Get a grip woman!

Karmacat

rtandon27 said:

@badmemory - we've also had to cut out several discretionary pots and put it towards heating/electric and food increases - charity, the occasional takeaway and cloths/shoe fund have been cut to zero - will have to raid the emergency fund if we find ourselves suddenly needing replacement boots or shoes - and here I was thinking having a 'good' job with 'decent' salary meant we would not have to worry about making ends meet!  Keep reminding myself that simple food in our bellies, a roof over our heads and heat even if a bit lower than ideal means we are lucky & for that I'm very grateful!!!

This kind of sums it up, doesn't it - it's astonishing that this is where we've got to.  I haven't put up my direct debit yet, but I think I'd better, otherwise its going to come out of my account in a massive lump.  As Martin originally advised, I'm staying where I am at the moment, but I'm being very careful with the thermostat.

Suffolk_lass

I keep coming back to solar or PV but with a thatched roof on the main roof the options are limited to a very shallow pitch on the kitchen and the pig-shed that will be re-built - we will definitely be going for a mono-tilt roof oriented to the sun. We do have a cart lodge but the roof is the wrong way round so only the gable end faces south. Not sure adding the cost of re-orientating the roof would ever pay for itself

trix-a-belle

Is there a part of the garden or small section land adjacent you could buy to site the panels on? this is the latest wacky idea running through my dads head

Suffolk_lass

We don't have any adjacent land - just the miserable farmer (who is really aspiring to be a property developer) behind and only two chances of him selling us anything (that would be fat chance and no chance) - a 5-10m deep strip would be marvellous, behind the four houses, with the footpath running across one corner.

Watty1

Sticker shock on the cottage electricity bill.  Went to fix and it has more than doubled. Solar panels on the land might be an answer and is one I will be considering if I ever buy the place.

boxofpaws

I always thought the solar panels were a waste of time. My parents got them installed, but my mums bill seems about the same as mine. That’s until now. My bill will increase by £150 soon, hers = £40. My dad knew exactly what he was doing.

Not quite same, @Suffolk_lass but for us to have solar panels, we would probably have to retile the roof. It all becomes too much outlay. 

I think we can cut back, repay less debt, go out less, but there will be people for whom this is catastrophic. Let’s hope the government steps in for those people.

Suffolk_lass

boxofpaws said:

I always thought the solar panels were a waste of time. My parents got them installed, but my mums bill seems about the same as mine. That’s until now. My bill will increase by £150 soon, hers = £40. My dad knew exactly what he was doing.

Not quite same, @Suffolk_lass but for us to have solar panels, we would probably have to retile the roof. It all becomes too much outlay. 

I think we can cut back, repay less debt, go out less, but there will be people for whom this is catastrophic. Let’s hope the government steps in for those people.

Yes indeed. One of the retired couples in the village mentioned 100% increase offered to them. For us, it would mean less fun but I know how fortunate we are

Baileys_Babe

Our bills are currently ridiculous and like everyone else's will increase hugely soon. We are fortunate that by reducing the amount we send to savings and the amount we spend on fun we will be able to pay. We are very concerned that this isn't the case for everyone. 

EssexHebridean

what's really alarming me is the number of people who think that 100% increase type deals they are being offered are their cheapest bet - it makes what Martin etc is doing to spread the word all the more vital. I can see "energy fix mis-selling" as being the next one for the ambulance chasing lawyers to get all over though - and actually, they may well have a point where energy co's have been less than transparent! 

Watty1

i did shop around and still discovered my providers fix was actually a good deal.  Sticker shock at the price tho!