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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How on Earth do people intend to cut back to meet these new energy bills?

169 replies

MissMediocre · 12/03/2022 12:37

I plod along saving a little cash but it's going to be nigh on impossible now and I'm going to have to look at cutting back. I've a professional job in the software industry but bills of £300+ a month are going to bite.

How is everyone else planning to cut back?

OP posts:
BambinaJAS · 13/03/2022 00:14

[quote Silvershroud]You just need a member of your household registered as an MP. Then all your houses will get public payments for energy bills. It is very straight-forward: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10404277/MPs-charge-3-500-energy-bills-second-homes.html[/quote]
Wow I had no idea

That is such a travesty.

BambinaJAS · 13/03/2022 00:17

@MCLQC

I’m heading to Tenerife from October to March and renting my house out. Saves a fortune.
How does that work...

You are only allowed 90 days in 180.

Do you have EU passport?

saleorbouy · 13/03/2022 00:17

pointythings 1337
"I don't know, but I am singularly unimpressed with the government who are doing fuck all to help. Ireland and the Netherlands are putting in hefty VAT and duty cuts - all we get is a measly £200 loan that we have to pay back."

As far as I'm aware there is going to be a €200 electricity rebate to all customers and fuel duty has been cut by 15c / litre.
The cuts are possible since ESB ( electricity producer) is state owned.
The population of Ireland is smaller than the population of Birmingham so cuts and reimbursements are not as vast on state resources.
Fuel cuts are also necessary as the large rural population can only travel by car since public transport is not widely available outside main towns.

blueshoes · 13/03/2022 00:23

@SaggyBlinders

I've embraced the 'navy' shower: turning the water on to get wet, then off to soap and shampoo, and then on for a minute to rinse. Can still have my daily shower, but should only use the equivalent of less than 10 minutes water a week.

Oh and stopped ironing!

I have always done the navy shower. People leave the shower on when they put soap and shampoo?

I do the same when I wash dishes. Wet, switch off tap to give plates etc a good scrub, then tap off to rinse off. I use the run off to give the sink a quick scrub as well.

Caz1960 · 13/03/2022 00:33

I’m composing a naughty/nice league table.
The least favourite child will be released into the wild at Easter.

Crimesean · 13/03/2022 00:33

No alcohol, vegetarian food 4 days a week, turning the thermostat down 1°C

Babyroobs · 13/03/2022 00:38

@MothralovesGojira

We are managing ok. But I was diagnosed with cancer in January. I had surgery three weeks ago and will return to work on Monday because on the day I had my op I was 40 days short on completing my probation period at work so I'm on lower rate SSP only. We won't be able to manage on my SSP going forwards so I have to go back before chemo starts to complete my probation and work as much overtime as I can so I can save something to cover the wages shortfall which will happen as I won't be able to work as much during chemo and radiotherapy etc. In December, my DP got a promotion and I was working so we thought we would be comfortable this year after all the years of financial struggle in bringing up children. I have now cancelled everything I can and sit at home feeling guilty for having to have the heating on while I try and recover from life saving surgery. We've received three letters from our energy provider this week alone each getting more experience and dramatic. Our car cost us £800 to get through it's MOT yesterday and we can't do without it while I'm having treatment as it's two trains and a bus journey to the hospital and then the same back home again - a taxi is currently £40 each way now. We've cancelled our holiday to save money. We are now waiting for things like water and rent to increase so I'll be back to work before I've fully recovered from my treatment because there's no extra financial help for cancer sufferers who temporarily lose earning capacity plunging the household finances into chaos on top of the new rises we're all facing.
There certainly is help for cancer patients who temporarily have a reduced income but it does depend on your DP's earnings. If you are only getting SSP and qualified for Universal credit you get awarded an extra element which is automatically granted due to having cancer treatment. You may also qualify for a macmillan grant to help with heating costs or travel costs to hospital but again it is means tested to some extent. Speak to Macmillan to see what help you may qualify for.
MintJulia · 13/03/2022 00:39

I'm switching everything except the fridge freezer off at the wall at night. Cooking from scratch and being careful to spend less on food shop.

Use the log burner more as have free wood.

I already grow quite a lot of food - salads, tomatoes, french beans, fruit etc, so I'm planting more. If heating costs are going to push up prices, I can work a bit harder growing my own.

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 13/03/2022 01:21

We will be giving up holidays and every other single luxury that we can think of. So no new clothes for me or my husband, no more meals out or takeaways, no luxuries like Gousto or Hello Fresh anymore. I’m thinking of cutting down on the number of clubs that my children go to. If I had my way we would be stopping Netflix and Sky movies too but my husband hasn’t realised how bad it’s going to get yet so won’t agree to that.

This is what I’ve been saying all along… These prices will keep going up 50% each month - beyond October. It won’t be just a minority of people losing their homes, I fear it will get to the point where there will be mass house repossessions over this issue.

The fact that the Tory Government haven’t responded with any proper response to these price increases (and the opposition hasn’t either - or held the Tories to account), make this a sad reality that families up and down the country will end up owing thousands of pounds in debt and many of them losing their homes.

I understand that the real prices are actually much higher than the cap - but why then have the energy companies been announcing big profits? Something doesn’t add up.

The Government can’t just sit there and allow families to rack up debt on energy bills that people don’t have the money to pay. That is not ethical or acceptable.

And please don’t let them use the war in Ukraine as their excuse and get out card. This would have happened anyway.

If the Tory party doesn’t act now be brave and do something radical then this will lead to a massive recession and crash in the housing market. Businesses are going to go under because of this.

And what I find astonishing is that despite all this our chancellor has refused to cancel his planned increase in national insurance contributions. They really don’t give a shit do they?

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 13/03/2022 01:22
  • sorry I meant to say prices will keep going up every 6 months not each month
Kitkat151 · 13/03/2022 01:26

@MothralovesGojira

We are managing ok. But I was diagnosed with cancer in January. I had surgery three weeks ago and will return to work on Monday because on the day I had my op I was 40 days short on completing my probation period at work so I'm on lower rate SSP only. We won't be able to manage on my SSP going forwards so I have to go back before chemo starts to complete my probation and work as much overtime as I can so I can save something to cover the wages shortfall which will happen as I won't be able to work as much during chemo and radiotherapy etc. In December, my DP got a promotion and I was working so we thought we would be comfortable this year after all the years of financial struggle in bringing up children. I have now cancelled everything I can and sit at home feeling guilty for having to have the heating on while I try and recover from life saving surgery. We've received three letters from our energy provider this week alone each getting more experience and dramatic. Our car cost us £800 to get through it's MOT yesterday and we can't do without it while I'm having treatment as it's two trains and a bus journey to the hospital and then the same back home again - a taxi is currently £40 each way now. We've cancelled our holiday to save money. We are now waiting for things like water and rent to increase so I'll be back to work before I've fully recovered from my treatment because there's no extra financial help for cancer sufferers who temporarily lose earning capacity plunging the household finances into chaos on top of the new rises we're all facing.
Sorry you having such a shit time PP....do your hospital provide free transport? Our cancer hospital provides free transport for anyone having radiotherapy ( not means tested) .....usually a volunteer driver or a local taxi.... they also provide £150 voucher towards a wig ( again not means tested)....and free parking at the hospital.....I hope your hospital do similar.....have you got your free prescriptions card? .....I applied for PIP when on chemo.....that can make a big difference when money is tight.....I also got a free holiday to Somerset for me , my partner, DD SIL and 2 GC ( my daughter applied for me thru the charity ‘something to look forward to’ )......also you can sign up for an online session with the charity ‘look good feel better’ and after the session you are sent a good bag of high end cosmetics.....I was lucky as I’m NHS so took a year off ....but I appreciate how hard it must be when you don’t have this option.....Hope all goes well for you
Autumn42 · 13/03/2022 01:39

Just cutting back on usage mainly, quicker showers, shallower baths, switching lights off, avoiding snacks that need to be heated up and then cutting back on other spending like the food shop and car journeys. We’re lucky enough to have what we need at the moment as long as we’re careful

dipdye · 13/03/2022 01:58

I’m composing a naughty/nice league table.
The least favourite child will be released into the wild at Easter.

^^

GrinGrin

Kitkat151 · 13/03/2022 02:00

@Caz1960

I’m composing a naughty/nice league table. The least favourite child will be released into the wild at Easter.
I had a manager who used to say ....‘I dislike all of my children....it just depends on the day which one I dislike the most’.... and I actually think she meant it 😳
Gingerkittykat · 13/03/2022 02:55

I bought a Ninja when it was a special price in February. I've barely used my cooker since then as it steams, pressure cooks rice in 2 minutes and boil potatoes in 6 minutes. I cooked a toad in the hole ready meal in 20 minutes compared to 40 in the oven and it came out perfectly.

I'm also going to get smart electricity and gas meters installed so I can work out exactly where I am using energy.

Bedsheets4knickers · 13/03/2022 05:49

I've turned our heating off already .
Going to submit meter readings on March 31st . Then il pick up to extra shifts a month to cover the extra . Dreading October.

Parsnippity · 13/03/2022 06:26

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Notyourtypicalvirgo · 13/03/2022 07:12

I'm on maternity leave but having to take on freelance work as £600pm statutory really isn't going to cut it when it comes to these bills. I don't want to rush back to work early because childcare will completely offset that.

It's pathetic, I don't know how anyone thinks this government is doing a good job. It's literally their choice to not windfall tax these energy companies and protect the consumer like France did.

I'm lucky I can log online and find paying work, it's the elderly and the disabled I feel for. Especially those who have to charge medical equipment, it's disgusting the government isn't stepping in at all

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 13/03/2022 07:30

@Whelmed

I'm still hoping that by January 2023 the bills will be back to more normal amounts.... I won't be able to afford any increase really.
They won’t. They are already to go up another 50% next spring. That’s in addition to the 50% increase in October!

This is what I’m saying. This isn’t going to stop anytime soon. And I don’t think prices will be going down for years. It will end up being like paying 2 mortgages each month, not one.

This is not sustainable. And who is going to buy our homes when they get repossessed when it gets to the point that we’ve run out of money? It will be a two tier society - the haves and have nots. And ordinary people will suffer.

I’ve worked hard all my life as have people on this thread and I’m worried I’m going to lose everything over this. My home is where I imagined raising my children. I planned to have holidays with them and to make happy memories with them. This has all been taken away and I don’t feel like I can look towards the future now.

Or government is full of career politicians who seem to lack the get up and go to take any real action on anything. It feels like they do the bare minimum of what is expected from them. All they care about 9s themselves. They got us into this situation through years of lack of planning and poor decision making. I know this by listening to experts on energy infrastructure during radio interviews. Now it has all come home to roost.

mogsrus · 13/03/2022 07:31

It’s very interesting to read how many people say they are charging phones etc at work, it costs less than 60p a yr to keep a phone charged, but apart from that, you are actually stealing someone else’s electricity, as I was told many yrs ago, you do not have the right to actually do it.

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 13/03/2022 07:32

*Should amend to say they are already predicted to go up another 50% next spring.

Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 13/03/2022 07:37

@Notyourtypicalvirgo

I'm on maternity leave but having to take on freelance work as £600pm statutory really isn't going to cut it when it comes to these bills. I don't want to rush back to work early because childcare will completely offset that.

It's pathetic, I don't know how anyone thinks this government is doing a good job. It's literally their choice to not windfall tax these energy companies and protect the consumer like France did.

I'm lucky I can log online and find paying work, it's the elderly and the disabled I feel for. Especially those who have to charge medical equipment, it's disgusting the government isn't stepping in at all

I would love to know why they’ve chosen not to impose windfall taxes on energy firms (which is something that Labour have been proposing). I would be interested to know if any of the mos who are in opposition to the windfall tax on energy firms have any shares or other financial interests in energy firms.
AgentJohnson · 13/03/2022 07:42

I was fortunate enough to move into a very energy efficient apartment three years ago and the heating only really needs to be on for three months of the year. Triple glazing, underfloor heating, blackout curtains, a smart meter and smart thermostats have been very kind to my wallet.

Estimated bills are a anxiety inducing hell that I have no wish to return to, a smart meter is where it’s at. I know how much I am using/ spent and how my usage compares to others in similar sized homes and occupancies.

I hope that this current crisis provides the impetus for creating more energy efficient homes.

gamerchick · 13/03/2022 07:51

@70kid

I got my annul statement for my electric bill today I’m with EDF I’m on a pay as you go as I prefer this even though it’s more expensive I feel more in control . Going on last years bill they estimate it will go up by approx £7 a week - £400 a year So my electric will be around £27 a week Large 2 .5 bed house 3 adults We don’t skimp on electric use don’t use the oven much but hob is used daily Washing machine is on daily although we don’t use the tumble dryer I have an electric throw that I use as well as I hate being cold

I’m with BG for My gas
bill is similar to my electric last year £7 a week estimate is going to go up by £5 a week but
we use the gas a lot. I refuse to be cold and like the house warm and we often use the heat to dry clothes
At least 3 showers a day as there is 3 of us but I will often have a shower a night before I go to bed .
I’m shocked when read how much everyone seems to be paying

So you're paying over 200 quid a month for gas and electric?
FebruaryRainandSleet · 13/03/2022 07:53

@mogsrus

It’s very interesting to read how many people say they are charging phones etc at work, it costs less than 60p a yr to keep a phone charged, but apart from that, you are actually stealing someone else’s electricity, as I was told many yrs ago, you do not have the right to actually do it.
About £2.50 a year according to what I’ve read. With new rates, you might be looking at £3 to £4 a year per phone.