Bringing down my gas and leccy bill challenge (start August 2008)

lauren_1 · 5 August 2008 at 4:51PM

//Is anyone else up for a bit of a challenge?

(please don't merge this with the other G&E thread)

Im challenging my self to bring down our dual fuel bill, according to e.on we are using more than last year (in the red dotty line) thus havng upped our bills to 72.00 a month (previously 52.00). Even though we are capped, when we come off our rate in 2010 it's going to be a bit of a shock depending on what the rates are then....or even if gas is available then.

Ideally by christmas i want it back to 50-60 a month and track our progress each month with the energy tracker, even getting one month lower than last year would be a bonus

So far we have had a play with the timers and realised the hot water comes on in the evening for 30mins as well as the morning, yet no-one showers in the evening so thats been sorted

Got our stuff in the 'preparing for winter thread and have had proper words with dp about his leaving the door open when taking the rubbish out (it bugs the hell out of me especially in the middle of winter when the cold air whooshes up the stairs then the house is left freezing)

These are our last 6 months on the energy tracker, feel free to post yours along with helpful tips (especially ones to get kids and dp more in my line of thinking)

lauren_1 · 5 August 2008 at 4:52PM

Well that didn't work, may have to save them as pics paste them that way. Ooopsie

newlywed · 5 August 2008 at 4:58PM

We're on prepay meters so I'm up for the challenge

Have fitted draft excluder thing to the bottom of the front door which should help this winter. But our electric is already up to £35 a month without any darker evenings :eek: - have electric oven as well though.

Gas was £20 a month when just hot water but now that isn't covering it either

(Service charges get taken from that too though). Last winter we were using £60 a month on gas and still hardly had the heating on except at weekends.

Will get OH to check the time the water heats up as I think he set it to 3 times a day and really not sure it needs that much - we're hardly in during the day.

lauren_1 · 5 August 2008 at 5:04PM

hope this works

Magentasue · 5 August 2008 at 5:08PM

Yes, I should do this. We're OK financially at present because I have a new job starting sept, but I know we waste money on gas and elec and it's wasting money rather than spending it that bugs me.

At the moment, we're paying £135 a month for dual fuel but we're in a smaller house now so, even with price rises, we should be able to cut down. Not sure how much we can cut back but will take meter readings today and monthly and aim to at least maintain our usage.

Merlot · 5 August 2008 at 5:12PM

Bringing down my gas and leccy bill challenge (start August 2009)

My goodness your organised;)

Bongedone · 5 August 2008 at 5:24PM

lauren_1 wrote: »

hope this works

Lauren. Most of your last readings are estimates. You should put the correct readings in otherwise you won't be able to track how well you are doing. You can give them a few readings a month online.

You need to look at what you have changed to cause this years readings to be higher.

mrs-moneypenny · 5 August 2008 at 5:25PM

we're with scottish power on capped economy seven tarrif
in march the dual fuel monthly bill was £84 BUT i got a letter in may saying our monthly dd amount had been revised to £111 as our current payments were not inline with our ongoing usage:eek: . On the feb bill we were just over £40 in credit but the may bill didnt mention a credit we were infact owing them £60

im determined to cut the usage back and get credit built up for the winter.

ive made a note of my meter readings this afternoon and filled in a survey on the scottish power site, they are going to send me a letter with hints and tips on how to cut my fuel consumption (hopefully)

lauren_1 · 5 August 2008 at 5:26PM

Not organised, just incredible panicky about any more rises and maybe a teensy weensey bit obsessed with how much money i dont have at the end of every month.

lauren_1 · 5 August 2008 at 5:30PM

The last four months are estimates because my next quarterly bill is due very soon, the ones with out 'est' above are actual usage.

I have no idea why we seem to be using more, in anything we should be using less as i am only in during termtimes as oposed to being a sahm like i was up until last september

craftingqueen_2 · 5 August 2008 at 5:43PM

We are trying to keep our gas and electric down over the summer/autumn so we can cope with the oncoming hike in G & E prices. Not looking forward to the winter time and with a family of seven it's going to be hard. The ways so far that we are cutting back is not using the tumble drier. My eldest daughter suggested getting throws , we have one already which is great .Our monthly gas and electric is £106 so can't really go any higher.

CQ

Bringing down my gas and leccy bill challenge (start August 2008)

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