to think I might as well not fucking bother?

[Handay]

Recently had a good appraisal at work. Put a bit of effort into it beforehand to make sure I gave specific examples of where I'd gone above & beyond, was a very positive experience and ended up getting a bit of a pay bump. Not that much, but at least a bit of a reflection on my performance, and I was quite chuffed with myself for the outcome. I'm not massively career minded so it was enough for me.

But then this week alone, the council announced that our council tax would be going up by 4.5 % and I also got a letter from our energy supplier telling me the bill was going up by over £90 a year.

This won't wipe out my pay increase but I will see less of it.

Aibu to wonder why I fucking bothered putting all the effort into my appraisal just to hand over more money to these bastards?

[Smelborp]

Well if you hadn’t put any effort into your appraisal, you wouldn’t have got a raise and you still would have higher bills as the two things aren’t connected.

[Handay]

Yeah, I know that's the logical response. I'm just fucked off that I had literally a week or so thinking "ooh I've got more money, that's nice" before some gouging bastard found a way to take it off me.

[PositiveVibez]

1. Switch your energy supplier
2. Of course it was worth it. Its not works fault your bills have gone up.

They have shown you they value you. So definitely worth it. Especially if a promotion comes up.

I understand the frustration of in one hand out the other, but the work thing can only be of a benefit to you.

And seriously, switch your energy supplier.

[WorraLiberty]

I'm struggling to see the connection.

As Smelborp says, at least you can now afford to pay the increases.

Isn't that partly why we all need a pay rise from time to time, because the cost of living increases?

[Handay]

Also, a broader and perhaps more coherent point is that fixed living costs seem to be getting ever higher while wage increases do not keep up with them.

[Katterinaballerina]

It’s really disheartening.

Have you tried having a spending review yourself? Most companies rely on existing customers being complacent and only offer new customers their best rates. Moving energy suppliers can save money but even phoning to say you want to cancel services like extra tv channel packages or food shopping delivery passes can lead to them offering you a cheaper deal to try and keep you. Obviously, they might not offer so don’t try this with anything vital!

I checked all the digital services I subscribed to as well and discovered that I was on a monthly rate for one that I want to keep and switching to yearly saved me £20 a year. Which I then spent on something else but at least I’m not wasting it. Check if you’re using everything you pay out for. Things like Netflix and Amazon Prime can automatically continue after the free trial period unless you remember to cancel them.

It’s not going to make you rich but it might cancel out the council tax rise.

[Handay]

Thanks Katterina yes it's just a bit of a kick in the balls of my newfound optimism. I don't have a tv package but I'll definitely look into changing energy supplier. Can't do anything about the council tax tho. 😑 And of course as a single person I already pay 25% more than someone in a couple. 😑

Energy is such an almighty faff. I don't actually give a shit who my gas and electric comes from - makes no odds to me: it's all the same. Choice my arse. They'll probably all put their prices up now anyway, bastards.

[AnOwlCalledPlop]

I get you OP.

Sometimes you can be irritated about something and it doesn’t make logical sense. That’s fine. Ignore all the sensible sallys 😶

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

Aibu to wonder why I fucking bothered putting all the effort into my appraisal just to hand over more money to these bastards?

Try being on housing benefit. “Oh you had a bonus there at Xmas? We’ll just deduct that entirely from your housing benefit.”

Got to the point where I asked my employer not to apply bonuses whether I deserved them or not. It wasn’t worth the financial fuckery it caused with my future housing benefit payments.

Think of it another way OP. Try saying “thank goodness I had a pay rise to cover the bill increases.”

[Katterinaballerina]

Yes, they’ll all put their bills up. It still annoys me that they put VAT on domestic energy bills.

Getting recognition for your work is still something to be proud of.

[ErrSoYeah]

Yeah, I get you too.

[IWantMyHatBack]

Are you serious?

[IWantMyHatBack]

90 increase on energy bills is nothing, and you'll probably wipe that out of you switch.

Oh.. I can give you a £50 bulb code that will credit your account. That would help.

Council tax? Yeh.. It's shit. As a single parent I pay 75% of the full rate. That feels a bit harsh tbf.

[DarkYearForMySoul]

Just wait. Found out tonight we import both electricity and gas from Europe, all contracts are via Euro Courts, and will be nil and void if we crash out. (yes valid info, from an elected officials report of chat with power company). Oh golly that’s going to be interesting, not.

[Handay]

Energy companies are also energy suppliers and therefore set the price that they "supply" to themselves. It's all a massive rip, Europe or not. Bastards, as I said.

Iwantmy yes, am serious, sort of. More exasperated and know I can't do anything. Haven't had a pay rise in three years. Prior to that, took a pay cut with this job after being made redundant after all of us employees agreeing to a 5% cut in order to preserve jobs ... then a bunch of us got made redundant anyway. So this is literally the first bit of an upswing I've had in around five years so yeah I'm fucked off that the buzz lasted around a couple of weeks.

[Bowerbird5]

Sorry that has happened Handay.
Years ago I finally as on the top rung of my pay then thecouncil were bringing in Single Status and we were to lose 25% cut on my rung of the ladder. Bottom rung were given a pay rise! I wonder where that money came from? After putting in lots of evidence and a meeting attended by Headteachers it was reduce to 7 %. This year I have finally clawed myself back to where I was but I am planning to retire soon.😕 the job is getting harder and I am so tired at the end of the day.

I understand. You had that week or so of joy and now bumped back to earth. Try for a month to write down all purchases and see if there is some way to claw back a bit. Maybe a take away coffee every day or bought sandwiches. Change that to once a week which means you appreciate it more and use the rest to put into a “ rainy day fund” use this for unexpected purchases and if you don’t need it you can use it for a weekend away or holiday.
Not as good as the joy of the pay rise I know but perhaps by micro managing the rest it will make a difference.
💐

[floribunda18]

YANBU. Other costs have been going up at a far greater rate than wages for at least ten years now. Everyone except the super rich has got poorer, and society has become more unequal.

[Singlenotsingle]

Have you got a car? My car insurance renewal came through at £406, but I can get it at £230 elsewhere after checking one of those price comparison websites. Its worth checking all these things.

[Baby2namehelp]

The same week I got a payrise, our landlord said she was selling and our new house is more expensive so it got cancelled out, I feel your pain!

[SpenglerOswald]

Council tax is theft so I can see your annoyance.

[Nquartz]

Switching energy suppliers doesn't need to be a hassle, join the money saving expert energy club.

When you join you have to put in your usage for gas & electricity, then it finds you the best deals & will let you know when you could switch to save.

We have to pay to park at my work, it's an annual cost we see deducted each month. Some years the percentage increase on that has been greater than the pay rise percentage. Talk about giving with one & taking with the other.

I agree with PP who said the cost of living increases are way off kilter compared to pay increases. Even with a pay rise I'm rarely better off unfortunately.

[longwayoff]

Hey spengler, did that wicked council take your ability to think straight along with a council tax rise? Who needs rubbish collection? Schools? Social Services? Police? Etc.

[notanothernam]

It's very frustrating. Our childcare increase every year (despite having school aged children now) out strips our cost of living increase every year. And I'm not getting a coat of living one anymore. That's not even factoring in any other bill increase, they say wages are catching up but I'm going to guess not for people with childcare!

[McPie]

Dh is due to move up a grade in the next couple of months and I can see us not benefiting from any extra money at all . Luckily I am retraining and will be able to double our monthly income by working only 10 hours each week when I qualify in two years time.
I switched to bulb very easily and they done all the work. They have just reduced my energy prices for the second time this winter, they say I will save £22 a year and they will be £357 cheaper than the big six! That alone has to make it worth looking into switching supplier.

[Processedpea]

Same. everything is going up again. It's an arse and the rich are getting richer