I can’t put the heating on.

[VacancyAtNumber10AGAIN]

Just that really. I can’t afford it. £19 went in 4 days last week. I’m on prepayment. They want £300 to change to credit meters. I can’t afford that.

flat is prone to damp and mould so have to keep windows open to ventilate, washing isn’t drying. Clothes in wardrobe are freezing cold and there’s black mould all round the window frames.

I don’t see why people in the world have to live like this. It’s not the 1800’s. I’m worried for my DD’s health and my own. Does anyone know if there are any schemes etc for help with gas? Also this isn’t a begging thread, I don’t take handouts off people and I won’t even ask my own mother for help with bills.

Counting down the days until summer

Just spent £4 on some condensation catcher boxes from Asda. We tested our heating to check it worked then switched it off! Dc are used to coming in from school and putting pj's and a jumper on! Lots of layers and throws for watching TV. It really is rubbish op..

This sounds awful, I am so sorry you are going through this. I thought that the big six energy companies did not charge for a switch to a meter. Can you investigate this and change supplier to one of them and then swap the meter? Sorry if i have got this wrong.

Check this site helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/?utm_campaign=H4H_UK&utm_medium=Search&utm_source=Google&utm_content=Generic&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9Y6io4LH-wIV0MLtCh2qSAaXEAAYASAAEgJUTvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

If you live in rented and there’s mould report it to your landlord.
On the radio yesterday there was an item about GPs being able to “ prescribe” help with bills for patients who are ill. Not sure if it’s country-wide though.

Can your mum afford to help you cover the £300 to switch away from pre payment. Parents generally want to help their kids and you clearly need help x

I’m in housing association, it’s not damp it’s just condensation so thankfully easy to get rid of. I’m gonna invest in one of those window vaccum things that might reduce it. Are the little boxes them ones that absorb all the damp in the air? I need to grab some of them and shove them all over the house!

Advice here which might be relevant:www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/you-cant-afford-to-top-up-your-prepayment-meter/

My mums on a really low income and my siblings are still living at home so I don’t want to ask. I don’t actually mind being on prepayment it’s just a bloody nightmare with this cost of living crap going on!

Do you have a garden or small outdoor space you can dry clothes on? It's surprising just how bad the day has to be before the clothes don't dry.
Call the council about the mould

@Hungrycaterpillarsmummy ive got the communal garden and mostly our stuffs drying out there but I’m in the ever so sunny and not at all rainy north west 🤣 so nothings been out for a couple of days whilst it’s pissed it down consistently hahaha

Don’t buy a window vacuum. They don’t clear anything that a squeegee doesn’t. Truly.

An you afford to run a dehumidifier? Ask the HA they may be providing help.

Those are the little things they have in caravans aren’t they? I’m gonna have to look into one of them and just put it in the hallway so it takes all the damp!

Are you definitely recieving all help you are entitled to?
Have you received/topped up using the vouchers for the energy bill support scheme( £67 a month)?

Salt absorbs moisture from the air. Put a spread pile in boxes or bowl on windowsills.

Buy a dehumidifier. You can pick them up on ebay or amazon. It will help get you clothes dry and keep the moisture in the flat down.
Wash round the windows with neat white vingar.

Cat litter in old socks! Cheap way of absorbing moisture in the air and cheaper than the boxes from Amazon.

I agree. I just don't want to pay all that money for gas. If we had the heating on all day just the gas alone would be at least £10 a day, and our house is well-insulated with new windows. It's ridiculous. We're averaging over £10 a day for gas plus electric this month with the thermostat at 17/18C and the heating only set to come on for a couple of hours in the morning.

My council has a fund for people who can’t manage to pay energy bills. I think they all do so do get in touch with them and see if anything is available to you.

£19 in 4 days - so approx £5/day or £150 a month.

You should have received £150 from the government via CTax plus you should be getting the £400 via the energy companies (at £67 or whatever per month). In total that's £550, so nearly 4 months of your energy bill. That should cover winter. Please, please use that money as it was intended and put your heating on, and keep yourself and your daughter healthy and warm.

Are you disabled? I am & got my prepayment meter swapped to a normal meter as I couldn't get to top it up at the shops, didn't need to provide proof, just told them & they came & changed it for me.

I had a HA flat that attracted mould even though I had the heating on, opened the windows regularly and didn’t dry clothes on airers. They tend to be prone to it. Cilit bang mould remover was great.

If you can prioritise putting some money aside to change the meter do. Your energy will be a lot cheaper on DD.

If you can get the money together (maybe cost of living payment if you get it) a dehumidifier would be the best solution. They are cheap to run and make the air feel much warmer. Sometimes they sell them at Aldi or lidl.

Is it a payment for changing the meter or is it a deposit which will go towards your future bills? If the latter would it be possible to raise the payment via loan and then put aside the funds you would have topped up with to pay that off?

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/your-energy-meter/get-your-prepayment-meter-replaced-with-a-normal-meter/

You may be able to get some advice on the money saving expert website.

Are / we’re you eligible for the direct payments?

Were..