£400 water bill. Time to move to a meter?

Desmo · 12-03-2008, 15:46

Had our water bill in from the lovely Anglian Water and it's increased again by around £20-30 and is now £401.

I've been looking at some figures and am thinking it's probably worth our while moving over to a meter. The only reason we haven't is that when we have kids we'll be using more water. But would we really use that much more?

I'm going to do more reading....but I think it could be a good move.

JodieG · 12-03-2008, 15:56

Is that per year? We pay I think £175 twice a year, around that amount and we're not on a meter. From what I've read if you have more people than rooms in your house ie 5 people in a 3 bed, it's more economical not to have a meter and vice versa.

It also depends how much water you use, showers, washing, dishwasher etc. I'm sure we'd pay more on a meter as I'm always washing clothes and using the dishwasher plus baths for the kids.

JodieG · 12-03-2008, 15:59

Just noticed the bit about kids, if that will be soon then I wouldn't bother with a meter. I'm not sure you can go back to not having one once you get one. We really do use a lot more than when there were just the 2 of us. Babies especially get through lots of clothes and then when they're in school it's uniforms, pre-school 2 changes a day if they have messy play etc. I use the washing machine once a day and would be more if I had more space to hang the wet clothes! Basket is never empty and that's without bedding/towels etc.

Justsomebloke · 12-03-2008, 16:17

Meter is the way to go these days.
I switched to a Leccy meter a few months back & much prefer it. Obviously Never getting any bills is a massive bonus but the main thing is monitoring & being aware of your usage on a daily basis. I think you/we are to casual when it's on Quarterly & don't realise how much we waste. I am much more likely to sling a jumper on these days when i used to just put the heating on. I've got into good habits now & have saved myself quite a few quid & like i say not getting a Quartely 300 plus bill is Heaven.
I don't have any bills come through my door at all now except my BB/TV/Phone bill of 31 quid a month, Everything else i pay by payment card by bunging a few quid on them whenever i have it

Living Alone is great but every single bill that comes through the door has my name on it. Now i have it this way with a meter & my payment cards there is No stress & nothig Looming on the Horizon that will upset the apple cart.

SidewinderINC · 12-03-2008, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by malc30

Big Snip.

Amen to that dude

I totally agree.

I didn't know you could do water on "pay as you go" like you can with electricity though - I get a monthly DD of £15 for my water.

BBx, how can you pay so little on electricity?! I live on my todd and spend about £30 a month at least, and that's not being uneconomical, I'm a stingy as you like with my electricity!

SidewinderINC · 12-03-2008, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitten

she's out and about galavanting most of the time

Hehehehe, I sometimes get back from a weekend away and think "wooh, didn't use any electricity, saved some money there" and then realise I've spent £50 on being out of the house when if I was at home I'd have probably spent £2 on electricity and not much more

BBx · 12-03-2008, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitten

she's out and about galavanting most of the time

Lies!

Hee hee... well I was just about to say I have storage heaters and only turn on when I need them and all I use is... kitchen stuff, lappy, tv, stereo in mornings, phone charger, lights - but always turn off... but then again you should have storage heaters because you live round the corner from my boyf don't you???

I'm with Scottish Power...he's with EDF and pays more.

BB x

Desmo · 12-03-2008, 16:26

Yep, it's £400 per year.

I keep reading different things. One makes it look like a massive saving on a meter and others seem not so close. Really not sure what to do. Only other option is to give it a stab and if it doesn't work out you can have it changed back within 6 months or a year I think it is.

FakeSnake · 12-03-2008, 17:11

you lucky bu**er!

Our water bill is about £60/month!
and we are on a meter!

You cant go back from a meter once its installed

Rich_L · 12-03-2008, 17:29

Ours is about £350 a year, but given that there's 4 of us we wouldn't use a meter I don't think - we do loads of washing, plus 4(+ at times) showers a day etc I'm sure we'd use more

Our electric is £50 a month, together with gas at £30 a month - I think the leccy is quite high?

12-03-2008, 15:46	#1
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	£400 water bill. Time to move to a meter? Had our water bill in from the lovely Anglian Water and it's increased again by around £20-30 and is now £401. I've been looking at some figures and am thinking it's probably worth our while moving over to a meter. The only reason we haven't is that when we have kids we'll be using more water. But would we really use that much more? I'm going to do more reading....but I think it could be a good move. __________________

12-03-2008, 15:56	#2
JodieG Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 340	Is that per year? We pay I think £175 twice a year, around that amount and we're not on a meter. From what I've read if you have more people than rooms in your house ie 5 people in a 3 bed, it's more economical not to have a meter and vice versa. It also depends how much water you use, showers, washing, dishwasher etc. I'm sure we'd pay more on a meter as I'm always washing clothes and using the dishwasher plus baths for the kids. __________________

12-03-2008, 15:59	#3
JodieG Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 340	Just noticed the bit about kids, if that will be soon then I wouldn't bother with a meter. I'm not sure you can go back to not having one once you get one. We really do use a lot more than when there were just the 2 of us. Babies especially get through lots of clothes and then when they're in school it's uniforms, pre-school 2 changes a day if they have messy play etc. I use the washing machine once a day and would be more if I had more space to hang the wet clothes! Basket is never empty and that's without bedding/towels etc. __________________

12-03-2008, 16:17	#4
Justsomebloke The Night Worker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,228	Meter is the way to go these days. I switched to a Leccy meter a few months back & much prefer it. Obviously Never getting any bills is a massive bonus but the main thing is monitoring & being aware of your usage on a daily basis. I think you/we are to casual when it's on Quarterly & don't realise how much we waste. I am much more likely to sling a jumper on these days when i used to just put the heating on. I've got into good habits now & have saved myself quite a few quid & like i say not getting a Quartely 300 plus bill is Heaven. I don't have any bills come through my door at all now except my BB/TV/Phone bill of 31 quid a month, Everything else i pay by payment card by bunging a few quid on them whenever i have it Living Alone is great but every single bill that comes through the door has my name on it. Now i have it this way with a meter & my payment cards there is No stress & nothig Looming on the Horizon that will upset the apple cart. __________________

12-03-2008, 16:26	#8
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Yep, it's £400 per year. I keep reading different things. One makes it look like a massive saving on a meter and others seem not so close. Really not sure what to do. Only other option is to give it a stab and if it doesn't work out you can have it changed back within 6 months or a year I think it is. __________________

12-03-2008, 17:11	#9
FakeSnake Absinthe Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Devonshire Posts: 1,143	you lucky bu**er! Our water bill is about £60/month! and we are on a meter! You cant go back from a meter once its installed

12-03-2008, 17:29	#10
Rich_L Dr Cocktapuss Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Seven Sizzles Posts: 1,044	Ours is about £350 a year, but given that there's 4 of us we wouldn't use a meter I don't think - we do loads of washing, plus 4(+ at times) showers a day etc I'm sure we'd use more Our electric is £50 a month, together with gas at £30 a month - I think the leccy is quite high? __________________