How much to live on

MayDogsandCoffee

Last day of leave and going back to work tomorrow Another 15 months to go, hopefully but would like to be out sooner.  Will be having another look at the pension forecast and doing my best scrooge checking my savings accounts (AGAIN) to see what else can be done.  I don't do consumer lifestyle or have long hauls. just happy to potter.  Thinking about doing a course that could lead to a 'retirement job' but will be for interest more than bringing cash in.  Will be booking the work's retirement course once I get back.  I made an error a few years back when my parent asked about their will, I said just split it 3 ways me, brother, nephew (nephew will get whatever I leave), now wondering if I can buy them both out when the time occurs as it was always my intention to move into parent's bungalow.  It needs a bit of work and I am not sure I can risk my savings - I certainly don't have the energy or cash for any building work so it would just be revamp internally, the kitchen and bathroom are well overdue a refresh and I think the artex is starting to fail.

trevjl

On energy bills, I am astounded at some of the figures people say they spend. Mine is £100 a month, only the two of us and a standard 3 bed semi but we use what we want to use. I am in the put a jumper on if you're cold school however.
The rip off is daily charges. My mum died a year ago this month and the flat has just sold. In that time I have paid Octopus £246 and it's all switched off at the MCB

Plasticman

trevjl said:

On energy bills, I am astounded at some of the figures people say they spend. Mine is £100 a month, only the two of us and a standard 3 bed semi but we use what we want to use. I am in the put a jumper on if you're cold school however.
The rip off is daily charges. My mum died a year ago this month and the flat has just sold. In that time I have paid Octopus £246 and it's all switched off at the MCB

Mine is about £175 a month. Four of us living here though and although it's just a modest semi it costs a fair bit to heat as it's a 1920s house with no insulation in the walls. 

LL_USS

Others' use of energy puts ours to shame :-(.

Our house is old and inefficient to heat I suppose. The bill tends to go down significantly in the summer. I hope on average this year it's just over £200/m (our direct debit has been adjusted to around this amount and we are still quite in debit).

[Deleted User]

On the energy front we seem to be going quite well compared to some. Detached 4/5 bedroom house with 2 bathrooms, 3 receptions and conservatory. We never skimp on gas heating during the winter, showers in daily use and washing machine several times a week plus tumble dryer in the winter. Usual appliances and cooking use electricity. Our DD is £149 a month and we are £59 in credit after the large winter bill. This credit will build up during the summer months. House is 1980s, well insulated and  double glazed. We never change supplier and are on a good tariff. 

LL_USS

That's the perk of a newer build - sounds great.

My house has quite a similar configuration but as it's old with high ceilling, it never feels warm enough in the winter and it will suffer a bit being too hot on the top floor during this coming mini heat wave.... Perhaps at this rate it needs an air con that blows both warm and cool air - the business of the latest winner of the Apprentice show ;-)

Farway

LL_USS said:

That's the perk of a newer build - sounds great.

My house has quite a similar configuration but as it's old with high ceilling, it never feels warm enough in the winter and it will suffer a bit being too hot on the top floor during this coming mini heat wave.... Perhaps at this rate it needs an air con that blows both warm and cool air - the business of the latest winner of the Apprentice show ;-)

I'm no expert, but I think Air to Air heat pumps will do this with warm air heating ducts

However, they are not loved by Net Zero folks, all that energy cooling somewhere down, and are not eligible for any heat pump grants, and you still need to heat hot water

MayDogsandCoffee

My gas and electric average about £70 per month - sometimes a bit more in winter (never over £100) and less in summer.  I work from home so computers are always on but I am old school and will live in M&S thermals in the winter and layer up.  If it is really cold I will wrap duvet around me - long brisk walk at lunch makes the house seem warmer.  It changes considerably in the summer as I spent most evening outdoors so no IT, TVs etc.  

Heidiho

trevjl said:

On energy bills, I am astounded at some of the figures people say they spend. Mine is £100 a month, only the two of us and a standard 3 bed semi but we use what we want to use. I am in the put a jumper on if you're cold school however.
The rip off is daily charges. My mum died a year ago this month and the flat has just sold. In that time I have paid Octopus £246 and it's all switched off at the MCB

Sorry to hear about your mum trevjl. I’ve also faced this situation but found the supplier ( in my case eon.next) to be great. They were happy to zero off the standing charge every time a bill was issued. It might be worth raising a query with octopus to see if they’d do the same perhaps?

Organgrinder

Such a lot of variation in energy costs. Ours at about £130 month seems ok. Of course it always seems such a waste to heat the house up before 6am, turn it off, then have it do it all again at 5pm. I say seems cos in reality it is cheaper than leaving it on all day. At retirement however this may be different due to possibly the later start time.

Agreed about standing charges too. A relative is in the forces and had a 6 month stint overseas and was furious about the £20 month they were paying for nothing!

On another front, have now got a whopping £130 of clubcard vouchers thanks to clubcard challenges and the easyJet offer. I was surprised they paid out so soon. So will be converting to easyJet vouchers (£260) to help pay for this summer's break.