54% increase for energy - on top of everything else

[meriad]

I know it was expected, but still - that's just an obscene price hike and as has been pointed out countless times will have such a huge impact on too many people

I am very energy conscious and try have as much switched off at the plug as possible / heating on as little or as low as possible etc; but still this increase means that my current direct debit is set to potentially go up £50 per month!

When I first got my car it cost just on £50 to fill up; yesterday I filled up and it was just under £80. Food has gone up stupid amounts as well My rail fare to get to work when I go has gone up,

Now I earn an OK salary (which has not been increased in three years), but these increases are starting to hurt; so just how is someone on minimum wage expected to cope?

[JoM]

It’s awful isn’t it Ria. Like you I’m really conscious of how much energy we use and I’m always looking for ways to decrease our usage but I honestly don’t see how much more we can do.

It just feels like we’re being squeezed for more cash from all directions.

[JanB]

Chatting to my daughter last week about it too. She will be struggling, so that means the planned holiday here has been cancelled again. I have offered to pay for their flights though, so we'll see.

When we were in the market yesterday, I was gobsmacked at how much more everything was costing. Instead of 6 pairs of socks for 5€, you got three. Ditto for underwear. Yes, I know it's not the best quality but only knickers and socks. Who sees them?

The veg was the same. We bought 10 cabbage plugs for a euros and 50 red onions for 2 euros.

[Workingman]

I do know this hurts, and hurts many of us, but I do despair at the screaming headlines: "Typical bills to rise by £693 in April!", "Average bill for gas and electricity will be £1971 for the year!".

£693 p.a. is a RISE of £57.75 per month - that is on top of the claimed £106.50 already being paid.

£1971 p.a. is a payment of £164.25 per month!

Remember, these are "average" payments each month, every month!

I do question where the media gets these figures from.

[saundra]

Well I'm very glad I don't do DD bsecause energy suppliers out them up automatically?
I'm in dispair for families who struggles now
So hard for everyone not a good news day

[cromwell]

It isn't brilliant. This is what comes of poor government going back years.
We sit on an island built on coal and surrounded by oil and gas. OK, if we are not going to use them make sure we have nuclear power stations for reliability. Oh, we appear to have forgotten about that.
I've noticed the food going up too.
Ria, when I had my Lambretta in 1973 petrol was 33 pence. A gallon!
It's no good, I've got to finish building this time machine. Might be able to get some proper sized mars bars then as well!

[Kaz]

It is a massive hike I read that it would put 1 in 4 families into fuel poverty, which is a shocking thought in this day and age

[victor]

That will take us from our current £82 to £126 p.m.

As for food one thing I noticed this week the butter we buy in Iceland used to be 2 blocks for £1.50 ,a couple of weeks ago it Sent to £1.80 yesterday it was £2.00 or individually a block is 1.25

My wife well we will have to live on salad so it is less cooking

[JoM]

That’s it isn’t it Vic, it’s not just a penny here and there. It’s 10p, 20p…

[Kaz]

Yep, food prices have gone up a lot