How much to live on

sheilavw

I guess the presents budget depends on how many that you have to buy for. Some people only have a few, some a lot more

kempiejon

I came to an arrangement with the one chum I exchanged brithday gifts with that we'd stop, we were in an arms race buying each other tools we'd barely use. The 4 family usually buy me consumerables, I don't want any more things in my space.
Looking at the title, I have updated my spreadsheets and looking at my spend for the last financial year I lived on around £5k, that's essentials like shelter, food and home comsumables, utilities including broadband, insurance, local taxes.

[Deleted User]

@kempiejon. I find it incredible that you can live on so little a year. Council Tax for me is over £2000 a year and energy some £1800 and that is nearly £4000 a year already!

LL_USS

Organgrinder said:

Happens every school holiday!

As it turns out my utility switching period starts today. Looking back at old emails by switching and fixing I must have saved at least £1,000 or so since moving 7 years ago.

Bit trickier this time. But got another 50 days on current fix (last June) so I'll see what's happening and try and time it correctly.

@Organgrinder hope your throat gets back to normal soon.

For energy fixes, you can switch 49 days before the end date of the fix without penalty: https://mysmartenergy.uk/49-Days-Before

Organgrinder

LL_USS said:

Organgrinder said:

Happens every school holiday!

As it turns out my utility switching period starts today. Looking back at old emails by switching and fixing I must have saved at least £1,000 or so since moving 7 years ago.

Bit trickier this time. But got another 50 days on current fix (last June) so I'll see what's happening and try and time it correctly.

@Organgrinder hope your throat gets back to normal soon.

For energy fixes, you can switch 49 days before the end date of the fix without penalty: https://mysmartenergy.uk/49-Days-Before

Looking around the cheapest currently is £6/month more than I pay now.

Decisions decisions

LL_USS

so there's no point of moving 49 days before the end of the tariff...

I've heard the unit energy prices are expected to be falling. My tariffs are due in October so I have not checked the new prices yet.

Organgrinder

LL_USS said:

so there's no point of moving 49 days before the end of the tariff...

I've heard the unit energy prices are expected to be falling. My tariffs are due in October so I have not checked the new prices yet.

True.

Ideally I'd like a new fixed rate in June. So I'll be monitoring the fixes available. Must set an alert on the mse energy club!

Nebulous2

Like Helensbiggestfan, I went for a 16 month fix from BG. My fix was running out in May and they gave me an offer which I took. We have an old house, though us and the previous owner have put some work into insulating it.  Being further North than pretty much everybody here has an impact as well. I came out of the winter with about £50 credit, so the annual bill balanced well. £160 a month..... 

LL_USS

Re. energy bills....

I had to shout at everyone in the household about turning lights off, not filling the whole kettle when you only make a cuppa etc etc.... and tried to only keep heating from just before people come back and during the evening before bed, and first thing in the morning - still it was £280/month at the worst month of the winter. It has gradually coming down since, and it was about £190 last month. Eye watering

For the context, it's a Victorian house and in the midland...

PS: At worst, the highest energy bill in a month I had in the past was with BG after my former provider went burst, and it was almost £400/m in a winter. Actual tears then

Hopeful energy prices will be corrected soon.

louby40

We have also stopped buying for each other for Christmas and new year. It was just getting silly. I buy for my own children and my parents gift their 4 grandchildren money and bits of things but that's it.  We were all buying for buying sakes.