Bulb bill

[LakeToba]

We pay Bulb about £81 monthly for gas & electricity. We haven’t sent a meter reading for a while so our estimated bill is now £100. We’re in a 4 bed new build. We tend to put the heating on as and when we need it. Would it be more cost effective to have it on constantly do you think? What do you all do? Thank you!

Ah gutted.
I had a story about an actual bulb bill!!

Sorry! Welcome to share here 😂 Yes, probably a misleading title. Can I change it?

Once had a white goods engineer out to fix the little freezer bit in the old fridge.
He mentioned the light was out and offered to replace the bulb.
Nice chap I thought..
Until I received a bill for £8 for the bulb!!
I rang the company and suggested I would be sending it back!
They said as a goodwill gesture I could keep it for free!
Cf!!

Log into your Bulb account & send them a meter reading, regularly
Or ask if you can get a smart meter

Thanks for sharing Winter! What do you do with your heating? On constant or as you need it? And are you happy with your bill?!

It depends on lots of things. If we just out for the day, we tend to leave our heating on around 15 and turn it up when needed.

Mostly it's better to have the heating on just when you need it.

Good insulation makes a huge difference and you can keep your home warmer for less with this.

If your insulation isn't great then keeping your heating on all the time just means that you waste more.

YY to poster that says keep bulb updated with your readings. It doesn't even matter if you have a reading due; just try and do it once a month or so. They don't just use individual readings they put them into their system which does calculations that s gives a pretty good idea that if you used x amount when the temp is y then you'll use p amount when the temp is q.

You can also log in and change your direct debit, to suit.

Having said all that. If you are paying £80 a month and November is £100, then I wouldn't worry too much as it will even out in the summer when you are only using £30 ish

Paid Bulb on card last week they only took it yesterday, I found out when my card was declined doing the big shop in store.
Not connected to this at all I just wanted to moan about it somewhere

A quick google will tell you that there is no one size fits all answer to this question, I think Martin Lewis has a good article about it iirc

Mine is on a timer with thermostat set around 19 degrees. Supposed to be more cost effective than leaving it on all the time but it depends on insulation too

Thanks everyone for thoughts and opinions. I think we will prob leave it as an as and when we need it. For example, today we haven’t put it on at all as has felt so mild and with us out of the house and blankets on the sofa when we’re in, I think it works for us. Just want to make sure we’re paying the LEAST we can be! Thanks for all input and advice.

We have it on when needed - with thick Pjs blankets and fleece dressing gown and socks it isn’t that cold really

The only way to pay accurately is to update them with regular meter readings. You just input on the app - you may owe them loads, or vice versa.