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

TheBanker

Crazycatlady2 said:

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 

For me the big unknown is not whether I can cope with the heating being on lower/less often, but what the weather will bring. If we get a few particularly cold snaps then we could be in trouble. 

London_1

I suppose you could think tht with the prices all going through the roof people will be more careful with their energy useage which may help climate change I am always trying to find a positive on things if I can 
JackieO xx

Jellytotts

I’ve spent the afternoon clearing one of the greenhouses, all the tomatoes had stopped being productive so picked them all to ripen indoors and got all the plants out, gave it a good sweep up and moved the shelving out.  Tomorrow I shall be fitting some spare washing line, end to end to take duvet covers/sheets etc and then my main airer can stand in the middle.  Hopefully that will help a lot with winter drying.  I also ordered an over the bath airer (extendable) that can also stand up straight from the edge of the bath to lean on the wall.  Lots of drying space and out of the way of daily life.

I’ve noticed the price rises in the shops are increasing week on week, it’s getting scary.  

Florenceem

Went shopping to Ald. today - lots of gaps on shelves. Bought food items that I wouldn't usually buy but they will be easy to use on my gas hob if there is a power cut at meal time.

SIRENS

I'm paying about £168 for gas and electric, but luckily on a fix until August, I'm using less than my dd and I'm not expecting to exceed it too much come winter as we don't have central heating just a heated towel rail in the bathroom and gas fire in the living room, luckily my kids run quite hot but I'm going to invest in some electric blankets just in case we have a bad winter, but living in London the winters have been pretty mild the last few years. I'm in credit by just over 1k with my energy supplier and hoping that will keep building over the next couple of months. 

Spendless

I bought some Fairy w-u-l today, original  and noticed that the Platinum fairy that used to be in a silver bottle is now in a clear one, just the bottle is more moulded (has a slight pattern on it). Other than that it's green liquid just like original. Anyone know what that's about having 2 varieties  of fairy, one more expensive look very similar to each other rather than different - I can see that causing some confusion.

GaleSF63

London_1 said:

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

I have an email from Scottish Power which says "The discount will be issued as a refund to your bank account following your Direct Debit collection." so it doesn't look as if they will let the credit mount up. This is just one energy company though - others may work differently.

TheBanker

Spendless said:

I bought some Fairy w-u-l today, original  and noticed that the Platinum fairy that used to be in a silver bottle is now in a clear one, just the bottle is more moulded (has a slight pattern on it). Other than that it's green liquid just like original. Anyone know what that's about having 2 varieties  of fairy, one more expensive look very similar to each other rather than different - I can see that causing some confusion.

Confusion is probably the plan. People will not realise and pick up the more expensive version by mistake. Then the cheaper version can be phased out due to lack of demand.

Or maybe, less cynically, clear plastic is cheaper/easier to recycle than silver plastic. 

Who knows?

CKhalvashi

GaleSF63 said:

London_1 said:

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

I have an email from Scottish Power which says "The discount will be issued as a refund to your bank account following your Direct Debit collection." so it doesn't look as if they will let the credit mount up. This is just one energy company though - others may work differently.

I don't yet have something from Shell, however one way around this will be to increase the amount of the direct debit after the first amount has hit your account.

We will be doing this to let a balance accumulate.

ladyholly

To all those people letting money accrue in their utility accounts. Have you thought of taking the money out and put it in a seperate savings account where it might earn a little bit of interest and more to the point , in my opinion, deprve the companies of the interest