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

[Deleted User]

I completely take your point @EssexHebridian, but I’d rather pay on receipt of bill. In the past when the electric company told me they were putting the DD up, even when it wasn’t necessary for them to do so, it involved a lengthy phone call and having to argue my point. As a sufferer of GAD, I just can’t do this.

Also my budget is so low that if ‘they’ chose to put my DD up it really does make things difficult as I budget to the penny. Thank you though, I appreciate it x

euronorris

Deleted_User said:

@euronorris - we are really rural, and a friend told me she paid 161.9p per litre for petrol today - she nearly cried at the pumps. I really don't blame her. 

I am trying to keep positive and upbeat about everything, I truly am, but there is no magic money tree and if we are hit with a large rise in CT and electricity, we will really struggle. 

Wow. That is so steep! I don't blame her. I was gutted enough paying £59 for 3/4 of a tank (there was about a 1/4 tank left in there when I topped up). 

Prudent

Thank you to everyone who has posted, so much useful information. 

I am watching my bills really carefully just now. OH got out our bikes today and pumped the tyres and I cleaned and oiled the chains. I have a long-term illness so can only cycle sometimes, but we are hoping to use them to do the small local journeys like visiting friends or going to the shop for milk. It is about a mile away so a 2L bottle of milk can get be heavy to carry home uphill. Hopefully, it will be easier on the bike.

We are on a low fixed rate for G&E until the start of August. I feel we are in for a nasty shock. I can see how many units we use annually but I can't see how to work out how much this will cost on a normal tariff once the fixed rate ends. We are only putting the heating on for a couple of hours late afternoon with the thermostat set at 16c. I have a heated throw which is a huge help. I have just ordered one for OH and a heat pad for our cat, buying both from the money I managed to shave off the grocery spend last month.  I am also considering an oodie style jumper if I can shave off money again. Council tax is rising 3% which is in line with the increase in our pensions, but increased food costs are already worrying as is petrol. 

Floss

I paid 150.9 a litre last week at my local Tesco, that's for the slightly more expensive E5 fuel as it works out at 17p/mile rather than 20p/mile for E10 due to better fuel economy. Thank heavens I am at 40% of pre-Covid commuting!

EssexHebridean

I spotted 156.9 for unleaded and 162.9 for diesel at a petrol station in our town earlier. Can’t imagine how they think it’s justified - we’re 19 miles from London, so not exactly “in the sticks” and they’re the first to breach the 160 ceiling round here. We paid 154.9 for diesel a couple of miles away and even that made us wince a bit!

Brambling

A cousin was complaining on FB that it was £1.60 for unleaded in Dorset today in a petrol station which always use to be 2p or 3p cheaper than most.   Not sure what it is here in the SE I paid 1.50 when I filled up just over a week ago but luckily haven't used the car much this week 

MingVase

Anybody with Octopus had notification of the new rates yet?

newlywed

I am on prepay and not smart meters, so will top up as much as I can before April. Have redirected some of the budget to do this. Thankfully I am in a position to do this.

can only top up £49 at a time as it’s the limit on the card and key. Apparently I can have £250 credit on the meter…. Well there’s no way I will get to that point but will see next payday (25th) what else I can add. 

Brambling

MingVase said:

Anybody with Octopus had notification of the new rates yet?

Not yet, I've only been advised that it will be going up

bouicca21

@Deleted_User i pay on direct debit.  I have put it up a bit but not as much as they say it should be.  If i end up the month owing then, I top it up with a one off payment.  Once we get into the summer I will have a better idea of what my monthly payment ought to be and budget accordingly.

At the moment I just think that putting it up too much will mean that it will build up to £silly over the summer.