Cost of Living

[Winnersaint]

  On 24/06/2022 at 16:34, Lord Duckhunter said:

Snap dragon has hot tub, but according to the in home display it’s about £1 a day when on a normal cycle. 

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One of my late wife's more spontaneous pandemic purchases was an inflatable hot tub, in her words 'to get her through chemo'. When I put it up last year I happened to mention that it was not inflating properly, whereupon she immediately ordered another one, so I've got two of the things in the garage as of course there was nothing wrong with the first one. 

[Matthew Le God]

 

[whelk]

That is a kilo though

 

[Patrick Bateman]

  On 05/07/2022 at 13:56, Matthew Le God said:

 

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Good value. I buy President slightly salted. Was £2 per 250g pack a few months ago, now £2.40 per 250g.  Stuff is a little more expensive, it's the world, but £9.35 for a KG of butter is obviously better value. 

[kyle04]

Gotta smile at the sensationalism on what amounts to a fairly modest price increase on a mundane item, "disbelief" : shoppers were left reeling at the latest price hike, many were in tears at the Tesco exits , others were physically sick outside an ASDA in Dundee. "This is the final straw" said one woman. One shell-shocked man in Macclesfield declared "that's it, it's all over", last seen wandering off into a nearby wooded area. Meanwhile in several stores up and down the country shop security guards grappled with shoplifters laden with stolen butter...

[badgerx16]

Given this shocking news, could they afford to remake Last Tango In Paris ?

[Whitey Grandad]

  On 06/07/2022 at 07:31, badgerx16 said:

Given this shocking news, could they afford to remake Last Tango In Paris ?

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Couldn’t they just scrape off what’s left and use it on their toast?

[whelk]

Oh and in France is publicly owned. Lazy inefficient bastards.

 

[Winnersaint]

In the EU where there is no similar price cap on energy gas is on average €200 per mega watt hour. The UK is £263.79 per mega watt hour. The current exchange rate means that €1 is the equivalent of £0.85p which equates to £169.50 per megawatt hour in the EU. We are being ripped off!

Edited 10 August, 2022 by Winnersaint

[AlexLaw76]

The differing prices in our part of the world is a complete joke.

 

[whelk]

A proper politician speaks

 

[Turkish]

  On 10/08/2022 at 12:55, Winnersaint said:

In the EU where there is no similar price cap on energy gas is on average €200 per mega watt hour. The UK is £263.79 per mega watt hour. The current exchange rate means that €1 is the equivalent of £0.85p which equates to £169.50 per megawatt hour in the EU. We are being ripped off!

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Hot on the heels of shell announcing profits of $9b on their first quarter get this

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/eon-reveals-profits-of-35bn-as-households-struggle-with-rising-energy-bills-and-german-firm-slashes-its-nord-stream-1-stake-by-50/ar-AA10wpdO

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/british-gas-profits-centrica-energy-prices-b2133672.html

“The only one smiling is the sun tanned boss”

Edited 10 August, 2022 by Turkish

[farawaysaint]

  On 10/08/2022 at 21:58, Turkish said:

Hot on the heels of shell announcing profits of $9b on their first quarter get this

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/eon-reveals-profits-of-35bn-as-households-struggle-with-rising-energy-bills-and-german-firm-slashes-its-nord-stream-1-stake-by-50/ar-AA10wpdO

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/british-gas-profits-centrica-energy-prices-b2133672.html

“The only one smiling is the sun tanned boss”

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I’m all for capitalism as a general principal but this is disgusting. It’s profiteering pure and simple.

[Turkish]

  On 10/08/2022 at 22:15, farawaysaint said:

I’m all for capitalism as a general principal but this is disgusting. It’s profiteering pure and simple.

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Agreed of course companies need to make money but centrica profiting by x 5 whilst average families are worrying about affording their bills. EON with half year profits of £3.5 fucking billion. Utter scum 

[Patrick Bateman]

  On 10/08/2022 at 22:19, Turkish said:

Agreed of course companies need to make money but centrica profiting by x 5 whilst average families are worrying about affording their bills. EON with half year profits of £3.5 fucking billion. Utter scum 

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The fact that these c***s can come out and say "we need to reward our shareholders" sums up what an utter load of bollocks this is.  The whole thing is a massive cartel.  I'm more and more becoming anti-capitalist and I'm certain I'm not alone. 

[farawaysaint]

  On 10/08/2022 at 23:13, Patrick Bateman said:

The fact that these c***s can come out and say "we need to reward our shareholders" sums up what an utter load of bollocks this is.  The whole thing is a massive cartel.  I'm more and more becoming anti-capitalist and I'm certain I'm not alone. 

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Reading about billions spent on share buybacks while they spout on about needing the funds to invest in green energy for the future like they are some sort of martyrs does my head in.

[Patrick Bateman]

  On 10/08/2022 at 23:26, farawaysaint said:

Reading about billions spent on share buybacks while they spout on about needing the funds to invest in green energy for the future like they are some sort of martyrs does my head in.

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100% 

I signed up with Bulb years ago because they used "green energy". What a load of codswallop we've been suckered into. This whole industry has been allowed to run riot for too long.  What annoys me the most is that the stupid BBC will go on about turning off your microwave and turning down the heating a degree, but actually the majority of the price rises have come in the form of the daily charges. Do you see mention of that? F**king no. You can save all the energy you want but you'll still be clobbered. Cartel w*nkers. 

[Turkish]

As i cant seem to get a bill out of Eon anyone got any news on how much their bills have gone up by? I've seen horror stories on TV of people getting bills of £700+ a month but obviously this is a rare exception. Average bill seems to be about £300 a month. I've moved into a new build and we've hardly used the heating since we've been here.

[Whitey Grandad]

  On 10/08/2022 at 23:30, Patrick Bateman said:

100% 

I signed up with Bulb years ago because they used "green energy". What a load of codswallop we've been suckered into. This whole industry has been allowed to run riot for too long.  What annoys me the most is that the stupid BBC will go on about turning off your microwave and turning down the heating a degree, but actually the majority of the price rises have come in the form of the daily charges. Do you see mention of that? F**king no. You can save all the energy you want but you'll still be clobbered. Cartel w*nkers. 

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They will maintain their income whatever the energy usage. If we all halved our consumption they’d only go and double their charges.

[Turkish]

[Whitey Grandad]

  On 11/08/2022 at 09:14, Turkish said:

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Are those quarterly figures?

[farawaysaint]

  On 11/08/2022 at 10:01, Whitey Grandad said:

Are those quarterly figures?

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.

Edited 11 August, 2022 by farawaysaint
I am stupid

[Turkish]

  On 11/08/2022 at 10:01, Whitey Grandad said:

Are those quarterly figures?

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Shell one is actually out of date, Q1 was $9b, Q2 profits were $11b!

Shell smashes record again with $11.5-billion second-quarter profit - The Globe and Mail

BP £6.9b april-june

Nationalise energy firms, unions demand as BP reports £6.9bn profits and energy bills soar | Morning Star (morningstaronline.co.uk)

Centrica for British Gas is half year

British Gas owner Centrica profits increase five-fold to £1.34 billion as energy bills soar (yahoo.com)

Eon £1.2b quarterly profit

E.ON rakes in eye-watering £1.2BILLION in profit as urgent demands soar for slash on VAT | City & Business | Finance | Express.co.uk

half year for Eon was £3.5b

Exonmobil $17.9b for Q2

Chevron $11.6b

ExxonMobil and Chevron shatter profit records after global oil price surge | Financial Times

 

They all seem to be doing rather well out of the crisis.

 

Edited 11 August, 2022 by Turkish

[whelk]

They need to be careful. Society functions by everyone, or nearly everyone having a stake in it that ensures relative behaviour required of a society as they can see they get something back. If too many people are fucked, which they will be on current projections then it will cause massive societal issues. Listen to Gordon Brown FFS instead of making videos cheering football or shredding EU laws.

[AlexLaw76]

immediately cut VAT and/or scrap any Green Levy/tax.  That will make a significant difference to peoples fuel bills

[badgerx16]

  On 11/08/2022 at 12:55, AlexLaw76 said:

immediately cut VAT and/or scrap any Green Levy/tax.  That will make a significant difference to peoples fuel bills

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VAT on fuel bills is 5%. Cutting it completely would not make a dent in many people's charges.

[AlexLaw76]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:13, badgerx16 said:

VAT on fuel bills is 5%. Cutting it completely would not make a dent in many people's charges.

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and the green tax...every little helps

[badgerx16]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:14, AlexLaw76 said:

and the green tax...every little helps

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So why not lower the price cap to squeeze their obscene profits ?

[AlexLaw76]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:16, badgerx16 said:

So why not lower the price cap to squeeze their obscene profits ?

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and that.

We all know that if the Green Levy/Tax gets binned, and people realise how much it actually costs each of us, putting it back on will be a difficult 'sell'

Edited 11 August, 2022 by AlexLaw76

[Turkish]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:17, AlexLaw76 said:

and that.

We all know that if the Green Levy/Tax gets binned, and people realise how much it actually costs each of us, putting it back on will be a difficult 'sell'

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There will be outrage from minority groups screaming about how disgusting it all is, Greta will spontanisously combust.

[badgerx16]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:17, AlexLaw76 said:

and that.

We all know that if the Green Levy/Tax gets binned, and people realise how much it actually costs each of us, putting it back on will be a difficult 'sell'

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The Green Levy helps fund social programs to insulate homes and make home heating systems more efficient, therefore keeping the levy would probably lower bills more than removing it.

[AlexLaw76]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:21, badgerx16 said:

The Green Levy helps fund social programs to insulate homes and make home heating systems more efficient, therefore keeping the levy would probably lower bills more than removing it.

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all sounds good as people get repossessed

[badgerx16]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:22, AlexLaw76 said:

all sounds good as people get repossessed

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If people are facing their homes being repossessed then taking the Green Levy off their bills won't save them.

https://news.sky.com/story/green-levies-why-scrapping-them-wouldnt-lower-your-bills-as-much-as-claimed-12619655

[AlexLaw76]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:31, badgerx16 said:

If people are facing their homes being repossessed then taking the Green Levy off their bills won't save them.

https://news.sky.com/story/green-levies-why-scrapping-them-wouldnt-lower-your-bills-as-much-as-claimed-12619655

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It will help, along with other measures.  

Unless, during this period, you think taxing people and additional 25% (or what ever it is) on the very bills that will cripple them, is a sound idea?  Madness and can see why energy companies will resist taking the hit, when we are doing this to ourselves in the first instance.

[badgerx16]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:35, AlexLaw76 said:

It will help, along with other measures.  

Unless, during this period, you think taxing people and additional 25% (or what ever it is) on the very bills that will cripple them, is a sound idea?  Madness and can see why energy companies will resist taking the hit, when we are doing this to ourselves in the first instance.

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The Green Levy is approx 8% of a dual fuel bill, just over £150.

[AlexLaw76]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:38, badgerx16 said:

The Green Levy is approx 8% of a dual fuel bill, just over £150.

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8%, great news. 

Chuck that in with other measures for the immediate term and help people around the country

Edited 11 August, 2022 by AlexLaw76

[badgerx16]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:39, AlexLaw76 said:

8%, great news. 

Chuck that in with other measures for the immediate term and help people around the country

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Or, lower the price cap and get the oil and gas companies to pay the tax they ought to. If the cap came down by £400 by limiting the wholesale and network components, and then freeze standing charges, that would make a far greater difference.

[AlexLaw76]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:45, badgerx16 said:

Or, lower the price cap and get the oil and gas companies to pay the tax they ought to. If the cap came down by £400 by limiting the wholesale and network components, and then freeze standing charges, that would make a far greater difference.

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do it all.  

[badgerx16]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:45, AlexLaw76 said:

do it all.  

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Do you object to helping less well off households make their homes warmer and more fuel efficient ?

[AlexLaw76]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:47, badgerx16 said:

Do you object to helping less well off households make their homes warmer and more fuel efficient ?

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I wonder how many of the 'less well off' give a toss as they face £5k a year fuel bills, and know that a significant portion of that is a tax that may mean they get some insulation in 10 years time.

[badgerx16]

  On 11/08/2022 at 13:49, AlexLaw76 said:

I wonder how many of the 'less well off' give a toss as they face £5k a year fuel bills, and know that a significant portion of that is a tax that may mean they get some insulation in 10 years time.

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Is that a "no" ?

[AlexLaw76]

  On 11/08/2022 at 14:29, badgerx16 said:

Is that a "no" ?

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It is an alternative (and probably the majority) view, that people need massive help now, and ditching the green levy (along with other measures) is entirely within the gift of the government to do tomorrow and will make a difference

Of course, we could tax people more and educate them all on the "climate emergency".  You think that will work?

Edited 11 August, 2022 by AlexLaw76

[badgerx16]

  On 11/08/2022 at 14:31, AlexLaw76 said:

It is an alternative (and probably the majority) view, that people need massive help now, and ditching the green levy (along with other measures) is entirely within the gift of the government to do tomorrow and will make a difference

Of course, we could tax people more and educate them all on the "climate emergency".  You think that will work?

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I have made my suggestions in posts above yours. Removing the Green Levy and VAT will not make a noticeable difference if bills continue on the projected trajectory, but they make good headlines for the Truss and the Tory press.

[AlexLaw76]

  On 11/08/2022 at 14:34, badgerx16 said:

I have made my suggestions in posts above yours. Removing the Green Levy and VAT will not make a noticeable difference if bills continue on the projected trajectory, but they make good headlines for the Truss and the Tory press.

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It will make a difference, along with other measures.  Everything should be thrown at this in the immediate term.

If you think taxing people more is the answer, you are clearly not aware of the question many are facing

[farawaysaint]

  On 11/08/2022 at 14:34, badgerx16 said:

I have made my suggestions in posts above yours. Removing the Green Levy and VAT will not make a noticeable difference if bills continue on the projected trajectory, but they make good headlines for the Truss and the Tory press.

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13% helps to be honest. Should have capped the increase in prices like a France though. 

[badgerx16]

  On 11/08/2022 at 14:36, AlexLaw76 said:

It will make a difference, along with other measures.  Everything should be thrown at this in the immediate term.

If you think taxing people more is the answer, you are clearly not aware of the question many are facing

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I never said anything about taxing people more. Stop making shit up.

I did say that the tax subsidies that mean the oil and gas companies effectively pay ZERO Corporation Tax should go, and their obscene levels of profit and shareholder dividends should be curbed. I also said that reducing the price cap would be a more effective way to reduce domestic bills - currently it is weighted in the suppliers' favour.

[AlexLaw76]

  On 11/08/2022 at 14:46, badgerx16 said:

I never said anything about taxing people more. Stop making shit up.

 

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the more the prices go up, the more we all pay in tax (including VAT and the Green Levy)

[badgerx16]

  On 11/08/2022 at 14:47, AlexLaw76 said:

the more the prices go up, the more we all pay in tax (including VAT and the Green Levy)

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So cut the cap. Voila ! Lower prices. Why is our price cap so much higher than just about anywhere in Europe, including countries without any oil or gas of their own ?

[AlexLaw76]

  On 11/08/2022 at 14:56, badgerx16 said:

So cut the cap. Voila ! Lower prices. Why is our price cap so much higher than just about anywhere in Europe, including countries without any oil or gas of their own ?

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I have clearly said all along on this thread to cut taxes which can form part of wider measures in the immediate term.

You clearly disagree, which is fine.

Edited 11 August, 2022 by AlexLaw76

[whelk]

It is funny how the price cap is talked about like it is some immovable object. Capitalism running wild at expense of the masses but hey handouts is the answer. Surely the majority must surely see the benefit of public ownership that can simply regulate for all. Total fucking mess.

Personally I am fine but must be such worrying times for so many, Benefits go up £2.70 a month but energy bill £140. Lord knows knock on effects so many others and their jobs  with such obvious hit on families disposable income coming..
 

 

Edited 11 August, 2022 by whelk