Page 4 | To think the energy increase in April is the last straw.

borderline53 · 2023-02-28T20:21:51+00:00

Just how the hell are we supposed to cope with this. I’m so stressed with everything. I have grown up kids who I fear for more than anything. Where’s it going to end. Life’s just so bloody hard. Sorry I know it’s the same for us all, I just needed to vent.

sst1234 · 28/02/2023 22:33

BMW6 · 28/02/2023 20:35

Surely we all need the incentive to cut down on our energy use because of climate change?

Anyone with these huge bills needs to ask themselves wtf are they using all this energy on?

We are ALL supposed to be using much less to save the planet and your children's futures. Isn't that so?

Nice try.

Singularity82 · 28/02/2023 22:41

woodhill · 28/02/2023 22:08

@Singularity82

You sound preachy and it's annoying

I'm becoming more and more cynical about this and it's being used as a stick to beat us with

Did you mean to reply to me? I’m not sure what part of my post you think is preachy.

cakeorwine · 28/02/2023 22:42

Againstmachine · 28/02/2023 22:29

Sorry but I'd your bill is actually that much more you really need to use a lot Less.

But this is Mumsnet where it's acceptable to wash a towel and a sheet after every use, guess what if you want to do that you pay for it.

Show quote history

Well - £6000 when the 'average' is £2500 is significantly above average.

Of course, people don't know how people use energy in a house.

StarDolphins · 28/02/2023 22:43

Just today…

Email from holiday club - up £3 per day from April
Email from hairdressers - up 2.5%
ordered cat food from Zooplus - up from £52.99 to £71.98

its our DDogs 11th Birthday today & I promised my DD we’d get him a piece of salmon from Aldi for tea - £3.59! I’ve stopped buying it the last few months but not long ago it was £2.49.

Kids clothing through the roof, even at charity shops & Ebay. Went to charity shops Sunday - £4 t-shirt £6 sweatshirt.

thats on top of a crap healthcare/dentist/empty shelves/driving from shop to shop to get only half of what I need.

it’s just so difficult trying to remain optimistic☹️

MagicCat83 · 28/02/2023 22:50

The other week my mum said something that stuck in my mind. She said that, when she was growing up, governments were spending money on building hospitals and infrastructure and technology was making life better. Living standards were going up and up and people were optimistic about the future.

Now, it feels like all that is the opposite - that governments and big tech are not our friends, standards of living are falling and we are being told that the future is some kind of climate catastrophe and it's all our fault [presumably for buying the stuff that was in the shops etc rather than not]

TheHouseElf · 28/02/2023 22:54

SoCrossAboutThis · 28/02/2023 21:25

Apparently grant Shapps was hinting today at more govt help? Isn’t there a budget soon? Maybe they’ll announce something?

'Government help' is giving back to the people money that they've taken off them in taxes - they take with one hand and give with the other. Its a magician's illusion trick. Government has no money of its own, its the peoples.

MagicCat83 · 28/02/2023 23:04

If Grant Shapps really cared, he'd give out copies of the e-book he wrote that told people how to make $20k in 20 days............

"Shapps's web marketing business's 20/20 Challenge publication also drew criticism. It cost $497 and promised customers earnings of $20,000 in 20 days. Upon purchase, the "toolkit" was revealed to be an ebook, advising the user to create their own toolkit and recruit 100 "Joint Venture Partners" to resell it for a share of the profits."

If he'd done this as a uni student, I'd have thought it was quite funny - but he was about 40.

nevertakeadvicefromsomeonewhosfallingapart · 28/02/2023 23:17

BMW6 · 28/02/2023 20:35

Surely we all need the incentive to cut down on our energy use because of climate change?

Anyone with these huge bills needs to ask themselves wtf are they using all this energy on?

We are ALL supposed to be using much less to save the planet and your children's futures. Isn't that so?

Yes we're doing our best but what are we supposed to do? My heating hasn't been above 17 degrees all winter and it's felt very cold in my house. I can't turn any radiators off because no thermostats fitted. My dd has gone from £50 a month to £130, I can't afford any more than that, I'm struggling as it is and mainly living off 75p frozen ready meals with no fresh fruit and veg apart from what is the cheapest - usually frozen fruit to add to my porridge. I can't cut back any further unless I sell my car, but I need that to take my very elderly mother to the hospital and doctors, as bus services have been cut and she can't manage the journey 🤷‍♀️

SoCrossAboutThis · 28/02/2023 23:17

cakeorwine · 28/02/2023 22:13

Yes - but in general, from April / May to September, people tend to use a lot less energy (especially for heating) compared to October - March.

Show quote history

But in normal times you build up an excess/profit in summer to use in winter. Danger is this spring/summer people won’t build up that excess.

SoCrossAboutThis · 28/02/2023 23:18

MagicCat83 · 28/02/2023 23:04

If Grant Shapps really cared, he'd give out copies of the e-book he wrote that told people how to make $20k in 20 days............

"Shapps's web marketing business's 20/20 Challenge publication also drew criticism. It cost $497 and promised customers earnings of $20,000 in 20 days. Upon purchase, the "toolkit" was revealed to be an ebook, advising the user to create their own toolkit and recruit 100 "Joint Venture Partners" to resell it for a share of the profits."

If he'd done this as a uni student, I'd have thought it was quite funny - but he was about 40.

Wtaf? So a pyramid scheme? Aren’t they illegal?

cakeorwine · 28/02/2023 23:26

SoCrossAboutThis · 28/02/2023 23:17

But in normal times you build up an excess/profit in summer to use in winter. Danger is this spring/summer people won’t build up that excess.

Show quote history

OTOH - the predictions for winter are that the cost of energy will be lower than now, even under the price guarantee

mumda · 28/02/2023 23:54

Don't forget we're all paying for the failed energy companies too. Who made a profit from them?

Lochroy · 28/02/2023 23:58

YANBU. I've just spent my the weekend trying to help my elderly mum sort things out because her direct debit has not changed but bills have so now she's in a big debit and they've finally twigged. The amount they want each month now is unaffordable. Her consumption is actually down compared to last year, but elec cost per unit is more than double and gas is five times. It's crazy.

sst1234 · 01/03/2023 07:50

TheHouseElf · 28/02/2023 22:54

'Government help' is giving back to the people money that they've taken off them in taxes - they take with one hand and give with the other. Its a magician's illusion trick. Government has no money of its own, its the peoples.

Show quote history

Most people in this country have a beggars attitude and want handouts to solve everything. Throw them a few scraps and they’re happy.

More interested in asking why benefits are not higher than asking why tax credits have subsidizing low wages for 25 years, encouraging people to work part time. More interested in getting furlough than wondering why healthy people are being locked and the economy being ruined. More interested in handouts for energy payments than asking why we are not producing more of our own energy, nuclear and fossil as well as renewable.

MarshaBradyo · 01/03/2023 07:52

TheHouseElf · 28/02/2023 22:54

'Government help' is giving back to the people money that they've taken off them in taxes - they take with one hand and give with the other. Its a magician's illusion trick. Government has no money of its own, its the peoples.

Show quote history

Bo everyone gets it though so it’s extra tax payer funds targeted to lower income

MarshaBradyo · 01/03/2023 07:52

Not..

Naunet · 01/03/2023 08:39

BMW6 · 28/02/2023 20:35

Surely we all need the incentive to cut down on our energy use because of climate change?

Anyone with these huge bills needs to ask themselves wtf are they using all this energy on?

We are ALL supposed to be using much less to save the planet and your children's futures. Isn't that so?

You wouldn’t have had kids if you were really trying.

magicthree · 01/03/2023 09:18

I genuinely can't reduce my energy use any more. I've even been reading in bed with a little rechargeable lamp that I charge at work (with permission). Rarely have the heating on, use the toaster and air fryer (and eat cold stuff) rather than using my oven.

This sounds so miserable. I keep reading posts on here about people only having the heating on for a couple of hours a day, and just don't understand how they can live like that. I'm in NZ and know that I wouldn't cope living like that in winter. It just sounds so awful - being able to afford to heat your home to a comfortable level should be a right, not a privilege.

stripedsox · 01/03/2023 09:30

Those who suggest rioting, try looking up what the word actually means then come back and let us know if you still think it's a good idea.

beguilingeyes · 01/03/2023 09:46

It's not just energy though, is it? It's everything. Food inflation is at 17%. Council tax is going up. Broadband is going up. Wages aren't.
We both work and I'm worried about energy bills, how are people on low incomes supposed to absorb these increases?
Then you get Sunak boasting about how wonderful it is for Northern Ireland to be in the Single Market when they've spent six years taking the rest of us out of it. The gall of the man.

BigMandysBookClub · 01/03/2023 09:55

MagicCat83 · 28/02/2023 22:50

The other week my mum said something that stuck in my mind. She said that, when she was growing up, governments were spending money on building hospitals and infrastructure and technology was making life better. Living standards were going up and up and people were optimistic about the future.

Now, it feels like all that is the opposite - that governments and big tech are not our friends, standards of living are falling and we are being told that the future is some kind of climate catastrophe and it's all our fault [presumably for buying the stuff that was in the shops etc rather than not]

Don't get me wrong, I dont think Labour will offer a more hopeful future either right now, but at least when they were in power and apparently overspending (debt to GDP was 60%) they were spending on making peoples lives better, good tax credits for working families and things were reasonable cost and just a general feeling of hope for the future (they failed to deal with housing though and are not addressing it this time either, which is why I won't vote for them).

Under Tories we have debt to GDP now close to 100%, but not much to show for it - failing services, striking workers and staff shortages in the public sector. Childrens services have always been appaling, but i'm waiting for an assessment by a paediatric doctor and I've been told well over a year - my non-verbal son starts school in September. We didn't leave it too late either as the issues were first flagged at 27 months. It has just took a long time and lots of hoops to jump through to get the referral.

COVID money also disappeared down a black hole. It's like they only gave a shit about public health whrn they realised it was an opportunity for them to benefit.

We have had austerity in terms of cuttung back infrastructure and services for this country, but it has not been reflected in our finances as we are in a worse position. There has obviously been lots of wastage and a parasitic drain on public finances some where. I wonder where the money went ....🤔

SayDoWhatNow · 01/03/2023 09:58

Anyone with these huge bills needs to ask themselves wtf are they using all this energy on?
Sometimes we aren't using that much energy, the company is just chancing it.

Our bill went up from £75 to £330(!!!) Now they have miraculously discovered we are not in fact using all this energy and have reduced our bill to £90. Do we get the extra £500 back? Like heck we do, we're just "in credit" while they profit.

BigMandysBookClub · 01/03/2023 09:59

I don't think anyone wants to riot. Probably peacefully protest. I think people are concerned it will come to that due to the amount of anger gestating in people at the moment. Rioting just messes people's lives up and ruins communities. Very, very few people want that.

CocoPlum · 01/03/2023 10:02

BMW6 · 28/02/2023 20:35

Surely we all need the incentive to cut down on our energy use because of climate change?

Anyone with these huge bills needs to ask themselves wtf are they using all this energy on?

We are ALL supposed to be using much less to save the planet and your children's futures. Isn't that so?

During that extreme cold snap in December, I was freezing at home in the day because I wouldn't turn the heating on until the kids got home from school.

We use gas only for heating and hot water for washing up, and the bill was still over £200 for gas that month (worked out by meter readings, so correct).

I was doing my very best to save energy, was cold and miserable doing it, and I still had to pay a ridiculous amount.

WaddleAway · 01/03/2023 10:03

SayDoWhatNow · 01/03/2023 09:58

Anyone with these huge bills needs to ask themselves wtf are they using all this energy on?
Sometimes we aren't using that much energy, the company is just chancing it.

Our bill went up from £75 to £330(!!!) Now they have miraculously discovered we are not in fact using all this energy and have reduced our bill to £90. Do we get the extra £500 back? Like heck we do, we're just "in credit" while they profit.

You can request the credit back. I did it before Christmas and had it back in my account within a week.