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

TheBanker

Jellytotts said:

@YorksLass. I'd ask for that credit back if I were you.  Your new fix tariff DD will be set to cover your estimated use for each year (which will be estimated on previous use) so with the credits you'll get to your account from the £400 government payment you should stay in credit with your new DD price.   Get that extra back and use if where it's needed.

We had nearly £200 credit so clawed that back and used it as larder/provisions stock up money.  Our new DD price is based on last years figures but we've dramatically cut everything down by being more savvy so I think our DD will drop quite a bit too once we've got the winter behind us.

I have too much credit - in fact when I log into my account they are suggesting reducing the Direct Debit - I am probably the only person in the UK who's being advised by the energy supplier to do that!

I've decided to leave it as it is for now, as I'm not sure if their suggestion factors in the October and January price rises, or the £400 government credit. I'm also not sure what effect my efficiency measures will have on usage. I could take the money back and put it in a savings account, but with interest rates so low it hardly seems worth it. My sums tell me that, assuming a further 50% price rise in January and assuming this winter's consumption is no more than last year, I will have a very small credit balance in April. 

I don't think my DD should really drop - any efficiency gains I can make won't be enough to off-set the price increases unfortunately. 

London_1

As I'm on a fixed rate until next August my D/D is quite reasonable at the moment, only £42 per month, and this last months bill was only £38 odd.
I have about £225 in credit on my account, but I don't mind, as I like to keep a good credit in there over the winter in case it turns really cold Jan/February, and I need more heating.

 I live alone and have osteo-arthritis, and the cold makes my joints seize up, and then they ache and won't work so well.

I'm a bit of a cold mortal and like to be warm If there is a large amount in credit, my energy company just drop the D/D so when the Governments £400 starts its likely they will drop my monthly cost anyway

JackieO xx

Spendless

Still having a catch up but just thought I'd mention this. Earlier this year I decided to have a wardrobe sort out and I almost threw away a few dresses I had, bought for attending DD's drama events and haven't been worn again or maybe only once.. Anyway for whatever reason they ended up back in my wardrobe and then I started my new job, where I work in the office once a week - the rest of the time is from home. Initially I wore my usual white blouse and dark trousers, but I was far too hot and most of the women were wearing dresses. So I dug mine out. I'm a couple of sizes smaller now than when I bought them but they have elasticated waists and some a tie round the back, so still fit fine. I'm wearing these using them up and as a consequence have much less washing because it's just one item to throw into the machine. I want to describe them as 'cotton' but that's not accurate, so I've just looked at the label and they are 97% Viscose, 3% Elastane. I worked out the first day I wore one, that I'd last worn a dress to work over 30 years ago. When the colder weather comes, I hope I'll still be ok wearing them just by adding a long sleeved cardigan and thick tights 

in_my_wellies

Spendless said:

Still having a catch up but just thought I'd mention this. Earlier this year I decided to have a wardrobe sort out and I almost threw away a few dresses I had, bought for attending DD's drama events and haven't been worn again or maybe only once.. Anyway for whatever reason they ended up back in my wardrobe and then I started my new job, where I work in the office once a week - the rest of the time is from home. Initially I wore my usual white blouse and dark trousers, but I was far too hot and most of the women were wearing dresses. So I dug mine out. I'm a couple of sizes smaller now than when I bought them but they have elasticated waists and some a tie round the back, so still fit fine. I'm wearing these using them up and as a consequence have much less washing because it's just one item to throw into the machine. I want to describe them as 'cotton' but that's not accurate, so I've just looked at the label and they are 97% Viscose, 3% Elastane. I worked out the first day I wore one, that I'd last worn a dress to work over 30 years ago. When the colder weather comes, I hope I'll still be ok wearing them just by adding a long sleeved cardigan and thick tights 

I was the same as you. I thought I might as well start wearing dresses round the house and for gardening (a great look with my wellies!) as it really does save washing. If not a dress I wear shorts, especially when gardening - much easier to wash legs than muddy trousers. 
 

London_1

Weirdly, just now I have received an email saying my monthly D/D has been reduced to £36.00 from next month so an extra £6.00 to squirrel away . must be my lucky day today  

JackieO xx

luvchocolate

London_1 said:

Weirdly, just now I have received an email saying my monthly D/D has been reduced to £36.00 from next month so an extra £6.00 to squirrel away . must be my lucky day today  

JackieO xx

I'm with Shell and this is exactly what they did with me...before my fix ended last month 

Auntycaz

My fix is ending at the end of this month and I've also decided to go for another fix. Its slightly more than the October SVT,  so I will pay more for 3 months but if it goes up in January by the predicted amount I will be paying less then, and as there are no exit fees involved if it does come down I can change. At least with a fixed amount I can budget for it.

njm123

TheBanker said:

Jellytotts said:

@YorksLass. I'd ask for that credit back if I were you.  Your new fix tariff DD will be set to cover your estimated use for each year (which will be estimated on previous use) so with the credits you'll get to your account from the £400 government payment you should stay in credit with your new DD price.   Get that extra back and use if where it's needed.

We had nearly £200 credit so clawed that back and used it as larder/provisions stock up money.  Our new DD price is based on last years figures but we've dramatically cut everything down by being more savvy so I think our DD will drop quite a bit too once we've got the winter behind us.

I have too much credit - in fact when I log into my account they are suggesting reducing the Direct Debit - I am probably the only person in the UK who's being advised by the energy supplier to do that!

I've decided to leave it as it is for now, as I'm not sure if their suggestion factors in the October and January price rises, or the £400 government credit. I'm also not sure what effect my efficiency measures will have on usage. I could take the money back and put it in a savings account, but with interest rates so low it hardly seems worth it. My sums tell me that, assuming a further 50% price rise in January and assuming this winter's consumption is no more than last year, I will have a very small credit balance in April. 

I don't think my DD should really drop - any efficiency gains I can make won't be enough to off-set the price increases unfortunately. 

I'm getting the same advice to reduce mine, which amused me.   

Because I'm on a fixed deal as I'm had a real struggle with them to get the DD set to it's current level as they wanted 30% more than my estimates suggested was necessary based on my usage records and they had the same reading I used. 

I eventually agreed to paying 10% more than I though necessary,  now I'm in credit and they are suggesting cutting the DD to less that I original estimate.   

I'll leave the excess there for next winter as that and the £400 should leave decent start for next winter when I'll need an expensive new tariff, so might allow a sensible DD from their calculations.

Brambling

I'm £200 in credit and have been since April, which means my DD is currently what I'm using before the heating goes on or the Oct rise.  At the beginning of August before the increase was announced my supplier increased my DD by 50% so I called and asked them to move it back down due to the credit and the government £400. I'll keep a close eye as I know it will need to go up but for the time beginning I'll benefit from keeping my money in the bank. Two council tax free months at the beginning of next year have been bookmarked to help with any shortfal

I got my soup maker out earlier and was interested to see how much it would cost me for a 20 minute smooth soup.  Before anyone comments this was not an accurate test I didn't turn everything off it was just a glance at the smart meter before I turned it on I was also charging my phone, watching TV and the usual background stuff fridge, freezer etc was on.  The smart meter increased by 5p during the 20 minutes, which is for me is definitely cheaper than using my electric hob and the small time I would use the stick blender.   

My soup maker was a gift a couple of years ago so no costs to recuperate, it will make me think this winter before making the soup on the electric hob which I prefer with soups like minestrone. Today's soup was made from fridge and store cupboard supplies and used up some sad celery

Crazycatlady2

TheBanker said:

Jellytotts said:

@YorksLass. I'd ask for that credit back if I were you.  Your new fix tariff DD will be set to cover your estimated use for each year (which will be estimated on previous use) so with the credits you'll get to your account from the £400 government payment you should stay in credit with your new DD price.   Get that extra back and use if where it's needed.

We had nearly £200 credit so clawed that back and used it as larder/provisions stock up money.  Our new DD price is based on last years figures but we've dramatically cut everything down by being more savvy so I think our DD will drop quite a bit too once we've got the winter behind us.

I have too much credit - in fact when I log into my account they are suggesting reducing the Direct Debit - I am probably the only person in the UK who's being advised by the energy supplier to do that!

I've decided to leave it as it is for now, as I'm not sure if their suggestion factors in the October and January price rises, or the £400 government credit. I'm also not sure what effect my efficiency measures will have on usage. I could take the money back and put it in a savings account, but with interest rates so low it hardly seems worth it. My sums tell me that, assuming a further 50% price rise in January and assuming this winter's consumption is no more than last year, I will have a very small credit balance in April. 

I don't think my DD should really drop - any efficiency gains I can make won't be enough to off-set the price increases unfortunately. 

I’m being told to lower my payments from 180 to 137. Ive 522 in credit but my bill will be august to jan so deffo going to need it with increase in oct and jan. We have cut usage but will see what winter brings tbh