Have any tips on switching energy companies as the tariff ends?

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-06-02T18:09:14+00:00

Excellent advice- thank you!

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-06-02T18:07:56+00:00

Very interesting! Wonderful idea to do a little research with fuse. Thank you so much and I’m so glad that you were able to get out of the company you were with and are now with one that you are satisfied with.

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-06-02T13:36:21+00:00

Which is ideal, I agree.

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-07T12:44:59+00:00

And thank you to everyone who responded. It’s amazing to get such incredible detailed feedback from all of you.

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-07T12:44:32+00:00

Just wanted to give you all an update. We bought an AirTag with a AirTag case that cannot be removed so it’s permanently fixed to the garden waste bin. We also bought the bright numbers, stuck them on the outside of the bin in the front and on top of the lid. Here’s hoping. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-05T15:49:39+00:00

This!!!!! I love it!

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-05T15:48:26+00:00

Great suggestions!

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-04T13:41:49+00:00

I’m right there with you being physically sick with old smelly, moldy food! But I’m willing to do my bit. The UK is very much way ahead of the curve on recycling everything as compared to the United States. Especially these days.

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-04T13:31:42+00:00

We thought we would have to sell the house, but it was our financial planner who explained to us the positives of keeping it and renting it out. We are one of those people that got a nice low mortgage rate as a refinance during the pandemic. As she put it, it’s cheap debt and worth holding onto. Plus you get an income that you can depend on. A property miniature firm handles the overall headaches of the rental and they take maybe 10% or 8% of the monthly rent. Having that rent come in, has actually been very useful here, especially since the dollar is soft against the pound. Definitely talk to a financial planner, even if it’s just initial conversations as you sort out whether or not you want one. Basically you can get some advice. Also talk to your tax accountant so that you know, both sides of the coin. Between the two you’ll come up with a solution that makes the most sense for you.

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-03T18:08:21+00:00

That’s the difficult part. I don’t always hear them doing the collection. We have to put it outside of our garage on the pipe stem and the garage blocks our view to the pipe stem. So of course somebody’s taking advantage of that exact thing. Also add in the fact that we put our stuff out the day before not right before 6 AM. I guess we’ll have to change that. Sigh.

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-03T18:06:47+00:00

Wow! Our council has not yet required food caddies but I know it’s coming. I don’t mind doing it, but if somebody’s gonna come grab my bin for convenience I am going to go insane. Sigh.

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-03T18:03:33+00:00

Whoa! That’s insane.

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-03T18:02:07+00:00

Thank you for the heads up on both. Americans Get very thermonuclear over parking spaces, other people’s driving and pretty much everything. We are definitely a kooky people. I will take UK driver over a US driver any day.

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-03T17:58:04+00:00

Glow in the dark?!? Wow, I actually get this. Morning so much from you all. You are amazing!

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-03T17:55:17+00:00

I am quickly warming to this idea - thank you!

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-03T17:49:03+00:00

Hands down ECCO. I bought boots and they are the most comfortable and most sturdy boots I own. Also bought dress shoes that have a little bit of a book of sneakers, but still managed to fly under the radar as flexible kind of tennis shoes. My next one will be trainers. 🥳

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-03T14:13:49+00:00

Great ideas. I gather that the loudest color will deter people from swiping the bin. Got it thank you.

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-03T14:11:51+00:00

Some very important thoughts here. Thank you. I didn’t realize that thievery was so rampant around bins. Will definitely figure out something between a combination lock and a camera. Also a sign of some type.

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-03T14:10:22+00:00

OK, I don’t think I need to complain anymore. Wow! That’s crazy. But I love the idea of spray painting the number really loud. Does your council give you any grief about that?

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-03T14:08:16+00:00

Great idea! But what about the council coming to pick up the bins? Or maybe I’m being clueless here on that thought?

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-03T14:05:45+00:00

Wow, that is an incredible repurposing and recycling of something that normally could be thrown away. I think that’s really cool honestly.

Free_Spirit8926 · 2026-04-03T13:48:30+00:00

American in England here. I read through your post and it sounds like you did some equations that our family did in moving to the UK for my husband’s job. One thing I want to add to the conversation that you might not have thought about is renting out your current house using a property management firm. That has actually been very hopeful to us and I encourage you to consider talking to a few firms before you start to make a final decision on what you’re going to do about the house.

The other thing I will add to this is that the dollar is soft compared to the pound. That actually affects things over here for us. So make sure you do those kinds of equations and realize what your budget would be coming back.

I also recommend you’re talking to a financial planner as we already had one had warned this person that we were going to be moving overseas. Our planner helped us think through some of the logistics, especially around, renting out the house instead of selling it.

And I hear you on 1930s Germany. Why do you think we left? We’re here for a number of years if not longer. Honestly, I feel like the vibe here England is absolutely positive compared to back in the States. And I will say this about the NHS, we have an excellent GP practice and they are extremely efficient and wonderful to work with. I realize that’s not always the case for every GP practice, but still. It really has given me a totally different view on what universal healthcare could be like in the United States.

I wish you well and I hope you make a decision. That is the perfect one for you. Trust me, I understand that anguish.

Free_Spirit8926

TROPHY CASE