[Solved] Cost of Living

😆

What a brilliant prank, and no harm caused to anyone 😀

Read today that British Gas have announced profits of £700m three months after putting the prices up by 7% as the worst winter for many years started to kick in.

I wish I could tell Sid NOW!!!

And yesterday it came out that the CEO of Barclays got a £6.5M bonus!! Crazy. There's something wrong somewhere.

Excellent prank, however the real joke is the governments inaction.

They're waiting until the fuel price peaks then they'll introduce the fuel price escilator to reduce the tax. They'll get a lower proportion of a higher price per litre = they'll be no worse off than this time last year.

The government could be doing more to stop the domestic energy companies from making such profits. Force them to introduce winter tarrifs

I see a problem with the fuel price escalator - if the government say that they'll reduce the tax if the forecourt prices increase to keep the prices stable, then there is an incentive for the oil companies to increase the price, because they know that they can make more profit without hitting the consumer directly - a perfect situation for them.

And are we due an increase in fuel duty in April?

Saw the first garage with £1.40 per litre!!

There's a garage next to where I work that's had diesel at 140p per litre for a while - it went up to that from 137p in one day!!

Stupidly though, there's a big garage on the way home on the dual carriageway selling petrol/diesel at 133.9p/139.9p per litre, but on the other side, about 400 yards down, there's a small garage selling it at 128.9p/133.9p - guess which one I use.

There is a duty rise on the way (unless there's a U turn) - 1p per litre + inflation rise, plus the VAT on the rise, will be about 4.5p per litre increase apparently 👿

And how many of us would have filled their car up?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-12939234

I would definitely - if it has been a small independant, I'd have said something, but Asda (I used to fill up at that very station when I lived up there) can afford it, and as far as I know, there is nothing at all illegal about filling up and saying nothing. And I'd have spread the word. 😆

Filled up locally last week - £100.01 to fill it 😥

Without hesitation, i'd fill up until the petrol was dripping onto the forecourt concrete.

Also, if I found a tenner on the street, i'd spend it!! 😀

D23

Blimey what do you drive - An F1 car!!!

That would certainly make the drive to work more interesting 😆

Unfortunately, it's a people carrier with a 75 litre tank.

We just got rid of our people carrier - the boys are older now and dont need so much when we go away (ipod, phone, socks - that is all!), also considered cost of running it and the tax, insurance etc. Got my wife a little C1 which easily does 60 miles to the gallon and costs £20 per year to tax.

Certainly is a sign of the times!

I went the other way - ran a micra (with lpg conversion) until just over 2 years ago but got the people carrier when we got a dog again (and then a second dog) so we could go away with family and dogs. Also proved useful for beginning/end of year runs to university. For a big heavy car (2.5 tonnes, 2.5 litre diesel) it's actually surprisingly economical and very relaxed to drive - about 43 mpg overall when we went to Scotland recently, and 33mpg normal mixed driving and seems better than my wifes Honda Civic. Do intend to get my bike back on the road though for summer, that'll give me 70mpg + going to work and back.

Inflation set to hit 5% with fuel and food bills set to be the highest ever!!

Thought I would cheer you all up

"Wife and two kids to support" - any donations gratefully accepted!!

Also, if I found a tenner on the street, i'd spend it!! 😀

D23

Last week, I did...and I did.

For all those planning a driving holiday abroad and expecting fuel to be cheaper on the continent - beware

In fact the UK is fourth cheapest

I could not belive these prices

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13717190

I can't believe we're the 4th cheapest. Petrol is so expensive and the fatcats are just getting richer and richer. I makes me mad!

Still, at least the prices of food and utilities aren't going up.....oh wait....!!