Can I get any help at all?

aroma44

Hi I bought my first home at 51 (July 2021) I earn £29k a year and live alone. I knew things would be tight but had not anticipated the massive leap in the cost of living! I have received £150 cost of living help as every council tax payer has and will receive £400 via SSE as per government. I am, and always have been, careful with gas and electric usage. I’ve traded in my car for a much smaller more economical one (although that cost £800 extra to do so eek, I will save in the long run!) Am I missing anything, as I am only just holding my head above water and I can feel my stress levels rising!
Thanks

GrumpyDil

I'd suggest asking a mod to move this to the energy boards as they will be able to look at your energy usage and possibly makes suggestions to reduce it. Motoring probably isn't the forum for that kind of help. 

sheramber

You need to look at your spending and see where you csn cut costs.

Make a list of everything you spend.and start from there. 

What can you do without?

What can you reduce the cost of?

born_again

GrumpyDil said:

I'd suggest asking a mod to move this to the energy boards as they will be able to look at your energy usage and possibly makes suggestions to reduce it. Motoring probably isn't the forum for that kind of help. 

You can also report post, as there is a section "Needs moving, merging or splitting" in there.

MSE_ForumTeam5

Moved to Energy board as suggested

pochase

If you are not disabled, means tested benefits or a pensioner there is currently no additional help.

What was you energy usage over the last 12 months?

PennyForThem_2

Look at your insulation.  Check out your local council site and see if you are eligible for any grants etc to add insulation to your home. 

When you bought your home did you get EPC certificate?  What did it say?  Recommendations?
https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate

aroma44

pochase said:

If you are not disabled, means tested benefits or a pensioner there is currently no additional help.

What was you energy usage over the last 12 months?

Thanks Electric 1,026.49kWh Gas 4,246.61kWh for 12 months (just me and I am very careful always have been) I am on a fixed tariff and will be until July 23 but I know I will not be able to afford the increased prices

aroma44

PennyForThem_2 said:

Look at your insulation.  Check out your local council site and see if you are eligible for any grants etc to add insulation to your home. 

When you bought your home did you get EPC certificate?  What did it say?  Recommendations?
https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate

Thanks, recommended 2 window replacements, but cannot afford to get those done, catch 22. The previous owner had insulated the lift very very well! I looked at various grants but I do not qualify sadly

aroma44

sheramber said:

You need to look at your spending and see where you csn cut costs.

Make a list of everything you spend.and start from there. 

What can you do without?

What can you reduce the cost of?

Thanks, I had scaled back so much to buy the property, batch cooking in slow cooker, yellow sticker shopping from the fridge section, walk not drive if at all possible, shopping around rather than assume Lidl is the cheapest. I would not have bought my house if I had any idea of everything going up. Fortunately I am on a fixed 5 year mortgage deal and everything may have calmed by then when I renew

jbuchanangb

You are a low energy user, you have done well. Having fixed your rate until July 2023, as I have, you are protected from the worst that this winter will bring to most people. Who knows what the energy market will be doing in May/June next year, when people coming off a 12 month fix will be staring down the barrel of an enormous increase. Maybe try to build up a credit balance during the winter as some sort of cushion against the second half of next year.