Big Dent

Different_Corner

Good morning
I have no idea if this is a new dawning, or some sort of epiphany for me, but I've just received my leccy bill for the last quarter and it has hit the £300 mark ! :eek: We switched in March from EDF to SE. The bill is correct, and having only just got the hang of the energy meter I know the next quarter will be lower.

However, it's game over. All though I no longer do the ostrich impression anymore, this is the moment that I realise I am frittering on things. Needless things. I really do have to get it into my head that every pennt counts. This bill has put a big dent in my plans for Christmas.

Need tea, to get over this. Thanks for listening.

HannaB

Hiya Different_Corner,

We've had our SE quarterly bill through as well and had a bit of a "shock";) . I've been onto a price comparison site and we can save 30% by switching. Could you perhaps switch again, or is it too soon since before?

Cornishpixie_2

Oh! dear, sounds like a bit of a nightmare. I tried to change back to quarterly bills, but I agreed to pay less every month, as I was in credit. Turns out the Gas was under estimated, so having to pay that back.:eek: I had cleared my overdraft, now its back as bad as ever. Also on a really tight budget this xmas, so made sure I bought the some kids games we can all play as a family. Least your having a cup of tea and not hitting the bottle. So that's cool! Good luck.

Different_Corner

Hi Hanna
Thinking of sticking because this summer was a strange one. The majority of the bill relates to the holidays when two teenage boys were watching telly, playing on games consoles and undoubtedly making sure SE stayed in business !
I will admit to allowing the family be a bit haphazard with stuff over the past few months, but now all bets are off ! I've made some culinary lifestyle changes too thanks to the OS board and less use of my power hungry fan oven will make a big difference.
I think that the constant stream of bills from car insurance, tax, AA renewal, boiler insurance, broken radiators and washing machines,phone bill over the last month has me reeling, no chance to come up for air. When I do I'll find Christmas looming....sigh.

Cinny91

Our electric bill was £1,300.00 *ahem* admittedly it was a major error but it gave my mum a minor heartattack.

If I were you I'd get a notepad and write down everything you buy. Hopefully if you can make some savings in different places you might be able to make up the money for christmas?

Different_Corner

Cinny £1,300 ! Speechless.

Promised myself a spending diary for ages, time for action, less procrastination.

MrsTinks

I found one of the biggest eye openers was getting one of the usage monitors free from E-on - What actually costs money wasn't as I thought the TV and games consoles (sure they comsume SOME but not as much as you'd think!) - it was the lights! We have spotlights set into the ceilings in the bathrooms and kitchen - the halogen type ones - and OMG they just EAT power! I'm gradually replacing them with LED ones but you might want to check if you have any of these... We also had them in the hallway top and bottom so if Dh didn't turn lights off after himself it was like trying to pay for Blackpool Illuminations! Other things that REALLY drain are Dishwasher and Washing machine, Toaster and Kettle, Tumble drier and our beloved Fish Tank - which DH is now thinking of getting rid off YAY!

Cinny91

Different_Corner wrote: »

Cinny £1,300 ! Speechless.

Promised myself a spending diary for ages, time for action, less procrastination.

Thankfully they sorted it out! I've been meaning to start one too, I have the notepad and everything! I'll start today.

Different_Corner

MrsTine
Have huge fishtank ! They only get light between 3pm and 8pm now. Filter doesn't seem to eat much . Do have kitchen spotlights, hadn't thought of them...
Energy lightbulbs in both hall lights because they are the ones that get left on most.
My DW has a 30 minute cycle rather than the hour and a half program we used to use. I guess all these little things make the big things happen.