"Sometimes you just can't help comparing" - Do you agree? What do you compare? You could win £250 by sharing your thoughts with E.ON NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

Inspired by the new E.ON comparison tool, they have asked us to find out your views on comparing - not just energy consumption but in other aspects of your family life too.

E.ON says "How does your energy use stack up compared to other E.ON customers in your area? Now, if you manage your E.ON account online, you can find out with the Saving Energy Toolkit  our new energy comparison tool to help you use no more than you need."

So, if you are an E.ON customer and manage your account online, check out the comparison tool and let us know how your energy use compares to similar E.ON customers homes near you. Has knowing this prompted you to make some changes to how you use energy in your home? If so, what sort of changes do you think you could make? What quick fixes could you make? What could you plan for the future?

If you're not an E.ON customer (or don't manage your account online) please share what sort of things you compare with other people or with things you read or see in your own life: does this make you ever change your own behaviour? For example: do you compare your child's lunchbox with his/her friends and get ideas for your own? Or do you ask friends what books they've enjoyed and then go onto buy/ borrow them yourself?

Everyone who adds a comment to this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £250 voucher (a "Compliments voucher" (a multi-store gift voucher that can be spent at 130 retailers and 450 independent stores making up over 20,000 outlets nationwide).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ
For prize draw terms and conditions please click here - by posting on the thread you are agreeing to these terms

[Theimpossiblegirl]

I compare prices before buying or signing up to anything. This is one of the best things about the internet.

I love saving money.
:)

[Wallison]

I'll tell you what I compare, Eon. I compare your prices with the other five big energy companies and I find that they are roughly the same. Some less charitable people than me would say that this is evidence of cartel-like behaviour and in contravention of EU competition laws, but they're probably just nit-picking.

I also compare the price that I pay for my energy compared to what people on a meter pay for theirs. Given that they're on a meter because they are struggling to pay their bills, I find it appalling that they are actually paying more per unit used than I am. I wonder how you can justify this practice of charging more money for the same product on the basis that one customer's income is lower than another's.

Lastly, I compare the fact that you and all of the other energy suppliers are going on the news and informing us that the reason our bills are going up by an average of 10% this year is because of the price of wholesale gas and electricity, to the fact that you and British Gas and EDF etc are actually wholesalers yourself. I wonder how it can be the case that wholesale prices are rising at a rate out of your control when you yourself are setting them and indeed paying those prices to yourself, funded by us, your customers. It's an interesting scenario, isn't it? What else could this practice be compared to, I wonder? Some would say a stitch-up, or maybe a rip-off; I don’t know. But whatever it is, it is not free market capitalism, and we the consumers are funding transfers of massive sums of money that you guys at the top slosh around between yourselves.

And yes, I am angry.

[HavantGuard]

^ that

Profiteers.

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

"Nothing compares to yooooooou"

[Wallison]

Thanks, HavantGuard. Grrrr. And grrrr again.

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

What Wallison said so succinctly.

And - I also compare how much more complicated and expensive the energy tariffs have become to give us the illusion of choice to the simple, straightforward situation that existed when the energy industry was nationalised.

[smokinaces]

I feel like im forever comparing everything. Does one child do things before the other, is one better academically than the other, one better at manners and social skills, how do they compare with their friends? How do I compare to my friends with parenting?

And then the price comparisons of course. Compare petrol prices, insurance quotes, energy use etc

No wonder im constantly shattered, I work in a job which means I am constantly comparing data too!

[Happiestinwellybobs]

I do "sensible" comparisons, so do use price comparison websites for energy suppliers, insurance etc. I also compare prices in the supermarket, often using the calculator on my phone to check :)

Day to day, I will compare whether someone is thinner, taller, prettier than me... Sad but can't help it.

I also compare how my daughter is doing against her peers, although I really try not to be competitive or let it worry me at all. I just like to know how she is doing.

[CheeryCherry]

I suppose I compare my situation/lifestyle/every day life to others rather a lot! Sometimes I use this info to improve things, sometimes it makes me feel happy/glad and helps me appreciate my life more. I work with special needs children, it keeps me grounded and thankful. If I compare my own dcs life and future with theirs...it helps me do my job to the best of my ability. And reminds me to have fun, and be fun, every day.

[RedBushedT]

I compare purchased frequently in order to get the best value. I compare my monthly household energy bills with family & friends to see whether I'm paying a lot more. If so, why? And can I cut back to try to match their savings

[dahville]

I should compare and I mean to compare but I am lazy . I am afraid that I probably don't get the best deals that I could.

I do compare my child to the other children at daycare and I am happy to report that he is the nicest, smartest, happiest, most handsome boy there!

[Snog]

if you dont compare, how do you know what is good?
the secret of happiness is to compare to people who have less

[nerysw]

I compare everything and am always on the look out for anything useful (it's better to steal one good idea than have ten crap ideas of your own..). I compare prices of most big purchases before I buy and like the sense of smug fulfilment I get from knowing I got a good deal. I like to know which supermarket has the cheapest of any particular item and am only brand loyal for toilet paper - anything else will be swapped after comparing prices!

[cather]

I compare prices of things I am planning to buy, compare my children to other children, compare petrol prices, food prices and clothes

[janeyh31]

I will compare most things on line before I buy to make sure i get the best deals around. This can be anything from kids toys for christmas to holidays and larger products such as washing machine.

[PatoBanton]

God this is worse than the weekend Guardian photo competition.

This week, the topic is comparing.

This week, I have been mostly comparing:

Both of my FEET.

Thanking you.

[DoubleJ]

I'm really concerned that the web site diverts you without warning to a server in the US. It is also repopulated with your email address.
This just shouldn't happen with out us knowing.
Not good
/emo/te/9.gif

[ladygoingGaga]

I compare everything, mostly what I am about to buy whether its goods or a service, I want to be as satisfied as I can be that what i am buying is the best value for money.
I use comparison websites for insurance and services to help me do this. However with utilities I find very little difference in price, I usually end up going for the one with the biggest cash back.
For goods I generally read reviews for most things I buy, as i don't just buy the cheapest, but want the best product for my budget.

I also compare behaviours in me/kids/friends, achievements in fact there is not much I don't compare, even if I don't admit it in RL

[majjsu]

I compare a lot of items I buy, to make sure am getting the best deal. It is amazing what you can save. I hate feeling ripped off. Plus I love a bargain!

[telsa]

I compare prices of books I want to buy on ebay, Amazon, pother sites. tend to spend a lot of time comparing before biting.

I also compare prices of appliances on various websites.

[peronel]

I compare lifestyles now with those of, say, 50 years ago and I wonder if we are happier as a result of change or if things were better in 'the good old days'.

[Meanderer]

yes i use price comparison websites often - we have just switched energy provider to save £££s.

[LentilAsAnyFUCKERthing]

Price comparison, sure, I compare regularly to ensure we are being financially sensible.
Comparing myself with others, no - there will always be people better off, and always people worse off. I don't see any point in comparing in this regard.

[PatoBanton]

I forgot about penis size.

Not that I have got one myself. But it is crucial.