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

euronorris

maryb said:

There’s there’s a report in the news that the regulator is going to increase the energy price cap by 49% from April.  So many people can barely afford the current rates especially if they were on a fix with a failed utility company and have been transferred to the standard variable rate with a new supplier.  

Yep  we'll find out tomorrow at 11am exactly what the rise is. And it's expected to increase again in October 😭

Rosa_Damascena

I woke up really stressed upon hearing the morning news hearing that every household might have to find an additional £2k for bills this year: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60228235 . Its a national scandal and even with £200 back is going to be unaffordable of you just don't have it. Its the public sector that will pick this up: the NHS, social care, schools and most likely prisons.

And it wasn't just my imagination, food really did jump in price between December and January: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/feb/02/uk-shop-price-inflation-almost-doubles-in-january 

[Deleted User]

I will await the news tomorrow with bated breath. I am very glad that I battled with my supplier a few months ago to let me pay on receipt of bill rather than direct debit: the thought of someone increasing it without my being in control terrifies me. I already submit meter readings weekly which I also write down in my notebook.

The only direct debit I have is my internet, everything else is paid on receipt of bill and I much prefer it that way - it gives me more control of my very limited budget. No card details saved anywhere online so no temptation that way either; although I confess I tend to use my library card more than my bank card these days, books are much more tempting to me. 

I was thrilled to get a lift to an Aldi today, so I have done a full stock up food and plenty of pantry essentials such as vinegar, stuffing mix and flour. Spent £54 but, barring bread and milk, this will last us until the end of the month. I have meal planned to month end and know that we can get in at no more than £70 for food this month. 

maisie_cat

I've got obsessed with food stores and pricing meals again, it makes me feel in control while other things I have little control over. We've made all the energy saving changes we can, and live in leggings and fleeces anyway
We invested in replacing the ancient rayburn & storage heaters with a biomass system last year, well that reduction in bills lasted a long time!
We expect to spend £2700 in the next year on electricity & pellets. If we hadn't made that investment we'd be spending £4400 this year or 23% of our income just on oil & electric!
Food and drink are our flex items, thankfully Feb & March are no council tax months for us, so I'm stocking up on store cupboards. We always have food stores, a habit that makes me feel more secure. Over the years I've had a few experiences of having to live out of store cupboards so I prefer that they have something in them!

mumtoomany

Just listening to radio four. A lady being interviewed was saying that she works with people who are really struggling financially, heat or eat. She said the present problems are the worst she's seen in 26 years. Worrying! Mumtoomany.xx

London_1

Thanks for the nice comments chums but I'm really a very ordinary person, just a bit on the old side  so had longer to work out what's essential in life  well what's essential in life for me at any rate .

I ,along with lots of others will be watching tv at 11.00 to see whats going to happen re the energy prices .
The trouble is energy prices have a knock on effect of shops and businesses.
My local big Tesco is changing from 24 hour opening next month to shutting at 12 until 06.00 am . Now I'm not bothered as I don't shop for food during the night , but shift workers do I think. No doubt its quieter, so perhaps the thinking is if there are fewer customers then staff won't be needed, and lighting can be lowered, or turned off and heating as well possibly.

But there is no doubt that the customer base ,thats you and I will, be paying a lot more for our food stuff this coming year. Along with furniture and household stuff ,so maybe the charity shops will be upping thier prices to people buying second hand stuff.
This year will be a tough one for many and I think possibly the make do and mend ideas will become more of a norm. Looking at TV schedules there seems to be a lot more programes about repairing stuff on than there used to be. Who remembers
Barry Bucknell and his DIY skills on TV.

Old skills will be revived, and less of a throwaway society will be a good thing for the planet at least, I shan't be looking for a shoe last just yet though  

Right must get a move on as I have my lovely lady who trims my barnet coming soon and I usually have a pot of coffee ready for her along with a couple of biscuits. She's smashing and always comes into my house draped in PPE as she cuts a lot of old ladies hair so doesn't want to pass anything on to her other customers.

Fingers crossed chums for the 11.00 news  re energy 

JackieO xx

Toonie

We're definitely feeling the pinch here. I was recently made unemployed and it's becoming harder to get a stable and decently paid job in my area (early years/childcare). I had been looking at free courses with certificates I could do to increase my job options but everything seems to need photo ID to prove I have the right to live, work, and study in the UK and I don't have any as it is currently an expense I can't afford (apparently my UK birth certificate is not good enough).

The 54% jump in bills is going to be awful. Though I do wonder whether that will push more people back into office working so they don't have to pay their own energy costs. I'm planning on utilising my slow cooker more, especially whilst off work as I can make soups for pennies for my lunch and knock up some flatbread to have with it which cook very fast.

euronorris

For me, being in the office doesn't reduce the bills really. My husband is still home, using leccy and gas for warmth. And any potential saving would be offset by the cost of travel to the office. Just going to have to try and decrease usage as much as possible. 54% increase is difficult to swallow when we already had an increase in October. We've gone from paying £88pm, to £125pm and now I estimate it will be £192pm! (based on averaging out the cost over the year)

KxMx

EDIT: I was relying on the BBC live reporting via news app which didn't mention Warm Home Discount, apparently it is being expanded. 

I would urge anyone on DD's to change to payment on demand (bills) since at least then you pay for what you actually use and not what the energy company thinks you might use (aka as much as they can get away with). 

JingsMyBucket

@Toonie how much would a photo ID cost? This is a genuine question. I just moved to the UK as an immigrant and have various photo IDs already including my biometric ID card that immigrants need to have. My husband always states that I have easier access to photo ID than him.