£150 Energy Rebate Feels "Immoral"

SeagullFTB

I was lucky enough (and it was exactly that, pure luck) to enter a 3 year fixed deal with EDF in August last year, which kept my monthly payments pretty much the same as the previous couple of years. It happened to be a week or so before talk of the price cap increasing in October. I even managed to wrangle £240 in cashback from TopCashback. So receiving the £150 council tax/energy rebate next month just feels a bit, for lack of a better word, immoral. The surge in prices hasn't affected me and I've got the comfort of knowing my prices are fixed for another 2 and half years. I just can't quite decide what to do with the rebate.

Don't get me wrong, the money would be helpful. The cost of living is rising in every aspect of life, including groceries and travel. But I am just about managing to pay my bills, put food on the table etc... and keep hearing about people in much worse positions through no fault of their own. So it just feels a bit wrong to accept the money.

I have no issues with the "loan-not-loan" because I will end up paying it back anyway.

Aylesbury_Duck

Donate it to something like the Trussell Trust?  They and charities like them will support those for whom rising energy costs will be the difference between eating or not.

GingerTim

Do what I'm doing - donate it to your local food bank (I'm in exactly the same position as you with the 3 year EDF fix and cashback).

Ultrasonic

As above, just give the money to a charity that you feel more deserving than you.

stingey

I'm the same.  I've received my Council Tax notification in and I've had £150 deducted.  I'm comfortable  and can pay my previous monthly bill, rather than pay it back in the future 

MattMattMattUK

If you are a net taxpayer you will end up paying for it in the long run anyway, if you are not a net taxpayer then it only slightly increases your cost to the net taxpayers. As others have said if you feel particularly uncomfortable with the £150 then donate it to a food bank, but the in the grand scheme of things it makes little difference. 

Benny2020

Hookers and crack..................................joke

Ultrasonic

MattMattMattUK said:

If you are a net taxpayer you will end up paying for it in the long run anyway, if you are not a net taxpayer then it only slightly increases your cost to the net taxpayers. As others have said if you feel particularly uncomfortable with the £150 then donate it to a food bank, but the in the grand scheme of things it makes little difference. 

How much each individual pays for this via taxation will depend on income and expenditure though.

skycatcher

Benny2020 said:

Hookers and crack..................................joke

Just out of interest how much of that would £150 get you...... Asking for a friend.

jbuchanangb

https://www.bankuet.co.uk/shoreline would be a good place to donate. Only because I help run the Shoreline Foodbank.

SeagullFTB

Food bank sounds like a good idea. I might donate half immediately and keep half back for a rainy day, just in case an unexpected expense pops up. Then donate it in a few months if I still don't need it.