Current Affairs Cost of living…

[Bohemian Toffee]

Came home from a parent's evening a couple of nights back and discovered that the heating in our block of flats will rise from 3000Kc a month to close to 6800Kc starting December first.

Or about 105 pounds to 240. That rise represents about 5% of the household monthly income, on top of extortionate food costs and fuel prices that seemingly creep up on a weekly basis.

We can absorb the cost by cutting corners in other, non-essential expenses but most in our block are on fixed pensions. No idea how they are going to make ends meet.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Came home from a parent's evening a couple of nights back and discovered that the heating in our block of flats will rise from 3000Kc a month to close to 6800Kc starting December first.

Or about 105 pounds to 240. That rise represents about 5% of the household monthly income, on top of extortionate food costs and fuel prices that seemingly creep up on a weekly basis.

We can absorb the cost by cutting corners in other, non-essential expenses but most in our block are on fixed pensions. No idea how they are going to make ends meet.

10% on Pensions as well as other related benefits from April 2023.
My mother who is in her 80s, is already in receipt of £900, the £300 we are all getting. And £600 winter weather payment.
Much will depend on circumstance in terms of what payment there is on property lived in.

 

[FrenchDarrenBent]

Monthly gasbill went from 115 to 550 to 300 this month.
Wood pellets @coollino are at +- 10 quid per 30 pound bag. The firewood industry is having its golden age right now.

 

[larrygobfiend]

Our energy bill is on course to hit the £500 mark this month, despite us cutting back on the use of it. Using last years projections we should be at around £800. When we first moved in to our house 2 years ago it was between £180 and £220 a month.

Will go up again in April. Need to invest in some new coats.

Bloody hell!! Do you have a few kids by any chance? I know things have shot up, but that’s bonkers!

 

[Lobster Johnson]

Our combined gas and electric bill has gone from about 200 a month (couple, no children) to 450. From the breakdown, we've seen a minor increase in electricity (which we buy from a local co-op producer from others in the city with solar panels, industries with co-gen etc) and a 300% increase in the cost of our gas. I've put the heating on for the 1st time this week as my wife has flu.

 

[ArtetaMoney]

Bloody hell!! Do you have a few kids by any chance? I know things have shot up, but that’s bonkers!

I have one child, however, I have a wife who if the temperature drops below 20 degrees acts as if she is in the arctic circle. She used to have the heating and fire on, then would open a window to cool down. She also has no problem putting the dishwasher on with a cup and plate in it.

She is nowhere near as bad now but this time last year there were a few lessons from me on how to not single-handedly be the cause of global warming, and the repossession of our home due to unpaid energy bills.

 

[PhilM]

Our energy bill is on course to hit the £500 mark this month, despite us cutting back on the use of it. Using last years projections we should be at around £800. When we first moved in to our house 2 years ago it was between £180 and £220 a month.

Will go up again in April. Need to invest in some new coats.

An honest question, but how much energy are you using? Are you measuring it using a smart meter? We've made the conscious decision to really scale back.

I'm at home today and the heating says it's 15°C; previously, we'd use the central heating to knock it back up to 18°C before the kids come home from school.

Now, we won't be putting it on until about 6pm (ish) to knock it up to that mark, with jumpers and whatnot to keep people comfortable for the rest of the time.

I'd say, we probably have it on for an hour and a half to two hours a day (max), whereas in the past it'd be on for an hour in the morning and a few in the evening.

Same with lights and whatnot... our bill has gone up, but not hugely.

 

[Lobster Johnson]

Our combined gas and electric bill has gone from about 200 a month (couple, no children) to 450. From the breakdown, we've seen a minor increase in electricity (which we buy from a local co-op producer from others in the city with solar panels, industries with co-gen etc) and a 300% increase in the cost of our gas. I've put the heating on for the 1st time this week as my wife has flu.

Plus point to this is the pub is warmer and beer is currently cheaper than gas.

 

[COYBL25]

The problem that I`m finding, with cutting back on putting the heating on, is the springing up of black mould patches in various parts of the house, where they`ve never been before - around a sky light, one of the bedroom ceilings, corners of the kitchen, the bathroom ceiling etc.

Another thing, is this figure of £2500 combined annual fuel bill, put out by the government, is just pure fiction.

 

[ArtetaMoney]

An honest question, but how much energy are you using? Are you measuring it using a smart meter? We've made the conscious decision to really scale back.

I'm at home today and the heating says it's 15°C; previously, we'd use the central heating to knock it back up to 18°C before the kids come home from school.

Now, we won't be putting it on until about 6pm (ish) to knock it up to that mark, with jumpers and whatnot to keep people comfortable for the rest of the time.

I'd say, we probably have it on for an hour and a half to two hours a day (max), whereas in the past it'd be on for an hour in the morning and a few in the evening.

Same with lights and whatnot... our bill has gone up, but not hugely.

We are the same, mate. Cut right back on energy usage, using the smart meter to check how much we use each day and to scale back accordingly. We had my wife's friend stay over at the weekend which meant the energy usage crept up in comparison to when she wasn't here. I have adjusted the heating so it is on in the morning whilst my son gets ready for school, then it is on in the afternoon just before he gets home, and again just before he goes to bed. I'm working today with a hoodie on and the missus looks like she is on an expedition to find Santa Claus in the other room.

Like I said in the previous message, we are well down on our usage in comparison to last year, however, the bills are still high due to the price increase. After they go up again in April we will probably be circa £600 a month of usage in the winter. I am currently in transition from the military after 22 years and I have increased my salary expectation quite significantly from when I first started looking for jobs 2 years ago, to account for the cost of living increase. Energy bills are probably the most publicised increase, but there is a significant increase in our weekly food shop. My wife and I both earn what would be considered a very reasonable wage but we definitely have less expendable cash than we did in 2020.

My wife's workplace has offered a one-off cost of living payment to anyone earning under £55k, which while I think it is commendable and will be useful, I don't think it will do much for when the cost of living continues to increase massively next year.

 

[coollino]

The problem that I`m finding, with cutting back on putting the heating on, is the springing up of black mould patches in various parts of the house, where they`ve never been before - around a sky light, one of the bedroom ceilings, corners of the kitchen, the bathroom ceiling etc.

Another thing, is this figure of £2500 combined annual fuel bill, put out by the government, is just pure fiction.

We're having the same problem, we've just bought a dehumidifier which apparently helps. The great reviews also says it helps dry clothes well so we'll see

 

[COYBL25]

We're having the same problem, we've just bought a dehumidifier which apparently helps. The great reviews also says it helps dry clothes well so we'll see

We’ve got a good dehumidifier- De Longi and it does help, but it’s upstairs and I’m thinking we need one downstairs too.

We’ve lived in this house for the best part of twenty years and have never had problems with mould like this before.

I can only put it down, to not putting the heating on.

It’s a massive pain, as you know and doesn‘t look too nice either.

 

[larrygobfiend]

I have one child, however, I have a wife who if the temperature drops below 20 degrees acts as if she is in the arctic circle. She used to have the heating and fire on, then would open a window to cool down. She also has no problem putting the dishwasher on with a cup and plate in it.

She is nowhere near as bad now but this time last year there were a few lessons from me on how to not single-handedly be the cause of global warming, and the repossession of our home due to unpaid energy bills.

Feel for you mate. The fact that you’ve calmed all that down and it’s still that high is pretty shocking. We’ll all be eating rats and grass soon

 

[peteblue]

Turn the heating off alltogether Pete you're customers will appreciate cold beer you'll save thousands and you won't have to buy ice cubes, win, win, win.. ?

The monthly £550 LPG was just for my house not the pub. Fortunately we have the electricity in the pub on a contract which runs well into next year, but our oil heating costs have obviously risen. The other night we only had half a dozen people in the pub, oil heating on, two wood/coal fires going plus all the lighting. But, some you win and some you lose I suppose……

 

[peteblue]

The problem that I`m finding, with cutting back on putting the heating on, is the springing up of black mould patches in various parts of the house, where they`ve never been before - around a sky light, one of the bedroom ceilings, corners of the kitchen, the bathroom ceiling etc.

Another thing, is this figure of £2500 combined annual fuel bill, put out by the government, is just pure fiction.

There’s been quite a few articles lately about various house plants that absorb moisture and stop mould …

Four houseplants to banish mould and condensation from your home

There are four house plants which help combat mould growth in the home, according to experts, who claim they work as nature's dehumidifiers.

www.dailymail.co.uk