing but there are other things that equally drive things up ?
its my opinion for what its worth things are going to get worse before they get better and that will happen sooner rather than later
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I think the annual winter payment towards fuel has gone now unless you're on some sort of benefit.
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I think the annual winter payment towards fuel has gone now unless you're on some sort of benefit.
Pensioners should get it automatically.
You will get your Winter Fuel Payment automatically (you do not need to claim) if you’re eligible and either:
get the State Pension
get another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit)
https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment
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You're right, Mum, Mrs Growster and I get half each!
I'm wondering if the government will look at this for the fuel-hike issues, but there are so many variables, I guess it'll be a bit of a mish-mash anyway, and will be blasted in the press for ages...
...and ages...
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Because I've always paid for my fuel by monthly direct debit, I've used the WF Payment for Christmas extras - family presents and food, etc.
I suppose this year's payment will really have to go towards just keeping warm, if the cost does rise by as much as expected :ohmy:
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That happened last year Mum, and we ordered extra fuel at a decent price, then used most of it up because of the lousy spring and summer!
Hey-ho, they get you one way or another...
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I still think they (ie the government) should look at making an extra payment - along the lines of the WFP, but a special one triggered if prices do rocket up. It also needs to be an automatic payment so there is no messing around claiming, or feeling embarrassed about asking for it.
I know there is no money tree and everyone has their hand out, but people who have spent their whole lives contributing to society and are now on a fixed income are a priority to my mind. It is a false economy not to do it - people will end up in hospital because they have been living in too cold a house.
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I think they should drop the VAT off, if only as an emergency measure at the moment - instant, hassle free and unilateral.
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Having opted for what seemed to be the 'least worst' option after my fixed price contract ended in January, I am now on the Standard Variable Rate tariff which means I am now paying about 1/3 more for both gas and electricity.
This morning OVO have advised what the new rates will be from 1st April when Ofgem raise the price cap - compared with my fixed price contract electricity will almost double, gas more than double per unit. :ohmy:
The daily Standing Charge is also set to nearly double for electricity, with a smaller increase for gas.
These prices are only slightly lower than those I have been offered for fixed price contracts. :(
The government's Energy Bills Rebate scheme will be of some assistance to some, but many will no doubt feel very anxious, especially this coming winter.
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Shell emailed me last week, my DD will go up by about £60 pm.... 'gawd only knows' how high prices will go without Russian gas... which I presume will be what Mr Putin will do next :unsure:
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Shell emailed me last week, my DD will go up by about £60 pm.... 'gawd only knows' how high prices will go without Russian gas... which I presume will be what Mr Putin will do next :unsure:
:ohmy: we had an email yesterday saying our overall energy price is estimated to rise £1001 per annum. Wouldn’t be so annoying if some bright spark had not made me wait 6years & 7months to get my state pension :mad:
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Shell emailed me last week, my DD will go up by about £60 pm.... 'gawd only knows' how high prices will go without Russian gas... which I presume will be what Mr Putin will do next :unsure:
:ohmy: we had an email yesterday saying our overall energy price is estimated to rise £1001 per annum. Wouldn’t be so annoying if some bright spark had not made me wait 6years & 7months to get my state pension :mad:
We only import under 5% of our gas from Russia, most of either comes from the North Sea, or in the form of liquefied gas from Quatar (probs the reason why they're doing the football thing there...)!
Now the UK has banned fracking, where we could have been self-reliant for over 100 years, we are stuck with these dwindling imports - it's madness!
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I have recently been transferred to OVO from SSE. They have told me my bill will increase by £1,000 pa.
They have just taken the first payment which is £141. I don't ever have any heat on during the day, have stopped using my big de-humidifier and no longer turn on the little electric radiator in my cold kitchen. My CH goes on at 4pm and off about 9 ish. I only use my W/machine once a week and never the t/drier. Most of my cooking is in the microwave for a few minutes. My lap top is on for a few hours each day. . Apart from that I don't know what else I can do. It really is over-the-top. Hopefully I shall build up some credits in the summer. Doomy and gloomy, Mrs Bouquet
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They will have estimated the next year based on last year's readings. Wasn't that when you were using a lot of electricity to dry out your kitchen floor?
Perhaps your actual use this year, will be less than their estimates, fingers crossed for you.
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I think we are definitely in for quite a shock for want of a better word when we see our electric charges that are bound to go up substantially over the next months and as said we mite be able to bank some of the summer credit [direct debit ] but I feel that will be far short of the cost of next winters fuel bill
and its really going to hit the low paid workers and the good old pensioners alike as seen the cost of motoring is going up as fuel prices rise at the pumps all the more reason to use your free bus pass and how long that will be free is any ones guess I think I mite have to get the bicycle back out the shed I' glad I never sold it :D
it seems every time you go shopping things have gone up in price like most we shop with plastic but when the monthly bill comes through the door I always say what the hell did we spend all that on :D
I think the only way we have saved on our home heating this winter is by burning logs that I collected when I was hedge cutting a couple of years ago and stored the wood to dry out it burns lovely as warm as coal so we can use less energy using the central heating
and of cause we are so reliant on buying fuel from other countries who can hype the price up when they feel like it things are definitely going to worse before they get better for fuel food and most other things as transporting goods is bound to rise and so it will drive everything ells up
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Like most people here, I am desperately hoping for a rebate at the end of my first year, but will not hold my breath for the following reason...
The new price cap starts on 1st April and expires on 30th September - six months later.
And when do we hope to get some of our money back? Right then, around the end of the summer.
I'm afraid I don't trust any company to do the decent thing and return much money, as Ofgem, (Government), will try every trick in the book to keep rates high!
I'm sorry to be such an awful drone, but with the gas markets in turmoil - especially with the Ukraine (forward purchasing issues etc.), our belts will need yet another hole a bit tighter to the last one we made.
Thank goodness we had a few high winds recently, as quite a few logs are still lying around...
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So Bulb have just notified us of our new energy costs from April 1st... it also includes standing charges of over £278 before we even get any gas or electric!! :ohmy: :ohmy: I'm sure I i heard a story on the news the other day that when the new price cap expires the next cap will be set at £3k!! :(
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I wouldn't be at all surprised at the increase, Andy, it's almost tax by stealth in my opinion (yeah, I know it's not quite the same thing), but the government could easily do more to control these disgraceful cost rises. My bet is on the fact that they'll fiddle around at the edges with a few quid here and there, and won't address the real elephant in the room.
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They will have estimated the next year based on last year's readings. Wasn't that when you were using a lot of electricity to dry out your kitchen floor?
Oh, yes Mum, you are absolutely right, I had quite forgotten about the electricity usage due to that being dried out. Hopefully you are right, it is down to the bone now. Mrs B
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money supermarket has an interesting article on this