My SOA, Any help would be great

IWantToBeFree_2

How come you are paying £35 a month for your landline if you rarely make any calls? We pay £16.50 a month and are now £50 in credit!!

BrightonSun

Ames wrote: »

Has your landlord said you can't have a meter? I don't think they're allowed to do that, so that's something to look into.

Your energy is huge, I live in a one bed all electric and I pay £33 a month. Have you lowered the thermostat by a couple of degrees, put a jumper on before the heating, etc?

We live in a listed building and I think it's extra hassle. However I do think that water useage is not too high. On speaking to friends & colleague we are all paying nearly the same.

I know the bills are very very high. I'm going to sit down this weekend and have a proper look. We are in a one bed work all day. Only have the heating on for max 3-4 hours in the evening and turn it off and whilst I cook I am not using the cooker for more than say an hour and day! We did get a letter to say we are £116 in credit with them which I hope to get back when we change over.

BrightonSun

IWantToBeFree wrote: »

How come you are paying £35 a month for your landline if you rarely make any calls? We pay £16.50 a month and are now £50 in credit!!

I don't know, Basically when we moved in we signed up for the 9.99 but the bills have been way higher than that. I'm on a massive learning curve at the moment whereas before we just paid stuff and did not look at the bills I am really trying to get my head round all the info.

This may sound stupid but do you have to have a contected land line for broadband?

If so we can cancel the BT one as it's been over a year and try and reduce it elsewhere.

iamana1ias

BrightonSun wrote: »

Hi,
Thanks for all the help.
Pooling our finances is not an option!!! So we keep things serperatly.
No travel expenses as I walk to and from work (Only live 20 mins walk) away from work (No car etc)
The Utielies are (We live in a one bed flat)
Southern Electric: Gas £45 a month (Eeek I know this is a lot and we it's not like we use it all the time) Electrity is: £28
Broadband: £9.79 02 which I think is a good deal as we use it all the time.
Water: Varies on Bill and I think it works about about £25-30 a month
Phone: Well this is a huge cost as we only use it for the broadband and really rarely make calls £35 a month
As I said all these bills are covered in the £400 I pay each month though.
I do spend a lot on Food I know but It's the one thing I am really finding it really difficult to cut back on that.
The mobile will be going in 3 months as I have an iphone and it's coming up to end of contract (The one thing is I am on 02 friends & fam so at least it is cheaper) Will be getting a bog standard one.
The Capital one limit is £200 and I do plan to cut that up and pay it off with Marchs wages.
Thanks for your help.

Hi. Can you use a smaller font, please? This one doesn't quite make it completely impossible to read

IWantToBeFree_2

BrightonSun wrote: »

I don't know, Basically when we moved in we signed up for the 9.99 but the bills have been way higher than that. I'm on a massive learning curve at the moment whereas before we just paid stuff and did not look at the bills I am really trying to get my head round all the info.

This may sound stupid but do you have to have a contected land line for broadband?

If so we can cancel the BT one as it's been over a year and try and reduce it elsewhere.

You do, unless you get mobile broadband, but to be honest, mobile broadband isn't any good fir a high level of useage and can cost more than fixed broadband and landline put together.

I notcied you said your o2 broadband was just under £10 - Can you downgrade this to the £7.50 one? Thats what I have and it is more than adequate, you may not be getting the additional speed you pay for.

BrightonSun

IWantToBeFree wrote: »

You do, unless you get mobile broadband, but to be honest, mobile broadband isn't any good fir a high level of useage and can cost more than fixed broadband and landline put together.

I notcied you said your o2 broadband was just under £10 - Can you downgrade this to the £7.50 one? Thats what I have and it is more than adequate, you may not be getting the additional speed you pay for.

Is the £7.50 one still unlimited? As we are going to be really going for this. I need to keep sane by having unlimited access at home

HRV

You dont have to have a landline if you are on cable internet (virgin) i dont think

Tixy

You do have to have a landline - but it doesn't have to be with BT, try getting a combined package for broadband and landline (should be able to get for around £20max). See here for ideads http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/home-phone-calls

With regard to the utility bills, do you have central heating? do you heat water by elec or gas? is cooking gas or elec? If you have an immersion heater then make sure its not switched on all the time as these uses loads of elec, equally elec heaters and tumble driers use a lot. As your gas bills are high and of you arein a flat in an old property you may want to double check that your meter is only for your property? just to be certain you are not paying for the neighbours property. That said if its listed I guess it doesn't have cavity walls etc and maybe not the best insulation so could be part of the reason its high. You can cut usage by making sure you use draught excluders and checking window for draughts and having thick curtains etc.