Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Anybody else not too worried about the energy price rises?

128 replies

t0nim92 · 07/02/2022 18:21

I'm seeing all these posts and articles about people worrying about how they're going to pay their bills etc.

Is there anyone else on a low income and not too worried about the price hikes?

I'm on a low income but usually ever year I get a refund from my gas and electric company for being in credit with them both, so at a worst this year I'm expecting to not receive one.

I live in quite a poor area but feel if I was struggling for food then there would be options there. There's lots of community food set ups, for example pay a certain amount and go and fill up a few bags with shopping, a local cafe has a kindness cabinet that has food free to take, there's a free community 3 course meal locally that's on weekly, the bread and butter thing etc.

I really hope that people realise that there's things out there that can help their situation if it's needed, rather then going without food or heating.

OP posts:
Classica · 07/02/2022 19:24

The Tories would love for everyone to be stoic and take it on the chin, but why should we?

CrinklyCraggy · 07/02/2022 19:24

I'm not worried for me personally. I don't love having to pay more but I'll be OK.

I could cry for people who already struggle though.

Plus an entire population suddenly having to "cut back" is going to impact us all in ways we haven't even thought of.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 07/02/2022 19:27

I've overpaid for the past year so I'm in a lot of credit, my DD is decreasing not going up. Fortunate for now.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Cost of living General food
Sirzy · 07/02/2022 19:29

Given energy companies aren’t supposed to let you be more than £300 in credit then I think it may be the case that you are misunderstanding the severity of the situation

riotlady · 07/02/2022 19:31

I’m not too worried for myself as I’m lucky to be on a good fix until summer 23, but I do worry about other people. It’s not as simple as just going to a food bank- that works short term but it’s not sustainable long term to be scraping by that narrowly. What happens when the kids need new shoes or the washing machine breaks? It’s going to make life a lot tougher for people who are already struggling

Josephincluded · 07/02/2022 19:31

My fixed rate ends at the end of this month with Octopus. They’ve offered me another 12 month fixed rate deal at over £100 per month MORE than I am paying now. I don’t think you understand the severity of what’s about to happen to a lot of people OP and possibly not to your own finances.

Sirzy · 07/02/2022 19:32

@Greentime101

I’m not sure everyone has realised about the increase in the electricity standing charge so that’s is going to happen even if you use zero electric
Exactly with the new charges from April for gas and electric will be around 83p a day even if you didn’t actually use any.
KurtWilde · 07/02/2022 19:34

The problem is that most of the things you mention there depend on people donating.

That's just not happening now to the extent that it was because less people can afford to donate to a food bank (for example), but demand for it has gone up. So there's little there to actually help. Some areas also don't have a food bank. The nearest one may be a bus ride away and not affordable.

If people are on a utility pre-payment meter, they're already higher priced than a normal monthly bill and often the only option for utilities for people who are in debt already/on benefits. If you can't afford to top up the meter, no heating or light. Simple as that.

When I moved into this house it had pre-payment meters and I never got round to changing them. And they are EXPENSIVE. And it's very hard to keep them in credit to any great extent.

ClaudineClare · 07/02/2022 19:35

@t0nim92

I haven’t said anywhere that they should go to a food bank. The bread and butter thing works at reducing waste from supermarkets and it’s a paid thing. Cheaper then going to the shops. As I’ve already said, haven’t meant to offend anyone, just hope that people look at what’s out there in the community
So many people will be struggling that the sort of initiatives you mention won't stretch to cover everyone.

The price of everything is going to go up as all businesses will have no choice but to pass on the price rises to the consumer.

You really do need to check out what the rise will mean for you, unless you are on a fixed tariff until spring 2023.

ClaudineClare · 07/02/2022 19:37

Exactly with the new charges from April for gas and electric will be around 83p a day even if you didn’t actually use any

It is really outrageous that the utility companies have been allowed to up their standing charges by so much.

Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 07/02/2022 19:41

I only refuse to worry because as a pp said worrying does nothing except make you ill and bring pain twice.

I'm unsure how we will manage, but we will, because we have no choice but to. I refuse to increase our dd, so a debt will build up on our account. We'll just have to pay it back eventually, I'd rather have a debt than a credit with a regular payment on my utilities because I don't want to earn them interest on my money.

The only bill I'll ever let myself get worried about paying is my mortgage, because as long as the roof over my head is paid for, everything else will be OK.

Pembertonrd · 07/02/2022 19:42

@ClaudineClare

Exactly with the new charges from April for gas and electric will be around 83p a day even if you didn’t actually use any

It is really outrageous that the utility companies have been allowed to up their standing charges by so much.

That’s £25 a month just for supply and there’ll be vat on top. It’s awful!
SlyAvocado · 07/02/2022 19:43

You think I it’s fine to live in a society where vast swathes of people have to rely on food banks, donations and ‘kindness cafes’ to ensure they can eat?

It isn’t.

WonderfulYou · 07/02/2022 19:48

I’ve actually found it’s the slightly better off people who are panicking the most.

Most people on low incomes are used to having the heating on only in an emergencies. Or not being able to afford to put any on that week and choosing cheap, filling foods on a regular basis.

There was a thread the other day about someone’s DH who said he couldn’t live without heating and would rather go without food.
Most people live without heating on a regular basis so these types of people are panicking as they’ve never had to live like this before.

ivykaty44 · 07/02/2022 19:49

if you round is £300+ each year then you'll probably be fine

but what if its not and you get to the food bank and the foods run out?

what will you do then?

CrinklyCraggy · 07/02/2022 19:49

@Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese

I only refuse to worry because as a pp said worrying does nothing except make you ill and bring pain twice.

I'm unsure how we will manage, but we will, because we have no choice but to. I refuse to increase our dd, so a debt will build up on our account. We'll just have to pay it back eventually, I'd rather have a debt than a credit with a regular payment on my utilities because I don't want to earn them interest on my money.

The only bill I'll ever let myself get worried about paying is my mortgage, because as long as the roof over my head is paid for, everything else will be OK.

My supplier (OVO) pay me interest at 4% on credit balances. Far better than I can get anywhere else.
qualitygirl · 07/02/2022 19:51

I'm not worried as such but it bugs me...it's our only household bill that I can't opt out of so it annoys me in that way. Obviously I would rather spend my money elsewhere

Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 07/02/2022 19:52

@CrinklyCraggy that's really good!

I'm with British Gas, best they're offering me is free insurance with £50 excess on my boiler... which I guess is something.

Booboobibles · 07/02/2022 19:56

Not particularly because we also have a cafe about a minute’s walk away that has M&S food delivered every day that’s a day out of date. They have flowers as well so I get a nice treat several times a week!

I live in a small flat and the living room has a fireplace so I’m thinking about collecting wood for next winter but I’m not sure where to store it and I’ve never had a real fire before so not sure what I’m doing.

That’s not to say I’m not worried about money generally…I’m losing tax credits and maintenance in just over a year so I’m going to lose almost my entire income.

ClaudineClare · 07/02/2022 20:30

Booboobibles you should not burn just any old wood in your open fireplace, it will tar up your chimney plus it can be a health hazard. Wood needs to be properly seasoned.

BarbaraofSeville · 07/02/2022 20:33

I'm on a low income but usually ever year I get a refund from my gas and electric company for being in credit with them both, so at a worst this year I'm expecting to not receive one

You describe quite an unusual situation OP, that won't apply to most people.

The fact is that the capped rate has just about doubled in a year, and some people have gone from a low fix to a much higher rate, taking £1k or more off their annual disposable income. Add in increases in food prices and NI, along with stagnant wages and people are seeing huge reductions in disposable income or are being put in the position where they can't afford the basics.

Worrying isn't an overreaction at all. Not is looking to reduce consumption where possible.

PurBal · 07/02/2022 20:35

I’m not at the moment. But only because DH fixed our energy prices for 2 years just before it all kicked off. It’s half what the best deal is at the moment. But I would be otherwise.

LoopyDream · 07/02/2022 20:36

I think you should read the room tbh

user1471538283 · 07/02/2022 20:36

We are all electric and our bill has doubled already. It will go up more.

As energy increases fewer willne able to donate to food banks so there will be less to go around. It is shameful that we are in this position and in the middle of a pandemic.

OldMMC · 07/02/2022 20:40

I'll be able to afford to pay for the energy price rise, but I will have to cut back on other things. I won't have as much money left to buy extra stuff for the food bank, and I suspect I won't be the only one in that situation.

Swipe left for the next trending thread