Bill

[WorthyExpert]

Octopus, I switch off boiler, hardly switch radiators on even though I need it .fridge freezer low temperature ,don't leave light on only tv , and others nut the bill is killing me

How big is your home, how much are your bills? I live in a drafty old high ceilinged house that is more open plan than it was built to be. Our gas and electric are £200 a month, that means we are warm, the house doesn't get damp and we are running the underfloor heating in the bathroom every day for a few hours in the morning and evening. I cook from scratch, do 7-10 loads of washing a week. I'm surprised that it isn't much more than we paid last year to be freezing and cause damp . So all in all whilst that's not cheap, I think it's ok to be comfortable.

How much is your bill. Do you leave appliances on standby etc? Do you cook with gas or electric? Maybe ask for a smart meter to figure out exactly what you're spending.

is your boiler inefficient?

im also with Octopus - 2 people, 3 bed terraced house, double glazed. The heating is set at 19 degrees throughout the day (7pm-10pm) and 16 degrees at night (don’t think it gets that low). Energy efficient lights, we both work from home. Not much washing to be honest (due to home working in leggings etc). Quick showers

bill is £110 per month for both (averaged over the year) which I think it’s reasonable considering that my heating is always on during the day. But my boiler is only 3 years old so perhaps that’s why it’s not too expensive.

How much are your bills OP, and what sort of property do you live in?

1 bed , kitchen and lounge together. I wish we can be comfy too. @MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira , do check with them to prevent any surprise bill they have done it to me.

@Fullofpudding If used to be very affordable for me but since I've been in touch with them it been increasing that's what ive noticed , have even decrease the usage of things I use .. dehumidifier comes on when needed auto, mind you we hardly on radiators, dehumidifier is affordable to run.coom with electric oh they fixed ine that's when the surprise bill came in etc
Use electric , cardigan, blanket and throws to keep warm

I have a 4 bed detached house on top of a hill in Scotland, I work from home and the house is heated to 20 degrees all day every day, down to 14 degrees overnight, we also use dishwasher and tumble dryer. My bill is £220 per month in winter, around £100 in spring/summer. Have you checked your readings to make sure they aren’t estimated?

@jelly it always says estimate I believe

@WorthyExpert - well perhaps you need to put in an actual reading.

You need to give them monthly readings if you to be charged for what you’ve actually used. Do you do this?

You need to give them a reading to correct their estimates - you may find they owe you money back. Could you get a smart meter to keep an eye on things?

Definitely send a meter reading so you have an accurate bill. The standing charge for most people is about £1 a day so that's £30 a month before you switch anything on. We have 2 dehumidifiers that cost about a pound each to run per day. They automatically come on when needed.

If you're using electric portable heaters they tend to use a lot of energy. Speak to your local library about loaning a plug that measures how much energy your device is using. I borrowed one for free from the library but you can buy one from Amazon. It might help you work out what is costing so much, you may find it's cheaper to put the radiators on for a bit

You must get those readings today. Get the Octopus app and input them, you will know the exact situation within hours. Then look at the your tariff section and see whether there's a better deal for you.
Im with Octopus and my direct debit will go down next month. I have a note in my calendar to give readings every month and I check out new deals every six months.
Not sure that a full switch off of boiler is the best move - I think it would be better, and safer for your pipes, to use the room or radiator thermostats turned down so that heating doesn't click in. That's if you don't have a decent timer system.
If you can only afford limited heating then it's really important to keep that heating in. You may not be in a position to afford to do much but look at gaps around doors/windows etc and maybe use towels/blankets to block off draughts.

Thanks you all, I really appreciate all the comments.