I’m a dad of three – I’m back in debt due to soaring energy bills, it’s crippling

I’m a dad of three – I’m back in debt due to soaring energy bills, it’s crippling



Posted by theipaper

7 comments

  1. Chris Matthewman was “over the moon” when him and his wife, Tracey, were [finally debt free](https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=011782314020777428663:ycznkklrfq5&q=https://inews.co.uk/topic/debt&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiYnMvt1raMAxUE9rsIHWA0K8Y4ChAWegQIChAB&usg=AOvVaw3qUw-GYyh4uxTuZqCKwgYZ) at the start of 2024.

    But now, the couple have started using credit cards again as a result of rising bills – something the father-of-three said is “crippling”.

    The 39-year-old, who works as a facility manager and lives in a rented property in Essex, said the high amount they’re paying for energy means they are unable to afford to get on the property ladder or [save for retirement](https://inews.co.uk/topic/retirement?ico=in-line_link).

    Speaking to *The i Paper*, he said: “Back in 2024, we had a horrible end of the year. We lived in rented accommodation for 10 years and we loved it there, but our landlord decided to sell up and we had to move.

    “We were comfortable in that house and when we were told we had to move, it was gut wrenching.

    “Since then, our outgoings for rent and energy bills have gone up by nearly £1,000 a month, which is crazy.”

    The couple’s rent soared from £950 to £1,750 when they moved whilst energy and water bills have also contributed.

    “Our energy bills have already risen from £112 per month to £168. And from today (1 April) I know our energy bills will be even higher but I’m too scared to look at how bad it is.

    “Life is so expensive. We were saving up to buy a house, which is our dream, but that won’t happen now because we’re spending all of our money on energy bills.”

    [Before the pandemic](https://go.skimresources.com/?id=55199X1622456&isjs=1&jv=15.7.1&sref=https%3A%2F%2Finews.co.uk%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dpandemic%23gsc.tab%3D0%26gsc.q%3Dpandemic%26gsc.page%3D1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fclient%3Dinternal-element-cse%26cx%3D011782314020777428663%3Aycznkklrfq5%26q%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Finews.co.uk%2Ftopic%2Fpandemic%26sa%3DU%26ved%3D2ahUKEwiel-e617aMAxUoT6QEHRuPLogQFnoECAkQAQ%26usg%3DAOvVaw2vble8JiBxOP1LrSGcuYD1&xs=1&xtz=-60&xuuid=0c91d518a27a90677f1fe84f0c7d2341&xjsf=other_click__auxclick%20%5B2%5D), the family were paying roughly £62 per month for their energy bills.

  4. That title is awful -“i’m back in debt because of soaring energy bills” is not true. His energy bills only went up by £50 per month, but his rent went up by £800 pm! He’s paying almost £2k for rent now – that is insane

  5. 60% of my wage is spent between rent and energy. What is the point anymore. I can’t own my own home because I simply can’t save the amount. We’re being taken for every single penny we have. Governments dont care.

  6. Privatisation of necessities is the main cause. All the privatised necessities don’t have to worry about competition, so they just raise the price and keep the shareholders happy, you can imagine how much more it would be, if health care is privatised.

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