A Diary of Reinventing Ourselves

matchboxfull

getmore4less wrote: »

Loads of utility supplyer comparison sites, you need to also look at cashback options, not done ours recently so not familar with the current offerings.

I was thinking your high bills, you don't do loads of washing(well you do the ironing pile is huge) and drying but have really ineffcient machines.

Older venting and condencer TD use a lot based on the standard 160 cycle(3 a week you may be doing more) it would have to be really bad or used a lot to be doing more than around £10 a week.

Might be worth looking at a supplier that throws you a free energy monitor or get a plug in one to go round checking where your using all the power.

Another thought, you don't have an electric water heater that has been left on, I have seen this before with rentals people forget to check them when they move in. It might just need a slog to find where it is all going and working through changes, leaving lights on with halogens/incandecants is often one culprit to high bills, kitchen downlighters a few 50w halogens on a few hours a day(say 10*4hr*365 will be over £100 a year .

Ha! When we moved into our current house we accidentally left the emersion heater on for about a month. Cost a bloomin fortune!

Queen.Bess

Afternoon FT and everyone!

Really pleased to see you've saved so much per month by switching energy suppliers - a great result!

As Eager Elephant says, it's worth asking BT about what they can offer, esp. if you are out of contract. We recently moved and so in talking to them to arrange that, I also spoke about seeing what they could do about our account, esp as we were out of contract and have phone, wifi and tv. He was able to reduce our monthly direct debit by £14 per month and we also got a brand new you view box out of it.

Is this something you might consider? I'm sorry, I can't recall as to whether you have sky or not. If you do, it might be worth seeing if sky can do the whole package for you, or whether, with your BT line you could have all with them? The channels on BT are a good selection and suit our needs well and our broadband is super fast, so I am happy to stick with them.

So, in a very roundabout way, I'm trying to say that it's not always about changing supplier, but seeing what your current supplier can do, esp. if it means keeping your custom! Always worth an ask!

Take care, QBx

Forward_thinking

Thanks for that. Matchbox - ouch!!!! That's painful. Just been speaking to a rather unfriendly gentleman at BT. Breakdown is:

£30 - Broadband
£7.95 - calls
Visual display - £1.75
Landline - £18

Total - about £58. He couldn't really offer anything, just told me that if we go to another supplier we will come back soon. Said our broadband would be really bad quality and I would regret it. Offered to reduce the broadband to £22 by the end of the conversation.

Our broadband speed is 63MB. We could go down to 40MB for £19.81 but this doesn't mean much to me. I'll have to speak to OH tonight. I'm starting to feel quite naive as I don't have knowledge about all this stuff : (( I even have a Phd but now I just feel thick : (((

Eager_Elephant

Broadband sounds a lot - Plusnet is actually owned by BT.


Have a look at PlusNet website and I reckon you can get the same internet speed and unlimited downloads for £19.49pm.


Is the £7.95 a call bundle or just what you spend on calls?
Sometimes the bundles are not worth the money especially if you have minutes available on mobile phone contracts.


If BT are not helpful I think you need to log into your account online and mess about with some package options and see what comes up.

Forward_thinking

Thanks. Yes, it's a bundle which works well as we are always using the phone and I don't have a mobile phone (well, not for calls anyway). I rang Plusnet - they are stating £22.49 with a £50 activation charge and £13 exit charge. Also £7 for the initial router. So that's not a goer. We could reduce speed from 63mb to 40mb but OH needs it for work and with multiple users it's not a sensible move.

So that's it then, I think. Might get BT to reduce from £29 to £22 as they agreed but will have a look around first as I don't want to be locked into a contract yet.

Feeling drained. Have forgotten to eat today or drink. I just feel like I want to get it all done right now and am realising how long everything takes. Tired and a bit drained. But I'll bounce back.

Forward_thinking

Hi Scotsdeb - great to have you on board!!!!! Feel less alone.

Getmore - yes, oh does need the car and moving area is something we are desperate not to do. Kids have been uprooted from schools they loved and have only just settled. We'll get there.

Forward_thinking

Sorry, getmore - that was a short response for a long post. Sorry : (( Feeling a bit faint. Realised I haven't drunk anything today and have only eaten a biscuit and an apple. Better go - son has a football club to get to. Back in the car.......

getmore4less

One way to get that food bill down stop eating:)

Forward_thinking

Feeling a bit guilty that I am not looking for work. However, as I haven't worked for a lengthy period I really feel that spending a week on our accounts is time worth spent before I get consumed by working and all the extra time that will entail.

Forward_thinking

Ha ha. Thats true Getmore - even the baby hasn't been fed properly today. But taking a look at him, he has plenty of reserves.