If things get tougher?

Sarahsaver

karenlaura wrote: »

Hi I am a newbie but have followed this thread and many others for ages and just plucked up the courage to post on a few threads today.

I have learnt so much and cut down so much from reading all the tips on this site.

I have switched all my utilities, changed the way I do my shopping cutting at least 40% off my weekly bill, been more aware of switching appliances and lights off when not in use, modified the way I drive my car hopefully saving fuel and so many more tips. However I feel a bit despondant because as fast as we all do this something else crops up and we are back to square one.

At least with a wonderful site like this you dont feel you are on your own:D

Karen x

Welcome newbie :j

sammy_kaye18

all i cna say is thank god boyfriend is candle maker in his spare time so we dont use the lights so much. Am goign to see if i cna get a small wind up torch/radio somewhere too as i think this could save a fortune too because i usually have the tv on playing the music channel if im round the house doing housework. I knwo im not the only one who likes to bop while she mops

as for the heating - i begrudge having to put it on - i wear layers or bunga blanket on me but cant seem to train the bf into putting clothes on after a shower. Think if i know hes going in the bath i will put shorts tshirt in the bathroom or conveniently have his pyjama bottoms in there on the radiator ready for him.

Little boy already sleeps with a fleece under his bottom sheet and will be looking to get him another one for going on top or making sure he keeps his pyjamas on as he seems to have a tendency for taking them off half way through the night - why ive no idea but he does.

ceridwen

...and the Government is STILL adding V.A.T. to our household fuel bills. So what do they care if those bills go up...that means they get more tax out of us.

zarazara

we've had a woodburning tove instaled in the kitchen. when its lit i cn heat water in pans on top and also cook.
i have windup baylis light and a solar panel mobile phone charger.
i would like a breadmaker but need to save up for it.

Uniscots97

ceridwen wrote: »

...and the Government is STILL adding V.A.T. to our household fuel bills. So what do they care if those bills go up...that means they get more tax out of us.

Isn't VAT only supposed to be for luxury non-essential items (sorry could be wrong here)? So they think heating and food is a luxury?

Primrose

VAT is already added to certain foods, including chocolate, chocolate biscuits and snacks (like crisps). I suspect that a large proportion of the public are not aware of this.

Uniscots97

You're right Primrose they're probably not. Same as VAT is added to tampons, and since when were they classed as a luxury!

Quasar

superscotsman wrote: »

I think the problem with Rip Off Britain is the British themselves. If tax goes up, they grumble a bit, tighten the old belt and pay up. In France or Italy they'll burn the tax office down. If they are going to charge us 25% more for gas, we shall use 50% less gas. We can keep warm from the smouldering tax offices and the Danish embassy.

I agree with you. As a native Italian, I can confirm that we just wouldn't pay up. Let me give you an example:

Many years ago (maybe 30, I don't know), the Milan underground informed the public it was putting its fares up. Commuters did not see any need for this, and come the day the vast majority refused to pay the extra cost. What to do? You can't prosecute hundreds of thousands, so the next day the fares were down again. The people had spoken clearly and without fuss.

The British are the architects of modern democracy. Pity they don't know how to exercise it as a people except by voting every 4 ofr 5 years (those who can be bothered).

These massive increases in fuel costs etc are unjustified, when we then read in the papers that energy companies are making inflated profits for their shareholders' pockets. Taking into account the massive tax on petrol, the whole situation is not only deeply undemocratic, but also quite ridiculous in the alleged fourth economy in the world.

That said, fuel prices are going up everywhere at the moment. It's the massive profits of these British energy companies at our expense that rankle with me and so many others.

Sarahsaver

You are right Quasar. People here moan and believe the tabloids like the gospel, but many people who moan I KNOW for a fact dont vote.
I asked hubby about this cos we are interested in how exactly we will be 'crunched' by the credit crunch, his parents think the country is going completely down the pan when the reality for OH and me is that we are only spending more on diesel, and fuel will go up (household fuel) but we have no crippling loans and the mortgage has in fact gone down.
Not quite 'down the pan' but just treading cautiously, like we would anyway, we are not reckless with money anyway!

suki1964

Primrose wrote: »

VAT is already added to certain foods, including chocolate, chocolate biscuits and snacks (like crisps). I suspect that a large proportion of the public are not aware of this.

I sincerely hope that large proportions of the population ARE aware what VAT is and what rate we pay it on different items.

Heres a quick guide for those that dont know

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/BeginnersGuideToTax/DG_4015895?cids=Google_PPC&cre=Money