Keeping utilities costs down minimum

[Harry Bloomfield]

It is simple - shop around, for the very best deals which suit your use...

For water/sewage, I have a water meter installed, and pay only for what I use, plus a sum for drainage. Nowt much I can do beyond that, there is no competition.

Broadband, plus phone, I have YouFibre - £26.99 for both 150/150Mbs. My 18month first contract with them, ends in May, they've offered me renewal of contract, at £22.99, 200/200, plus phone. Had I just let the contract continue, I'd have been paying much more. Having shopped around, I couldn't come near the price, so I renewed at £22.99 - the same price as offered to new customers.

Energy - Gas and electric. I had smart meters fitted years ago, so I could take advantage of the many special tariffs available, if you simply have smart meters installed, but I've taken it a stage further, with Octopus's 'Tracker Tariff'. Rather than pay a fixed sum per Kw of each, I pay based on a calculation based on the cost of energy, to Octopus. Which means if their supply costs go up, my own cost can rise above the fixed or variable rate - and sometimes it does do that. The cost can change each day, but is pre-set for the entire 24 hours. That means I can save some, by avoiding use, when it is expensive, and delay until it is cheaper. tomorrow, for instance, it is costing me 9.59p per Kw of electric. Sunday, it was 8.9p, but last week I saw >26p per Kw. Overall, I make considerable savings, because I am relieving Octopus, of some of the risk of the w/sale cost of energy.

Last car insurance renewal, I got the like for like renewal cost down, to the same as I was paying 20 years ago, simply shopping around the insurco's.

 

[Wayners]

I'd add to that..
Be careful with car insurance companies that offer cheap deals as they have terrible customers service if you happen to need them.
If your young you don't care but a bit older then it's worth paying for service at the end of the phone..
You have a choice.
It's all smoke and mirrors though..

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

If your young you don't care but a bit older then it's worth paying for service at the end of the phone..
You have a choice.
It's all smoke and mirrors though..

My cheapest insurer, the one I accepted, was Aviva. A very reputable company. High cost, does not necessarily = good service.

 

[noseall]

It is simple - shop around, for the very best deals which suit your use...

For water/sewage, I have a water meter installed, and pay only for what I use, plus a sum for drainage. Nowt much I can do beyond that, there is no competition.

Broadband, plus phone, I have YouFibre - £26.99 for both 150/150Mbs. My 18month first contract with them, ends in May, they've offered me renewal of contract, at £22.99, 200/200, plus phone. Had I just let the contract continue, I'd have been paying much more. Having shopped around, I couldn't come near the price, so I renewed at £22.99 - the same price as offered to new customers.

Energy - Gas and electric. I had smart meters fitted years ago, so I could take advantage of the many special tariffs available, if you simply have smart meters installed, but I've taken it a stage further, with Octopus's 'Tracker Tariff'. Rather than pay a fixed sum per Kw of each, I pay based on a calculation based on the cost of energy, to Octopus. Which means if their supply costs go up, my own cost can rise above the fixed or variable rate - and sometimes it does do that. The cost can change each day, but is pre-set for the entire 24 hours. That means I can save some, by avoiding use, when it is expensive, and delay until it is cheaper. tomorrow, for instance, it is costing me 9.59p per Kw of electric. Sunday, it was 8.9p, but last week I saw >26p per Kw. Overall, I make considerable savings, because I am relieving Octopus, of some of the risk of the w/sale cost of energy.

Last car insurance renewal, I got the like for like renewal cost down, to the same as I was paying 20 years ago, simply shopping around the insurco's.

Jeezus!

How did you go on before you had 18 hours a day to count Kw/hours? You must have been distraught.

Does Av share your passion?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Jeezus!

How did you go on before you had 18 hours a day to count Kw/hours? You must have been distraught.

Does Av share your passion?

Only a fool just pays what a service supplier requests, without checking. You show yourself to be the forum fool, repeatedly.

 

[noseall]

Only a fool just pays what a service supplier requests, without checking. You show yourself to be the forum fool, repeatedly.

I wish I had your disposable time, I really do.

People often ask us why we have a quick turn-around and throw tools away such as levels, tape measures even some (repairable) power tools. If you have never been self employed or in business then I guess you'll never know.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

People often ask us why we have a quick turn-around and throw tools away such as levels, tape measures even some (repairable) power tools. If you have never been self employed or in business then I guess you'll never know.

Which translates to - you lack the mental capacity, to spend just a few minutes per year, to save yourself thousands of pounds in your bills. Does that attitude follow on into your work, and business ethic?

 

[noseall]

Which translates to - you lack the mental capacity, to spend just a few minutes per year, to save yourself thousands of pounds in your bills. Does that attitude follow on into your work, and business ethic?

I once spent forty five minutes faffing about on an insurance quote to save a few quid. I got to know Greensleeves (hold music) off by heart, shaved £80 off my insurance and squandered £250 in lost production (had to finish the work the next day).

The only bonus at the time was they phoned me.

 

[aveatry]

Jeezus!

How did you go on before you had 18 hours a day to count Kw/hours? You must have been distraught.

Does Av share your passion?

Does Av share your passion?

Why do you have to be an and spoil every thread.

 

[Brigadier]

Cost benefit analysis.

Some measure effort vs reward in monetary terms: "cheaper to get a decorator in, then the money I'd lose (taking the time off) doing it myself" - type mentality.

Some do it as, while there is no monetary benefit, there are others (satisfaction, staving off otherwise being bored, whatever).

Some, just the thought of getting a deal, or "sticking it to the man".

 

[Mottie]

Us retirees have one thing in abundance. Time to faff around searching out deals so why not? Old Nosey could easily do the same in the time he spends on here arguing, searching and posting!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Why do you have to be an and spoil every thread.

Mental issues, he cannot help himself.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Time to faff around searching out deals so why not?

It's no real faff, just a few minutes each year, and in many cases some of the best deals to be had, can be found (though not always) on the compare sites. The worst possible deal, is usually to let a contract run on, after the introductory discount.

For instance, my original partner used to deal with most things, including the house insurance. She just accepted the increasing cost each year, as inflation. It got to £550-ish back in 2016, when I realised what we were paying - this is a very low crime, low risk area. Last year I paid just £90 for the same cover.

Just paying, is a mugs game, for the terminally lazy.

 

[Mottie]

Just paying, is a mugs game, for the terminally lazy.

Apathy tax, I call it.

 

[noseall]

Us retirees have one thing in abundance. Time to faff around searching out deals so why not? Old Nosey could easily do the same in the time he spends on here arguing, searching and posting!

For pittance though.

I can put effort and time into a lucrative job and make much more. Faffing about to save a few quid - I don't see the reward. Once I am retired, I might consider becoming like one of you.

I'm even worse at the supermarket. I've only had access to a Tesco Clubcard for the last 18 months. Not a clue what anything costs. Meal deals - but I don't want three items ta.