My energy bill has arrived for the period 12th October to 11th January. There was a price increase in October so it will be slightly more than the same period last year. An increase in my electricity consumption due to shorter days and needing to put the lights on, £45.75 for the quarter. I have used more gas, had the heating on a bit more, because I can afford it, although to look at me wearing a fleecy dressing gown over my clothes you wouldn't think I switched the heating on at all, but I do. My total gas charges for the quarter are £119.25.
So, £173.28 to be paid tomorrow at the Post Office. Easily covered by my £200 fuel allowance from the government. I expect the cold weather will continue for the next couple of months or so, and after that I won't need to use the heating quite so much. Then in the summer months the gas bill will be very small as the heating won't be used at all. Swings and roundabouts, I save money in the summer to pay for the heating in the winter.
I know exactly what bills are coming in throughout the year, and when to expect them. The car insurance has just been paid. Water bills come in twice a year. House insurance is monthly direct debit, telephone and broadband is monthly direct debit. Car tax and MOT and servicing is annually. RAC is payable in April with a phone call.
All is in hand regarding bills coming in, all accounted for, and money saved up to pay them. Looking good at the moment, I have an emergency fund to pay for anything that breaks or needs replacing. Heidi is having a check up tomorrow, I have money saved up for any vet visits.
It's taken a long time getting here, there have been a lot of lean times in my past where I have been skint, had to stop the spending and go without. But now I am in a good place, mostly because I don't set my sights too high. I don't hanker after a modern home, I don't need a flash car, don't need new furniture or new clothes. My needs are simple, as long as I am comfortable and have enough, I don't need any more. ilona
Hats off to you Ilona, been trying to do the same here: budgeting for the winter months and then easing off for the rest of the year. I don't want to get into any arguments but, I have to say after reading about yet another 'welfare' fraud, who took £45k of benefits and has gone unpunished (suspended sentence), it makes my blood boil, these people are robbing the vulnerable and less well-off in society who need money to heat their homes. Shame on them.
ReplyDeleteI wish everyone could see where they can make cuts without feeling deprived. I have never hankered after a big house/flash car/ trendy clothes. My bills are paid and my cupboard full of food. I too am quite content with what I have.
ReplyDeleteWell done Ilona. I still was shocked at your gas bill. Our heating and water is oil. Electric obviously for everything else. Pans out fine for us. I do change electric each year.
ReplyDeleteWhy shocked at my gas bill, is is too much? I thought it was about right for the amount of gas I used, a bit more than the same period last year, but affordable to me.
DeleteIts about right - with using oil its paid for on delivery. When I thought about it its right.
DeleteSo good to know when enough is all you need.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it's a very comfortable and content feeling to know that the bills will be paid without worry. Wants and needs - you seem to have found a good balance.
ReplyDeletehats off to you! When i need something that is a big expense, such as a needed new vehicle ( my old one had gone kuput) I saved up for it. I do not believe in having a big debt and paying out all of that interest for a bank loan ( paying interest to a bank, to me is a waste of money). As far as the regular monthly expenses go, I can see paying them. I pay my vehicle insurance once a year instead of on a instalment plan ( i save $60 a year by doing it that way vs. the extra $5 they would charge me monthly on the instalment plan). When I go out to eat, I have found out that when i can order off of the childrens
ReplyDeletemenu at cafe's and other places serves me well. More often than not, the serving sizes are almost the same size as a adult portion, just cheaper.
I also when I am looking at a big purchase, go online and avarage out the monthly "payments" to myself until i reach
my goal to get it.
We have options to pay monthly for car insurance, but as you say, it costs more in the long run. Saving up to change your car is always better than buying it with a loan. People seem to think it is normal to borrow these days.
Deletealso if you save up for a big purchase, you need to take in account the after fees, such as the registration, tag(s) and title fees as well.
DeleteBeing frugal is just a way of life for us now and I feel so much better for it!.Although we have never gone into debt for anything.What we didnt have we simply saved up for it,even nearly 44 years ago when we first got married.But as Ive got older,I dont feel the need to have stuff! We look after what we have got and so we are able to save for any emergencies,short breaks or treating the grandchildren.Life is so much more simple now!xx
ReplyDeleteSitting here reading your post with a cat on my chest( it IS warm)...! Wearing very old jeans and a charity shop jumper....I think the only thing I really require to be " new" is food!!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't mind me commenting,I love the straight forward non nonsense approach. I 've been reading your blog for years it keep s me on the straight and narrow as far as money is concerned. Even more so now as I no longer work and look after my son. I wouldn't have it any other way the simple life is good. we haven't got new anything and we don't care xx
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from you.
DeleteI thought your bills were quite reasonable, just had our electric bill for the quarter - £116, money put aside each week and bills are paid! Gas is £48 a month on DD, just had a refund, payment has gone down from £55 a month! Just done the ten year challenge thing and I noticed I still have clothes in the photo's from ten years ago! I've treated myself to a new-to me thick cardigan to wear in the house, from fleabay of course!
ReplyDeleteIlona you forget to say you get a free £200 heating allowance as all UK pensioners do !. No need to be cold.Kirriexx
ReplyDeleteI did say that, second paragraph down.
DeleteHi Ilona, it is wonderful to read how you are contented with what you have. I have also learned this through reading your bloggs. I never thought I could manage on a pension, but I do and don’t have to worry because of your advice. A couple of questions, do you pay council tax? And do you still use your bus pass? Best wishes.xx
ReplyDeleteI do pay council tax, but it's discounted and quite low. I pay it monthly with cash into the Post Office. I don't use my bus pass very much at all. Easier to get in the car.
DeleteGreat blog topic today! I am happy for you that retirement is going well and you are content. I retired three years ago and find this is the best time of my life. I also don’t cover super expensive items so am very happy with our paid for home and car :). How fortunate we all are to have found contentment.
ReplyDeleteMy doctor had a great saying " Quality of life over Quantity". I feel I have quality of life and that to me is important. The older I get the less I require and I seem to remember my grandmother saying something very similar.
ReplyDeleteyou know, from what I have seen last ten years, there are even more advantages to being frugal/buying second hand older stuff/making stuff / making do, than all the good points I've seen here.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, (it seems to me) that most new products are not made well ---- are not made to last --- often do not function well for purpose intended --etc.. Although there is this big huge push for "eco" this and that, it seems that it usually ends up meaning "lasts almost no time at all , and then cannot easily be repaired"...Resulting in more being chucked/more expense/etc... A new fridge or freezer (for example) will be suggested to last five years "if well cared for"..HUH???? An old fridge or freezer from yrs back honestly could last fifty yrs. And these new more "eco" or more "green" products are HUGELY pricey.
True eco living, is much as you are (Iona), and much healthier and so on.
Suzy,I like how you say...true eco living!.Every thing these days isnt made to last.My mam still had her old cooker/oven from when she got married and that lasted for nearly 50 years.Apart from our settee and recliner chair,all the furniture in my house is old and was built to last!.Ive said before on here that a trip to Ikea and places like that would be my worse nightmare!xx
DeleteSimple living is the way to go. I've always been able to stretch a penny until it screams for mercy. I enjoy the challenge! Here in Florida, the air conditioning bills during the summer are killer, what with the heat and humidity. But my electric bill is at least half what my neighbors pay, simply because they are wasteful and I'm not. It's very much a Keep Up With The Joneses neighborhood, but I'm not playing that game. You're an inspiration, Ilona!
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