topic Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox ! in Community Chat

Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

minkbunny — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:02:47 GMT

We got rate increases in our trash pickup, truck insurance and Verizon phone bills.

Good thing I was making chili today - might have to make it last all week

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:05:21 GMT

@minkbunny Feel your pain, our property taxes took a good jump this year.

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

MamaWick — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:23:43 GMT

Yep...us, too...except Verizon

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

Goodie2shoes — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:24:36 GMT

My Spectrum bill came today with a $10 increase. It's been going up every couple of months and it's ridiculous !! about 6 mos ago I signed up for a plan that includes only the 10 channels I watch the most so it would keep the bill at a certain price but that didn't do any good apparently ! It just keeps going up.

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

DSD2 — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 00:39:16 GMT

I'm sorry; I can only say that I can relate.

It's so frigid (as it is most places) 100 gallons of fuel didn't even last a month.

Not sure where I'm going to pull $400 from each month til winter's over. It's tough for everyone, especially us retired folks.

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

Snowpuppy — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 01:07:33 GMT

Minky, good to see you post!

Hope you, Cowboy and your DS are well.

As far as the bills, Smokey Robinson sang "You Better Shop Around"...😊

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

1Professor — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 01:33:25 GMT

@minkbunny + all

Yesterday I received the HIGHEST PG&E electric bill ever. Includes electricity and heat and gas.

PG&E in California keeps getting permission to increase rates (wildfire damage, it appears).

Consider I am single, work full time (so not at home most days). Use a small space heater in the living room, evenings. My bill was almost $200 bigger than last month!

Small, single-story unit (less than 1,000 sq ft).

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

River Song — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 01:27:18 GMT

Well, I got a jury summons from the County courthouse today. Not enthused.

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

mrshckynut — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 01:31:18 GMT

@River Song wrote:
Well, I got a jury summons from the County courthouse today. Not enthused.

@River Song Why

mrshckynut

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

pdlinda — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 02:23:57 GMT

@DSD2 Yes, here in Phoenix, it's been FREEZING (for us) last few weeks.

Just got notice from our electric utility company, APS, that my bill reached $105.00 with 5 days left in the billing cycle!

Last month my bill was $82. Month before $77. I'm imagining that this month it will climb to about $120!!

I live in a 1-BD apt that's a bit over 900 SF. I don't use central heat...only my Dyson heater/fan when it gets too chilly...transfer it around different rooms as needed.

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

catter70 — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 10:47:21 GMT

I got my county property tax the other day, soon to be followed by the township tax. Not sure if it went up or not. I still sit every month and reconcile my bank statement and that tax would be in a former check register.

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

geezerette — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 13:19:51 GMT

@pdlinda wrote:
@DSD2 Yes, here in Phoenix, it's been FREEZING (for us) last few weeks.

Just got notice from our electric utility company, APS, that my bill reached $105.00 with 5 days left in the billing cycle!

Last month my bill was $82. Month before $77. I'm imagining that this month it will climb to about $120!!

I live in a 1-BD apt that's a bit over 900 SF. I don't use central heat...only my Dyson heater/fan when it gets too chilly...transfer it around different rooms as needed.

@pdlinda

I've found that using my Dyson for heat other than just a few degrees warmer than the room cost me more than using my whole house heat pump.

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

Puzzle Piece — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 14:52:22 GMT

I know what you mean. My gas bill and electircal went up. Also the insurance on the autos and house.

I live in So CA so everything is more than sky high. I will eat soups for a while .

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

Linda0215 — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 14:59:38 GMT

I literally gagged on Friday when I received my electric bill. How's $707.80 grab you? And we heat with oil. My bill said we used 19% more energy than last month. I guess that's the difference. I'm in CT and we are gouged price wise for every single thing. Retirement for me is a pipe dream.

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

CAcableGirl2 — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 18:36:07 GMT

@Linda0215 Same gouging going on in California. I saw a post about for eggs on facebook in another state showing from Aldi's and they were shocked that they were $5.50. Two weeks ago, at my Aldi's here in So Cal, they were $7.41 for a dozen.

Gas is still running over $4/gallon. $4.25 at Sams yesterday for regular.

It's really hard for folks that were already trying to tighten the belt, no sure how many people with large families are even making it anymore.

Edited to include TODAY'S PRICE for a dozen eggs at Aldi's.

$8.19- $9.99 a dozen.

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

Goodie2shoes — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 21:24:19 GMT

@ Linda0215 wrote: I literally gagged on Friday when I received my electric bill. How's $707.80 grab you? And we heat with oil. My bill said we used 19% more energy than last month. I guess that's the difference. I'm in CT and we are gouged price wise for every single thing. Retirement for me is a pipe dream.

OMG !!! Do you live in a mansion and keep the lights on inside and out 24/7 ? That's ridiculous I'm retired and yes I would have gagged and passed out !

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

pdlinda — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 21:45:19 GMT

@geezerette Please educate me. I thought that the Dyson was the equivalent of "energystar" status.

I usually put the timer on 30 mins when I get into bed but use it for short increments during the day when I need it.

The house is about 66 degrees but I always set the Dyson to 74 so perhaps I should adjust that setting lower.

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

pdlinda — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 21:48:54 GMT

@Linda0215 Please don't think I'm "gloating" but I left CT for Arizona after living there for 24 years because of the utility rates, taxes, property taxes and other things. I'm feeling the pinch in AZ...however, NOTHING LIKE CT!

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

pdlinda — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 21:50:14 GMT

@CAcableGirl2 I just paid $10.99 for a dozen free range organic eggs at Sprouts here in Arizona.

Re: Not a good day to go to the mailbox !

minkbunny — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 22:35:32 GMT

Thank you all for the replies, looks like we are all feeling the pinch in some way or another. I just bothers me a bit when they say, due to the economic circumstances, etc. - as if we aren't all feeling the same rough times.

However, the good news is our artic blast has moved on and I hope we don't see any more severe weather before Spring.

@Snowpuppy - thanks for asking, we are all doing fine. Hope the same for you and yours, my friend.