how much money wasted over the years

barnaclebill

In the past 12 months I have been trying to save money using this forum for ideas.
The latest is breakdown cover, Aviva which I have used for years and not called out for the past 8 years wanted £96 renewal, tried a haggle but got nowhere so have registered with autoaid for £42. When I was at sea I was worried my wife would have a problem with the car so did not want to change what she was used to.
Telephone and broadband I switched to plusnet in November and got £75 cashback. Gas and electric I changed with the MSE group changeover last month and hope it will save £200 a year at least.
Car insurance I tried Aviva as not on the comparison sites and got a quote £120 less than the best from those sites.
When I was at sea I was often not home near the anniversary of a lot of these things so just took the easy route but how retirement concentrates the brain.
The main remaining problem is food waste, my wife is not interested in doing a budget and just buys food as she did before I retired and is spending too much but I do not think she is going to change.

moneyistooshorttomention

Yep...I can think of someone I know personally that complains about how much their fuel bill is (errr...pretty high...!). When I offered to look online and do a bit of comparison shopping to see which would be the best fuel provider etc for them refused and said they cant be bothered.

Add people who are prepared to go out on the national media complaining about the size of their fuel bills - and you then see they are with British Gas (as well as other money-wasting habits you can spot) and what-can-ya-do?

I know of a certainty my fuel bills would be at least 150% of what they are (possibly more) if I had followed in the footsteps of the previous owner of my current house and just taken over their accounts with the "standard" fuel providers. As it is - I think my fuel bill is pretty reasonable for someone who uses whatever warmth they decide to - as I do.

VfM4meplse

barnaclebill wrote: »

The main remaining problem is food waste, my wife is not interested in doing a budget and just buys food as she did before I retired and is spending too much but I do not think she is going to change.

Has it occurred that coping with a retired you after years at work is a significant change?

Living_proof

I gave up smoking £35,000 ago.....and I have literally saved it!

shellsmithcat

I'm with British Gas unfortunately I've tried changing but I'm just not able to. I used the MSE group to try and change and I thought it was all going through then got a letter at last minute saying i couldn't be accepted. The issue is this, I used to have electric storage heaters so was on a dual Economy 7 tariff with a dual meter for day and night time readings. I now have solar panels to heat my water and a new fang-dangled and bells ringing Air Source Heat pump for the heating, which has already halved my heating bill. However I no longer need Economy 7, so British Gas what did they say, "oh we don't need to change your meter just send us both readings each month and we will charge both at your normal tariff". Which means nobody else will touch me as I have a dual meter but only use a single tariff and i can't get it changed without being charged the earth. Wahhhhhhhh

shellsmithcat

Update - I have since been in touch with a new company called AVRO who it seems will be accepting my application. Will cut my bill by at least a 1/3 so fingers crossed.

Lynplatinum

Hi all

I have become v MSe over the past 3 years I have been on this site. As I look back I realise that I have spent a fortune by not being financially aware. To confess my sins:
1) £15 per month bank account charges
2) not changing fuel companies for some 20 years
3) buying food always from T!cos rather than Home B!rgains and L!dil and the local market!
4) not shopping around for mobile phone deals!
5)not giving time to checking insurance deals (although the broker i use always turns out to be cheaper!
6) not looking for the best savings rates (when i earned enough money to save!)


If I actually worked out how much i could have saved i think i would have become very depressed - instead I am taking a deep breath and the more i learn - the more i do - the cheaper and yet better quality life i have! :j
Therefore I really support Martin's :money: campaign to have financial education in schools!!!
Nite all

honeythewitch

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Yep...I can think of someone I know personally that complains about how much their fuel bill is (errr...pretty high...!). When I offered to look online and do a bit of comparison shopping to see which would be the best fuel provider etc for them refused and said they cant be bothered.

Add people who are prepared to go out on the national media complaining about the size of their fuel bills - and you then see they are with British Gas (as well as other money-wasting habits you can spot) and what-can-ya-do?

I know of a certainty my fuel bills would be at least 150% of what they are (possibly more) if I had followed in the footsteps of the previous owner of my current house and just taken over their accounts with the "standard" fuel providers. As it is - I think my fuel bill is pretty reasonable for someone who uses whatever warmth they decide to - as I do.

I dont know about your friend, obviously, but it seems that if you are in debt with the fuel company you cant switch, and so "I cant be bothered" might really mean "I'm in debt and I'm stuck with them"

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-a-better-energy-deal/switching-energy-supplier-if-youre-in-debt/

Goldiegirl

I don't think there's any point to beat oneself up about how much you could have saved in years gone past


All you can do is your best today and in the future


To the OP - sounds like you've had a big change in your life, being home after working away so much - it's probably takes a lot of adjustment for both of you.


You say your wife is spending 'too much' on food, it's not clear what you think is the 'right' amount for your lifestyle and income.


Maybe it'd be worth sitting down together and going through all the household finances so you both have a joint understanding of what is coming in and what is going out. Then the grocery spending can be put into context. Maybe you could try something like taking it in turns to be responsible for supermarket shopping and cooking. One month your wife does it her way, then next month you do it your way, and you can compare results.