How much have YOUR bills gone up?? (ARGH! Vent)

[Mattsmom277]

Was reading about unauthorized charge to a phone bill and it got me back to my recurring annoyance about bill increases etc. I've been in a bit of a snit (well more than a bit) about the sheer number of ways that we've been getting increases to nearly everything lately.

I'm in Ontario Canada, we have a "new" tax that allows tax to be added to previously untaxed items. There is a online tool to calculate the estimated increase each year based on what you spend in your household. It works out to about $2600 per year for my family. This is also being applied to RENT, meaning most landlords are increasing rent to compensate for their increased tax.

We have had time of day meters installed here for hydro and gas and water. I don't pay water bills since I rent, but my landlord does and you can bet your boots landlords will also increase rent even further to compensate for their increase in fees. The cost for hydro and gas during daytime hours is 4-5 times the cost that it will cost at night. We also have a new monthly charge that is for us to pay off the debt the utility companies incurred by paying for and installing the time of day meters. My last gas bill was $48. Not so bad, but the thing is since it is not winter and my gas pays my heat in winter, the ONLY thing my gas is used for this time of year is my hot water tank. I wash clothes in cold water only. So this bill ONLY pays for hot water for showers and for washing dishes. When I look at the breakdown on the bill, only $9 was for my ACTUAL gas use. The rest was fees for this and that, plus the new tax etc. That is a 400% higher charge than my actual usage. What a racket!!

My hydro bill is through the roof. I've been trying to adjust my time of day usage, but I'm home all day. This was a record breaking hot summer and I've never used my A/C as much as this year. If I don't keep the house cool, my MS flares and I'm in agony and incapable of doing much more than lay around fighting the tears. So A/C it is. Well my bill was over $100 more compared to last year, per month. Just in actual usage fees. Then the "fees" they tack on drive it up further. I have more than $60 in "fees" per month. I find it disgusting to pay that high for "fees". It is worse when we have zero choice in who provides our utilities. Here it is a monopoly and if you mess up with this company, there is no other option.

Basically I am paying about $4-500 per month MORE in expenses than a year or two ago. Add in the increased cost of clothing, groceries etc and is it any wonder I want to just toss the bills in the trash unopened?

Have your bills gone up dramatically?

[Lothlorien]

Everything has gone up. Even the stinking toilet paper. Dh got two paycuts last year, plus no bonus, but the bills keep going up. We went from having outstanding credit to our credit ratings in the toilet all in one year. Lovely, right?

[Dammit Janet]

Everything is going up here too. The electric is a nightmare. I, like you, have got to keep my house a fairly even temp or I get in really horrible flairs. I cant use gas heat in the winter because you cant get gas run to a mobile home here so everything is total electric. My electric bill is way through the roof. It runs in the mid 400s every month from May till October when it will drop to about 150 for a month or two when it will then go back up to about 260 until the next May rolls around. I can do a bit better with the cold because I just wrap up really well and stick a little portable heater in the bathroom for a bit before I take a bath.

Gas for the car is awful too and I have to go to appts. Food is so expensive. TP, shampoo, soap, laundry soap. Everything.

[GoingNorth]

Janet, does your power company offer a budget plan? That's where they average out your usage over the year and bill you the same amount every month. It's a lifesaver for me with gas bills in the winter as we have bitterly cold winters up here in Northern WI.

[witzend]

With us it's the medical bills. As a rule, we haven't had anything more this year, but DH had to have a second sleep study, then the rent on the CPap machine and we're up about $600 a month on that alone. Then there's the increase in gas, water, electric, food, natural gas. And DH took a pay cut last year.

[Dammit Janet]

We cant do budget billing because we are always on the month behind cut off notices. I dont know how we got that way but we are. So every month I pay the month befores bill.

[Mamaof5]

Do NOT get me started on the HST...oh wait too dang late...

My dodge caravan was 50 dollars to fill from empty to full before HST...it's a whopping extra 25 bucks at 75 dollars now to fill from the empty line. This is a vehicle that is great on gas mileage but holy hannah and extra 25 dollars in taxation? Come on!! My home business will die out because of this new HST, I have to charge my clients extra now because of this stupid tax grab. My grocery bill was 1500 a month (7 unit family) but now...at least an extra 200 to 300 dollars putting me dangerously close to 2 large just to eat.

Hydro...*grumbles* limey b**tards... those people just applied and received a hydro rate hike...they are applying again for another one in November which they will get from the OEB as they always do. My bill went from 130 a month to 220\300 a month in ranges (yeah we have those "dumb" meters too). It's already slightly more expensive for certain things for a NOR (northern Ontario reszi here). McGuinty is already charging us OHIP taxes and squandered that **** on "EHealth" scandal...now HST? Then they scrapped an enviro bill to redo it (which costs the tax payers money to scrap and redo), before they the new energy saving bulbs, the ones that are about 6 bucks before the taxes were tagged with a 10 buck enviro tax plus the HST? WTFeck is this government doing to us. We're in a recession dang it...stop kicking us while we're down.

/rant over...for now...sigh!

[Mattsmom277]

Sounds like everyone is taking a hit, not that I believed I was alone. It makes me sad to see how hard hit people really are. It seems that the higher ups are really out of touch.

Mamaof5, I can't imagine a 2K food bill. I mean, I see how it gets that high. We spend probably 1000-1250 per month for the 4 of us, and PC spends half the time at her dads. I just flat out refuse to cut out healthy food so the bills climb, meaning we cut out costs in any other area we can (haircuts, entertainment, clothing, gifts etc).

I figure we'll be getting yet another electric hike come Nov. too. I was so peeved to see the insert about the approved hike in my last bill. Of course we can apply for that rebate they've sent forms out for, but it isn't as if $200 is going to offset the price of heating in the north for much more than maybe 2 weeks. Did you get the form for that? I have mine but keep forgetting to send it in.

[Mamaof5]

Sounds like everyone is taking a hit, not that I believed I was alone. It makes me sad to see how hard hit people really are. It seems that the higher ups are really out of touch.

Mamaof5, I can't imagine a 2K food bill. I mean, I see how it gets that high. We spend probably 1000-1250 per month for the 4 of us, and PC spends half the time at her dads. I just flat out refuse to cut out healthy food so the bills climb, meaning we cut out costs in any other area we can (haircuts, entertainment, clothing, gifts etc).

I figure we'll be getting yet another electric hike come Nov. too. I was so peeved to see the insert about the approved hike in my last bill. Of course we can apply for that rebate they've sent forms out for, but it isn't as if $200 is going to offset the price of heating in the north for much more than maybe 2 weeks. Did you get the form for that? I have mine but keep forgetting to send it in.

*lol* What is entertainment again? Yes I did get the OETC form. I haven't sent mine out yet because I need Hubby to sign it as well and he's on shift work. Hopefully he'll sign it this week and we'll send out through our accountant. Did you know you can protest to the OEB about the hydro hikes (mind you they never listen but if enough of us complain maybe they just might...not holding my breath for it though). If for any reason any of my fellow Ontarians need help here: ontariorentbanknetwork.org they help with utilities, rent, mortgage even if you are behind, they'll either give a grant (no need to pay back) or interest free, low pay back loan. It is run through the Ontario Works offices but not part of Ontario Works. It takes about 3 hour appointment for the initial appointment, bring all documents, lease, mortgage agreement, income, bank statements, ID of all persons in your household, utilities bills (they don't do phone, internet or tv but hydro, gas and water bill). I've used them in the past and they paid a full 1200 dollar hydro bill almost 2 years ago!!! plus 3200 of rent and my water bill and gas bill!! That was in the GTA and they do grants there rather than loans or a combo of if the need arises. You can only use it every two years... the only good thing that came out of the Harris government!!!

Just a resource in case one of my fellow Ontarians needs it. They don't like to advert it too much and try to downplay it a bit but be persistent. Don't forget the Salvation Army, they have programs too for help with bills and food. Food banks too!! St. Vincent De Paul also has resources for help and your local Churches too (even IF you are not a part of their congregation or their religion).

[SRL]

I'm in Ontario Canada, we have a "new" tax that allows tax to be added to previously untaxed items. There is a online tool to calculate the estimated increase each year based on what you spend in your household. It works out to about $2600 per year for my family. This is also being applied to RENT, meaning most landlords are increasing rent to compensate for their increased tax.
?

Is this a Value Added Tax you've converted to? I see that coming for the US in the future. It's only a matter of time until they come after the taxpayers for the budget deficit.

We had new remote water meters installed a few years ago and our fees went way up then. Last month my water bill jumped $30 and all that we can think would account for it is we watered a section of the front lawn twice for a few hours. Few people in my neighborhood watered at all this year--it's just too expensive. Water costs are so high here in summer that gardening doesn't save you money.

Our food costs haven't increased and in fact went down last year in response to gas prices going down. I also live near stores that run really good sales and I stock up at the sale prices. ie Flour went on sale for $1 for 5 pound bags last week so I bought 12 and I put 10 jars of salsa on my shelf the last time it was $1, etc. Between that, cooking from scratch, and couponing, most of the groceries that come into my house come in at 50% or less of full price.

What's killing me are the items that used to go on steadily for years, but seem to fall apart quickly now. In the past 2 months our hot water heater died, the 3 year old computer crashed and needed replacing, the transmission on a 6 year old vehicle died (I'M LIVID-especially since my husband's 23 year old car is still kicking), the picture on our 2 year old TV went, and my washing machine needs repair/replacement.