Follow the Yellow Brick Road 2023

savingholmes

Enjoy your new hobby. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Sometimes we are our own hard taskmaster.

SandyShores

Good advice @savingholmes, its easy to put the pressure on yourself.

The last energy bills support payment reached our bank today, so I'm confident that we'll have enough to comfortably pay the bills and food/household spends with wht I've left in the account this month.  New budget seems to be going well so far (one week in).  Quite timely that its the last payment, with our energy review next month, I'm so glad I took time to work out the actual cost of our energy use for this last year - I didn't have a clue with BGs lack of bills.  By my calculations, going on the same use for next year and current prices, we are the typical household (£2,100).  I'm going to set the direct debits to a total of £200/month which will allow a bit extra, although if the price increase comes in I'll increase to £250 (£3,000pa) and see how it goes.  After the review I will definitely be making regular contact with customer service to ask them to create a bill more often than twice a year - which in turn recalculates the estimated amount in credit/debit at the year end.

I wonder what joy the council tax bill will bring this year.  The next bill on my list has to be the TV channels contracts - need to get that down a bit.

savingholmes

If you go on your council website and looking at their minutes - you may be able to find what your CT will be. 

SandyShores

Thanks savingholmes, I couldn't find the minutes, but I did find a page explaining the council tax and it looks like a 9.2% increase for next year (approximately £20 per month extra).  Will have to wait and see if the gas/electric goes up too.  I should receive a pay rise at the start of July so that will more than cover any difference, I don't think Mr Shores is having much of a pay rise this year though.  Luckily we are in a good position at the moment.  I'm aware that things can change, for better or worse so won't take it for granted. 

savingholmes

£20 extra a month is a lot. I am grateful energy prices are coming down 

Merlin's_Beard

SandyShores said:

Thanks savingholmes, I couldn't find the minutes, but I did find a page explaining the council tax and it looks like a 9.2% increase for next year (approximately £20 per month extra).  Will have to wait and see if the gas/electric goes up too.  I should receive a pay rise at the start of July so that will more than cover any difference, I don't think Mr Shores is having much of a pay rise this year though.  Luckily we are in a good position at the moment.  I'm aware that things can change, for better or worse so won't take it for granted. 

At the minute they're predicting that energy prices will go down from here, assuming nothing unexpected happens in Ukraine. The government cap is in place until June and they're predicting that it won't be needed after that, unless something unexpected happens in Ukraine.

SandyShores

Its another £21 savingholmes, not great but we can manage that.  Especially if the energy bill isn't rising.  Thanks Merlin's_Beard that is good to know.  I'm waiting for my energy bill review in April and should receive about £100 back according to my calculations.  Definitely feels like a better position then I thought we would be.

SandyShores

Bit of overspending this weekend so far, and we now have just under £35 to last until payday.  Feels slightly strange to have so little left but luckily all food purchased to last us until payday, apart from a few odds and ends we might need.  Having an early night tonight with my hot water bottle - its been a long week and I need to recuperate for another long one next week.

savingholmes

Hope you feel more rested tomorrow 

SandyShores

Thanks savingholmes I managed to get a better sleep last night and definitely feel more rested but woke up with a back niggle.  Will do some stretches today but will book a physio in the week.  Its a sign of working too hard, not taking enough time away from my desk and stress.  The physio will sort it out but I need to get more of a routine going where I don't have to keep going back.