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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:
itrytomakemyway · 08/02/2022 08:14

I'm worried. Really worried.

My fixed term deal just ended and my bills will be £80 higher per month. On top of that the NI costs are about to rise. My husband is still wfh as his office is now closed and we have no choice but to keep the heating on. Every time I go food shopping I notice yet another price creep on essential items. I have already switched to Lidl and Farmfoods and so there is no other way to cut costs here.

We used to do a direct debit of £25 per week to the local food bank. I am heartbroken, but that will have to end soon.

delilahbucket · 08/02/2022 08:14

Unfortunately OP, all those helpful services you refer to will be squeezed the quickest. Less donations as people tighten their own purse strings, and more people accessing the help means there will be less to go around.

Sirzy · 08/02/2022 08:28

@Gilead

The problem with food banks and various other schemes is that you need to be able to access them. If (like me) you’re physically disabled then a) leaving the house is frequently a problem, let alone carrying anything home.
If you need to access them please contact them, many will have the facility to deliver

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Cost of living General food
JuergenSchwarzwald · 08/02/2022 08:43

I'm not massively worried because I am in the fortunate situation of not having to choose between food and energy. I also have a hybrid car so am a bit more sheltered from high petrol prices as well.

However, it's bad for the economy - things get expensive and the knock ons are significant. I am glad that my ds has a house for next year at uni with energy prices included but I do wonder how much it will be the following year ;)

JuergenSchwarzwald · 08/02/2022 08:43

My husband is still wfh as his office is now closed and we have no choice but to keep the heating on

do you? We just heat the room DH is in.

Kendodd · 08/02/2022 08:53

Can anyone please explain why utility companies were privatised? Was it just ideological or was there an actual benefit to the people?

itrytomakemyway · 08/02/2022 08:54

Yes, my heating system is THAT old that it is impossible to just have it on in one room as we have no thermostat. We tried to fit some individual thermostats on some of the radiators but it didn't work. The best we could do was turn off the heating completely in two rooms - but I have to keep an eye on them for damp now.

The boiler and rads will all need replacing soon so that is another money problem to worry about.

Kendodd · 08/02/2022 08:58

@Jewel1968

Does anyone know how the energy company shareholders are being impacted? Are their dividends going down?

I believe Shell and BP have just announced record profits.

BorgQueen · 08/02/2022 09:05

Perhaps people will now realise what it’s always been like for those on pre pay meters. My Sister can get through £15-£20 in two days in her little one bedroom flat, she’s disabled and needs warmth, she’s been asking for years for a shower, her bath doesn’t even have a shower attachment.

It does raise my eyebrows when I see people interviewed say they don’t know how they will cope, when they are in a tshirt saying how cold the house is 🙄
The sneaky bastards have realised that people will cut back though, hence the obscene standing charge rises, £300 before you use any gas or electric and no difference whether you live in a bedsit or a mansion.

Gilead · 08/02/2022 10:13

Can anyone please explain why utility companies were privatised? Was it just ideological or was there an actual benefit to the people?
It was idealism. The Tories decided that if they sold it off then the ‘common man’ could ‘level up’ by being a shareholder. Once a shareholder they would be more inclined to vote Tory and put profits before pep. They ran huge ad campaigns on television, in the papers, bill boards etc.

Gilead · 08/02/2022 10:13

Before people! Apologies.

duvetdayforeveryone · 08/02/2022 11:50

@itrytomakemyway

I'm worried. Really worried.

My fixed term deal just ended and my bills will be £80 higher per month. On top of that the NI costs are about to rise. My husband is still wfh as his office is now closed and we have no choice but to keep the heating on. Every time I go food shopping I notice yet another price creep on essential items. I have already switched to Lidl and Farmfoods and so there is no other way to cut costs here.

We used to do a direct debit of £25 per week to the local food bank. I am heartbroken, but that will have to end soon.

My DH works from home and I'm home, and our heating is off. Heating is only on upstairs only once the children are home for a short while to warm up their rooms.
itrytomakemyway · 08/02/2022 13:14

We have the heating on and off at intervals through the day to try to keep the costs down. My husband is 60 and suffers from arthritis. He cannot work in an unheated house all day. I grew up in a house with only a coal fire that heated one room and three downstairs rooms. I have not worked my whole life to go back to living in a cold unheated house.

I really hope that when it comes to the next election people remember the money this gov wasted on giving contracts to their mates and the utter chaos and cost of Brexit.

I'm afraid that given the choice between continuing our donations to the local food bank and cutting back even more on the hours on the heating timer, the donations will be cut first.

oopsIdiditagaintoo · 08/02/2022 13:30

@MeanderingGently

I rent and pay a small amount each month for bills. It covers everything including heating, lighting, water and council tax. It really is such a small amount that, even if it goes up a bit, it really will still be doable. One benefit of my current rented property which I wouldn't have if I owned my place!
It might go up more than a bit. Whoever is paying the bills and recharging you is going to be hit hard. Why wouldn't they charge you more?
BouncyFrog · 08/02/2022 13:32

@itrytomakemyway I hear you. My husband is in a similar position. He's older and on blood thinners and gets very cold if the temp is less than 18c or so, and then struggles to concentrate.

The whole thing is wrong and unfair, and some posters show a real lack of understanding about how things might affect people in different circumstances to themselves.
I agree with your whole post!

ihaveonecat · 08/02/2022 13:36

Slightly random but
If you were on a low fixed rate until October would you
Stock up on food/non perishable stuff like washing powder etc when it's on offer OR
Overpay on gas/electric to get in credit?

I'm trying to decide!

Lightning020 · 08/02/2022 13:36

I am cancelling 3 direct debits soon which will help. Sky. BT email (I prefer my free gmail). Leisure centre I can cancel Sept. I am hoping as I just pay £87 dual fuel even if it doubles it isnt much more than now. Just cancelling these 3 gives me £70 towards fuel then.

itrytomakemyway · 08/02/2022 13:42

It's the knock on effecct that worries me too. I realistically cannot use less heating than I currently do. Many people are in the same situation. So, the money needs to be found from somewhere else in the budget.

Our high street is depressing and dying. Going forward I will not be nipping in to spend money on a coffee and cake as a treat in the lovely independent cafe. I will be buying fewer clothes. I will no longer use the independent bookshop but will get all my books from the library (for as long as local council budget cuts allow it to stay open).

This will not just be me. This will be families all over the UK. WE will see businesses who are already struggling go under because there will just be less money for non essentials. The predicted continuing boom in staycations? I'm not so sure. That will be another luxury crossed off the list.

EmmaH2022 · 08/02/2022 15:12

@itrytomakemyway

Yes, my heating system is THAT old that it is impossible to just have it on in one room as we have no thermostat. We tried to fit some individual thermostats on some of the radiators but it didn't work. The best we could do was turn off the heating completely in two rooms - but I have to keep an eye on them for damp now.

The boiler and rads will all need replacing soon so that is another money problem to worry about.

I don't think I've lived anywhere with a heating system that's different. Must be very pricey systems that allow different rooms?
Lightning020 · 08/02/2022 15:13

Yes if we going to live with less and less treats to keep ourselves going and the only thing to look forward to is a free library book then life is going to feel quite bleak. Better than homeless or starving I suppose....

EmmaH2022 · 08/02/2022 15:14

@ihaveonecat

Slightly random but If you were on a low fixed rate until October would you Stock up on food/non perishable stuff like washing powder etc when it's on offer OR Overpay on gas/electric to get in credit?

I'm trying to decide!

Under normal circs I'd overpay but hoping to move home so no point. If I wasn't, I'd try to overpay.
cookiemonster2468 · 08/02/2022 15:33

It's great that some communities set up the things you mention around food support OP. But don't you still worry about being dependent on such schemes? They can (and do) end at the drop of a hat, and there are also people who live rurally or whose communities don't offer those things.

BouncyFrog · 08/02/2022 15:36

@Lightning020

Yes if we going to live with less and less treats to keep ourselves going and the only thing to look forward to is a free library book then life is going to feel quite bleak. Better than homeless or starving I suppose....
It will be very interesting to see the knock on effect on the whole economy, and what, if anything, will be done about it. Thing is, there is so much money floating about. Look how much footballers/bankers/tv presenters etc get paid. It just never filters down so as ever, the poor get poorer and the rich get richer
billbenny · 08/02/2022 17:17

I'm not concerned for our household or neighbours. We chose to live a sustainable lifestyle, have a 2 bed modern flat in the centre of London rather than a draughty Victorian house out in the suburbs, so rarely need to heat it, and are car-free so no fuel costs. We've always lived well within our means rather than month to month, so have enough slack to cope with increased bills. We already keep discretionary spending down to a minimum, because that's just our mindset, so we've never bought books if library books are available, and don't eat out often, even in cheap cafes. So we have a decent amount in savings

ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 08/02/2022 17:23

@billbenny

I'm not concerned for our household or neighbours. We chose to live a sustainable lifestyle, have a 2 bed modern flat in the centre of London rather than a draughty Victorian house out in the suburbs, so rarely need to heat it, and are car-free so no fuel costs. We've always lived well within our means rather than month to month, so have enough slack to cope with increased bills. We already keep discretionary spending down to a minimum, because that's just our mindset, so we've never bought books if library books are available, and don't eat out often, even in cheap cafes. So we have a decent amount in savings
The fact that you have a 2 bed flat in the centre of London probably means you have higher incomes than most to be fair. We also live a fairly frugal life, in an energy efficient house in the sticks, but even just with the standing charge increases it puts pressure on the budget.