Interesting read and the fact that they are not far behind us is somewhat encouraging in a funny sort of way
I think we sometimes forget that this financial crisis is more or less worldwide and so consequently we cant really lay all the blame on our government, there is no easy fix to this IMO
That said it will reach breaking point as the winter months grow closer and the fact that others are in the same boat wont help people in the UK. I think there will be lots of protesting to come and god forbid some rioting
It’s human nature not to look at the bigger picture and only worry about what directly affects us. The EU eventually admitted they were too harsh on Greece and needlessly prolonged the recession . It’s thanks to Greece’s embrace of latest technology and sheer determination that it is not worse. After shipping, our biggest income comes from tourism but no concessions were made during lockdown, they still demanded their pound(s) of flesh. Thank goodness the u.k. were no longer in thrall to them.
It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.
But there’s a world of difference between Britain and the eurozone. In extremis, the Bank of England could always print the money required to repay investors in government debt
Do that then, we apparently wanted out of the EU so let us sort govt debt out that way rather than add to the burden on the people.
BP have announced profits of almost £7bn following the Russian crisis, plenty there to reduce the burden on customers, but they won't, they'd rather look after the bosses and the shareholders while we face a frightening winter ahead. Stupid cash injections by the govt for the ne'r do wells are a waste of time as we have already seen, they simply blow it on booze and trips to the seaside. And besides, what the govt are offering barely scratches the surface of what the customers face with fuel bills, simply adding to the govt's debts. The price cap on fuel should be regulated sensibly given how much fuel companies are making, to a level that is at least manageable to the user. And as for the petrol prices, don't be fooled that now we've seen £1.95 a litre £1.75 is cheap - it clearly isn't. But again the govt are happy to keep robbing us with fuel duty and VAT, both of which could be drastically reduced as other countries have done. But will this happen? Will it feck. The Russians supplied us with just 4% of our gas - that small amount shouldn't affect our prices that much so we're being ripped off as usual, plain and simple.
The Russians supplied us with just 4% of our gas - that small amount shouldn't affect our prices that much so we're being ripped off as usual, plain and simple.
You might think so but even though only a small portion of our gas comes from Russia countries who are heavily dependant on them are now having to find new sources and are competeing with the suppliers we use so inevitably demand affects the prices for everyone including the UK.
People who are wrong are just as sure they're right as people who are right, the only difference is they're wrong
The mother of all sh*tstorms is going to hit very very soon.
Just look at the amount of VAT the govt is creaming off there, they need to act now because this is becoming completely nonviable. £6600 p/a for households by next Spring is the latest prediction.
It really is very worrying, even if there is enough in your pot to cover it then that is cash out of your savings, in my case its a drop in what I can save for retirement which isnt really that far away
I cant even imagine how the lower paid households must be feeling, its a hopeless situation
The last jump doubled by monthly DD, as Im sure it did for most people, I am currently deciding as to whether to increase it when the inevitable e mail arrives from EON or leave it where it is and handle any underpayment when it happens. I know that doesn’t benefit me directly but I’m reluctant to give them extra cash now when they will reap any interest (if there is any)
I tried to post this earlier but bloody Proboards logged me out when I hit reply
I don't pay by DD (I have my reasons I won't bore you with here), instead I pay online the amount of each month's bill. During the Summer it's fine, in Winter it obviously goes up a bit. My plan is, if these horrendous prices come in, to look at the previous year's bill for the corresponding month and pay the same plus £30, which I think is a reasonable amount they could expect anyone to pay (it's still a pretty big increase but do-able). I'm pretty sure that if you make a payment of some sort there's not much the suppliers can do other than possibly send a few snotty letters out. I can't rely on a govt. initiative because what's been offered so far doesn't touch the sides.
I’m now on a fixed rate tariff and so my charges will stay roughly the same, albeit a little higher than in the past, until July 2023. Although the cost of living/fuel price rises aren’t really affecting me, I’m still economising. I don’t see why they should get any more of my money when the fuel companies are loaded.
I'm going to up my payments from October and see how that works out by January. The last 12 months bills have been much lower due in part to having a new boiler last year, and more importantly the winter and spring bills were much lower than the same period in 2021. If we have a cold winter this year.....
On the plus side for myself, I have spent the last couple of months converting my spare bedroom (warmest room in the house) into a mini lounge. Makes sense to spend time in there come winter, it's so snug. I'll keep radiators on low elsewhere, obviously normal if others are visiting. It's something I was thinking about doing in the future, bought forward by necessity.
Boris Johnson has pledged the government will announce "extra cash" in September to support households further with energy bills - after Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi suggested people should cut back on their usage.
Big words from the pathological liar who will be out of office in September so has no right promising such things. Plus such helpful words from our Chancellor who clearly doesn't give two hoots about people's fears. Remember these shysters and the others like them won't have a problem paying their bills.
Another thing that is quite annoying is the fact that they keep talking about help for the lowest incomes
Yes thats all good but what about the people in the middle (I count myself in that) not rich, not on the breadline. It still makes a difference to us, unless money is no object in life then this is an issue for everyone but to different degrees