AIBU TO WONDER HOW IN GOD'S NAME PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE INRESE IN ENERGY PRICES

[Diamondsareforever123]

OK this obviously won't affect those who are lucky enough to have money - but - how are those on low incomes/benefit, poor pensioners, etc. ever going to possibly be able to afford the energy price increases? Also the increases will have a knock-on price increase effect on everything we buy - food, clothes ...... I am concerned.

Honestly, using less energy and earning more money. Cutting back elsewhere. Back to meal planning, reducing food waste, using apps for free food (Olio, Shopmium), and increasing my income on the side with surveys, matched betting etc.

I’m worried

It’s so worrying. People will die because of these rises. That’s one end of the spectrum. The other is that people who have extra to eat out/day trip/ holiday will cut back because the extra goes on bills. How is that good for an economy trying to recover from a pandemic? Obviously the wealthy/very comfortably off will be fine but that a pretty small %. So underwhelmed by the government intervention.

The other thing to factor in is that our housing stock in the UK is generally very poorly insulated, government schemes to address this have been piecemeal and ineffective and of course those with some wealth can afford to address this and those in poorly insulated rental accomadation absolutely can't. It's a heart-breaking failure of government.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

I read that in Portugala windfall tax has been levied on energy companies, so there is no effect on the consumer. No price rises.

Meanwhile here, Shell have just announced huge profits. But nothing like a windfall tax here. I hope this government ultimately get what they deserve.

Another term? 😞

It's going to be hideous. We struggle with our gas badly already as we are on a card meter which was there when we moved in and supplier won't change it

I earn well according to the IFS Income calculator thing.

I could probably stomach the energy price rise well enough if everything else wasn't going up too. Petrol, food, eating out (which I don't do any more), other utilities, social activities for the kids. This weekend I've been out gathering firewood because it's cheaper than heating. I have no idea how people on min wage or average national salary will manage. It's insane.

@wonderstuff

The other thing to factor in is that our housing stock in the UK is generally very poorly insulated, government schemes to address this have been piecemeal and ineffective and of course those with some wealth can afford to address this and those in poorly insulated rental accomadation absolutely can't. It's a heart-breaking failure of government.

Exactly this. Housing crisis is by design too. And tens of thousands already die due to cold housing in the uk, I expect this number will explode. It’s a cull of poor people and it seems to be legal here.

Even Boris will get the £200 help It’s laughable. If you are on a key meter how can you even fill up your freezer not knowing if you can feed the meter enough to keep it going till the end of the month. So even more lack choice for poor families

I feel utterly sad for those who will struggle even more because of this.

I feel like a lot of historic decisions are coming home to roost. Privatisation being a big one.

We will go without, be taken to court, because we cant afford the council tax and ask the judge how you get blood out of a stone

We live rurally and have just paid over £700 for 1000litres of heating oil. We have no mains gas where we live so oil or bottled gas are the only options. It is possible to arrange a monthly payment according to usage but the price of oil varies enormously from one company to another. This time the cost
Per litre varied by 8p so £80 on the 1000litres. Just hoping for a warm spring.

It's those on token meters I really feel for.

It's all very well being worried about bills...maybe even a DD bouncing then having debt increasing and having to come to a repayment plan - but those are the lucky ones.

If someone's currently putting £20 on a Friday morning into their leccy meter which usually lasts a week, but that's all you can afford - then from April your electric's off from Monday afternoon to Friday morning.

It's really frightening.

I can't believe the government would consider putting NI up at a time like this. Well I can cos it's the Tories but still. I can see more people becoming reliant on food banks than ever before. Disgraceful that one of the most developed countries in the world has people living in poverty. This government make me so fucking angry.

It's just awful - how have things come this? The rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer and when we're hurtling towards a perfect storm we have the worst Govt and certainly the worst PM in living memory at the helm. Anyone who voted for them has to take a long, hard look at themselves - because they were always going to be a disaster for the UK.
We fixed our energy tariffs until next year, thank heavens, and at the moment we have an income that can cope, but I'm very, very aware that circumstances can change overnight. We've been skint before I know only too well the fear of not knowing where the money will come from. I was going to say I sympathise for people really struggling, but that sounds trite. It goes way beyond sympathy.

The problem with turning the heating off, as well as it being freezing, it's just not good for a house to be unheated. It'll lead to damp will it not? People will have no money to repair or replace windows and houses will literally start falling apart.

I already don't have my heating on. I'm on prepayment meters so can't get into debt.
I can stop using the tumble dryer and go back to having wet washing hanging around for days and days and not drying in a cold unheated house.
I can cut back on food bills by going back to cheap filling carbs. Fuck the diabetes getting worse as a result. As long as someone some where makes a profit.

People are asking for pay rises. My place is literally….and I mean actually literally struggling to employ staff. The current staff took a 10% pay cut during furlough. They now want a 16% increase or they are leaving as lots of people seem to be paying more now just to get people in to employ so that’s one good thing.

@Rabblesthecat

Pah!

It is what it is…….

Just about to buy car number 3

Really?

Totally agree with this.

Yeah, cold houses tend to cause damp and mould. They are a disaster for people who are vulnerable.

The increase in council tax frightens me too.

@Rabblesthecat

Pah!

It is what it is…….

Just about to buy car number 3

Well that's alright then. As long as you can afford your 3rd car. Ffs.

@Snowiscold

It’s frightening. We have turned our heating off and are now limiting our hot water. Daily baths and showers are stopping. A daily bath was a big luxury for me - I’m disabled and it helps - but it’s stopping. Washing machine use is being cut to once a week. We don’t have a tumble dryer. We do have a dishwasher and I’m wondering about using that less. It makes you a bit lazy - it’s often full of just cups and glasses.

If the dishwasher is full it should be cheaper than handwashing.