It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

euronorris

Yes, it's very frustrating about the standing charges and background appliances, like you say. The other biggest factor in electricity terms is my laptop and screen for work on WFH days. If I go into the office, I spend more on fuel getting there and back, so it's unavoidable cost.

Brambling

I had a smart meter fitted on the 5th May and it's still bedding in, I have found it interesting on what uses the most power and I was able to successfully 'nag' my sister in looking to make some changes

When I go back to the office two days a week from next week my petrol for the 25 mile round trip will be more than the extra electricity and water WFH cost me and TBH working next to a large supermarket can lead me into temptations on my daily lunchtime walk, so I'll have to remember to leave my purse and cards at my desk

otb666

I used £5 a day on electric last quarter 20 units a day.  This is for 3 adults with 6 PC (10 units )on continually, DW (3 units)used twice daily and kettle used ALOT.  I am not cutting back yet as we can afford it and just retired I have fixed fuel prices until feb 24.  I do think an increase was due as it had been cheap for some time The same with Food  However I do worry for the future as if it does increase further we would have to limit my hubbys and sons gaming as it would no longer be cheap entertainment.  I just hope the prices dont go up too much higher.  I am just being honest and not meant to be hurtful at all as if I had younger kids I would be very worried and I do worry about my children who have young families and will help out if needs be If i can afford to

JIL

I have solar panels and feed in tariff, which means that an energy company buy my excess energy. Why then hasnt my fit payments increased? 

Why does it only work one way.

Woolsery

JIL said:

I have solar panels and feed in tariff, which means that an energy company buy my excess energy. Why then hasnt my fit payments increased? 

Why does it only work one way.

Because you entered into a contract with non-variable rates? Presumably you looked at the pay-back period and found the deal attractive. I know my council did. They stuck panels on all the older/vulnerable person bungalows and have since raked in a good  profit, also giving some benefit to the tenants. The rest of us paid for that, and we still do.

There's a great deal of unfairness built into current decisions; the better-off already having considerable independence from the grid if they want it, but I'm doubtful your FIT payment and your decision to take up the offer was a bad one.

zcrat41

Depends on your solar panels. If you only get a FIT then that's stuck but if you get an export payment that can be negotiated. 

I've just renegotiated ours from 6p to 16p. It's still a far cry from what they charge my business at The moment (46p) but it helps. 

ladyholly

The following is copied from a post I saw on F*****ok. I thought there is a great deal of truth in it .

One of the vicious ironies of life is that the wealthier you are, the more economically you can live. Yesterday I made very much soup, from two butternut squashes, a large pile of meh carrots, onion, ginger, peanut butter (no, really) and stock. There was enough for five meals for two of us., and it probably cost about £4. It is exactly the sort of cooking that people say people who use Foodbanks should do. "Oh, if you buy in bulk, and cook it and freeze it it's really cheap to make nutritious tasty meals". But here's the thing. There is a HUGE amount of privilege in being able to do that. I was able to get to a cheap supermarket to get the squash, and the market for onions (because I have transport and can get to places where food is cheap and then carry it home). I was able to use up leftover veg because I have somewhere to store it (because I'm not relying on a shared kitchen with other people who might find my stash of onions, not-quite-rotten carrots and vegetable stock cubes too tempting). I was able to prepare the veg because I have good sharp knives and chopping boards (because I haven't been placed in a bedsit or hostel with just a table knife and fork). I was able to take the time to prepare the veg (because I had the energy, having not been working long hours at something physically demanding, and not being in the midst of a flare up of pain or fatigue). I was able to cook the stuff (because I have not only pans but also a really excellent Instant Pot). I was able to turn the cooker on (because my gas and electricity meter don't need topping up because card meters *always* cost more than any other kind of payment, and are reserved for the customers who are likely to have most difficulties in paying). I could cook five meals worth of soup (because I have a freezer, and am not worried about it breaking, or about the electricity cutting out (see above)). I could risk the soup not working (because if it had gone wrong it would have been annoying but I would not have been in despair over the wasted food and I'd have just cooked something else). I had the emotional energy to plan ahead (because I am not spending all my time being terrified of what I’m going to eat next or where I’m going to cook it). So yeah, I made a lot of food for really very little money. But another me, a me who has to rely on what the corner shop offers (and I will be very surprised indeed if there’s a corner shop anywhere selling butternut squash (or any other fresh veg) at all, let alone selling it for 79p); a me who can’t top up the electricity because someone in the household needs shoes; a me who lives in a bed and breakfast and only has a microwave; a me who can’t keep supplies of what the actual me thinks of as ‘essential’ (stock, seasonings, peanut butter); would not have been able to do this economical thing. Check your privilege. Always.

Woolsery

euronorris said:

I could scream. With ridiculous suggestions about 30p meals and now 'just get a better paying job', and ofgem throwing us under the bus in order to keep the big companies happy, I am just so angry about it all atm!!

When you see politicians and their associates making silly, insensitive statements or behaving badly and being 'taken to task' in the media, look around at what they might be hoping to achieve, either by getting people to choose sides and argue among themselves, or by deflecting attention from something which has considerable ramifications.

This thread is quite a good one to watch. Plenty of argument, virtue signalling and and not much sympathy!  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6357731/my-bill-will-rocket-from-89-per-month-to-270-how-is-that-fair-or-legal/p1

TheAble

ladyholly said:

The following is copied from a post I saw on F*****ok. I thought there is a great deal of truth in it .

One of the vicious ironies of life is that the wealthier you are, the more economically you can live.

Yesterday I made very much soup, from two butternut squashes, a large pile of meh carrots, onion, ginger, peanut butter (no, really) and stock.

There was enough for five meals for two of us., and it probably cost about £4.

It is exactly the sort of cooking that people say people who use Foodbanks should do. "Oh, if you buy in bulk, and cook it and freeze it it's really cheap to make nutritious tasty meals".

But here's the thing.

There is a HUGE amount of privilege in being able to do that.

I was able to get to a cheap supermarket to get the squash, and the market for onions (because I have transport and can get to places where food is cheap and then carry it home).

I was able to use up leftover veg because I have somewhere to store it (because I'm not relying on a shared kitchen with other people who might find my stash of onions, not-quite-rotten carrots and vegetable stock cubes too tempting).

I was able to prepare the veg because I have good sharp knives and chopping boards (because I haven't been placed in a bedsit or hostel with just a table knife and fork).

I was able to take the time to prepare the veg (because I had the energy, having not been working long hours at something physically demanding, and not being in the midst of a flare up of pain or fatigue).

I was able to cook the stuff (because I have not only pans but also a really excellent Instant Pot).

I was able to turn the cooker on (because my gas and electricity meter don't need topping up because card meters *always* cost more than any other kind of payment, and are reserved for the customers who are likely to have most difficulties in paying).

I could cook five meals worth of soup (because I have a freezer, and am not worried about it breaking, or about the electricity cutting out (see above)).

I could risk the soup not working (because if it had gone wrong it would have been annoying but I would not have been in despair over the wasted food and I'd have just cooked something else).

I had the emotional energy to plan ahead (because I am not spending all my time being terrified of what I’m going to eat next or where I’m going to cook it).

So yeah, I made a lot of food for really very little money.

But another me, a me who has to rely on what the corner shop offers (and I will be very surprised indeed if there’s a corner shop anywhere selling butternut squash (or any other fresh veg) at all, let alone selling it for 79p); a me who can’t top up the electricity because someone in the household needs shoes; a me who lives in a bed and breakfast and only has a microwave; a me who can’t keep supplies of what the actual me thinks of as ‘essential’ (stock, seasonings, peanut butter); would not have been able to do this economical thing.

Check your privilege. Always.

I don't know if I'd call it "privilege" necessarily (the word suggests there's no merit in such advantage, perhaps?) but it's certainly true that life can be a lot more expensive when you're hard-up.

-taff

I think they may be referring to this

check your privilege — used to suggest that someone should recognize that their attitudes or views reflect the fact that they are in an inherently privileged or advantageous position because of the particular social category or categories to which they belong.