"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

I compare energy prices before switching to a fixed deal.
Recipes - I'm not a great cook so it's always good to see how other people make the same meal.
Prices - before buying anything I compare prices on online comparison sites.
Clothes - asking people what they think of the quality of stuff if I haven't bought from that shop before.

Non-EON customer.

I often see people doing things really well that I find difficult and try to figure out how they did it so I can improve. That ranges from dealing with a small child who's misbehaving through to giving an engaging, thought-provoking speech at a conference. I think that positive kind of comparison where I learn is very helpful. Sometimes I negatively compare myself to others but that is more a reflection of the kind of day I'm having!

I compare the prices of larger things I'm buying and do use comparison websites for things like energy prices.
I also compare the state of my house with other people and use it as a prompt to get tidying!

I'm with E-on and I used the comparison tool. I think we are a fairly economical household and my kids are quite well trained in switching lights and electrical equipment off. I was surprised to see we were in the middle of the chart, better than some houses, but not as good as most at reducing our energy consumption. I read about ways in which we could save money and ticked off the ones that we do already. I'd like to get our use of fuel, and bills, lower so I will be trying out some of their ideas (not so long showers for a start). I've signed up for an energy monitor when they are available in my area, as I think a device in the home showing where the biggest amounts of energy are used will be helpful.

my children

many people don't admit it.

here i am saying it

I compare to inspire myself to do better - if a peer of mine can do something (get a job, fix a toilet cheaply, buy a great suit, toilet train their child by 6 months), then I become inspired to think I can do the same, and just need to follow their path.

I compare most things, I check websites to review before I buy anything. I always check e bay or quidco to see if I can get it cheaper or get cash back. With Christmas coming up its a no brainer!!

I don't really compare much. I find things like this energy comparison rally boring- I would much rather over pay for my electricity than have to wade through something like that.

Comparing kids progress always seems to happen amongst parents whether it is first steps, first words or how they are getting on with their times tables and spelling tests at schools!

Can make me feel worried initially - but then i remember that all kids are different and are at different stages and abilities and that there is little point comparing like this when it comes to child development!

We recently compared our credit card with another we spotted and have switched and are getting a much better 'cash back' type deal. So sometimes it is good to compare.

I compare myself against other runners. I've recently started joining Parkruns - non-competitive but timed 5k weekly run. My competitive spirit means I've shaved almost two minutes off my 5k PB. Comparing is good!

On a negative side, I compare myself against colleagues and always feel I'm lacking. Comparing is bad!

I do compare lots of areas of spending to get the best deal. Supermarket comparisons, search for offers online, search for the lowest energy tariff etc etc. I have never thought to compare my actual energy usage with others in similar houses. I think it is genius! I wish we were with E-on do that I could use the toolkit. We are looking for a new provider so will be doing comparisons soon.

I amuse myself in the supermaarket queue by comparing shopping. see ho has the healthiest, who has a party planned, whose is themost/least expensive etc. it is a novelty to be ble to stand in the queue without wrestling a small boy approaching/in meltdown.

I always use comparison websites for all insurance, energy suppliers.

I compare how I look against other women, how I'm dressed, size of my house, quality of my cakes, etc. Can't help it. Wish I didn't care.

I compare shop bought things with my own home made things! I love crafting and am always seeing ideas in shops that I try to make myself at home - particularly Christmas gift ideas.

I compare things like broadband and phone packages online, the only other things i kind of compare are toys at our local playgroup. If theres something they really enjoy playing with I'll compare prices and keep them in mind for christmas or birthdays.

I definitely use comparison sites for big purchases, bills, financial products etc.

Currently 30 weeks pregnant so I'm also comparing my bump to other women!

I compare food prices when shopping ,and will be comparing the price of toys/gadgets etc before I do all the Christmas shopping.
This is a positive comparison experience !

I also however compare how I look , what I am wearing, what other people can buy their dc's to other friends and people around me which is just nonsense really and is a really negative thing to do. Recently I have been a lot more confident and been doing this a lot less and not caring about anyone else and it is sooooo much better!

My husband is in the army so I find myself comparing a lot with my 'settled' friends and family. I recently had a baby and felt very low afterwards because we just didnt have the support that we might have had if we'd been anywhere near our home towns. I find myself a bit tearful at the school gates when I see the Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, cousins etc picking up the other children in DS's class, whereas its always me. I didn't even have someone to put as an emergency contact for the school as we just don't know anyone and our families are 6 and 8 hours away. I long to actually be part of somewhere.

I compare all the females in our families personalities.

Sometimes, it's like looking into a mirror.

Others, we are miles apart. :)

I compare the things I buy online, but I wonder whether I spend too long comparing little things and forget to compare the big ones.

I do compare but try not to as the quickest way to unhappiness is to constantly compare

I compare prices in supermarkets.

I also compare how other people have decorated their homes. I like seeing what wallpaper or colour schemes they have (I feel as if I don't know how to express myself within the home & am happy to keep the decor as it was when moved in!)

I think we all compare on certain levels, it's human nature to see if we're all doing the same or different / worse / better, the main difference is that some people get judgy when doing these comparisons.

Most work places will use bench marking as a tool so it's not unnatural to do the same outside with aspects of our personal lives!

Some things I compare;

Grocery shop prices to get best deal
Our own year on year energy & water consumption
Mobile phone cost & usage
Petrol prices
Cooking recipes
Different lifestyles (some friends & neighbours have very different lifestyles, compared but not judged)
Gardens (as in who's mowed their lawn used as an indicator when we need to do ours!)
Candy crush progress!

I don't think comparisons are a bad thing, we can learn new things and better ways of doing things

Not an E-on customer.

I do compare prices, I look online before buying etc but customer service is always an important part of the equation. I will always pay more if I know the customer service is better than that given by the cheapest provider. Good customer service counts A LOT.