£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.

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?

BBx · 12-03-2008, 17:36

My leccy is £67ish a quarter (I pay £20 a month DD so almost always in credit) and my water is £65ish every 6months.

I know I live on my own... but Rob is there quite a lot.

BB x

Jasper · 12-03-2008, 17:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_L

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

ours is about £50 for the 2 of us, but that includes cooking, heating and electric shower twice a day (sometimes more). I guess factoring in 4 people, you're about right there, assuming you're gas cooking and heating

lostkat · 12-03-2008, 17:44

Jesus Christ, I can't believe your water bill is that much. Ours is £120 per year. Why does it vary so much? It's not as if your house is that much bigger than ours.

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	#5
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	#6
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	#7
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? __________________

12-03-2008, 17:36	#8
BBx Reverse SuBo Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 8,673	My leccy is £67ish a quarter (I pay £20 a month DD so almost always in credit) and my water is £65ish every 6months. I know I live on my own... but Rob is there quite a lot. BB x

12-03-2008, 17:44	#10
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Jesus Christ, I can't believe your water bill is that much. Ours is £120 per year. Why does it vary so much? It's not as if your house is that much bigger than ours. __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?