MSE Forum Poll: Which household bill do you find most stressful at the moment?

MSE_JC

We're fairly certain you don't have a favourite bill, but for many people there's often one of their household outgoings that gives them a bit more stress than the others for one reason or another.

Which one is giving you the most grief right now?

Vote in the poll then share your thoughts in the thread.

Brie

Well energy prices are obviously a mess right now and we're up for renewal next month so I'm going to have to look at what tariffs are available. Given the news today about the middle east I think things will improve so it's a question of do I just slide on to the SVR or look for another fix?

Broadband is another thing I need to look at as we have our landline with that but haven't had a landline since they sent us a new wifi box which haven't not had the opportunity to fit. I'd like to cancel the landline for now if we're not going to or can't use it but don't know what that would do to our phone number. Of course for all I know because we've been offline for so long maybe we no longer have a number.

twopenny

I choose council tax because I have no control over what I pay and it's gone up sky high and we are still short of police, terrible road surface and the rest

I would have chosen broadband as the worry because I find that the most slippery, you choose but they can change the rate.

Robin9

My other - Food

vacheron

Energy is a mess, but it doesn't stress me because I can see the justifications. Food also, but at least in both cases you have the power to control it to at least some degree.

Council Tax is the one that gets me the most stressed (annoyed would be the better word as at least I can afford it, many can't). It just goes up and up and up, and as our LA is a massive generational Labour voting borough it is pretty much a monopoly, and I can see nothing getting any better to show for it.

This year's bill is over £3,500…. for what? And don't give me that pie chart leaflet that comes every year along along with the insincere letter that sheds crocodile tears about how they didn't want to do it, but miraculously, yet again, their detailed calculations have shown that the increase required was exactly 4.99%…. precisely 0.01% below the threshold where it would have been considered an "excessive" amount, and they would be required to hold a referendum! 😡

MattMattMattUK

No bills are stressful. Paying them all in total might present an issue for some, but it seems odd to specifically choose one in isolation.

subjecttocontract

They are only stressful if you can't afford to pay them. If you can afford to pay them they are just incredibly annoying, especially increases as a previous poster has said.

Jemma01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81954989#Comment_81954989

Re council tax: Me too, word for word...

Rosa_Damascena

For me its got to be the ones I have the least control over - home and vehicle insurance. The surge in fuel price is bothering me disproprtionately to the amount I drive but come October energy bills will be through the roof

Truly, I have nothing to complain about compared with leaseholders and those who have to pay service charges.

jaxsmar

Council tax £212 pm that bill is the one that grinds my gears!

On top of paying for additional bins. (Garden)

Barneysmom

Council tax.

As it goes up by +5% every year - and added to that the 'new' garden waste charge - it's become a runaway bill.