With mortgage rates on the rise, fuel and food prices skyrocketing and less credit cards being approved it is understandable that many people are battling with their financial position to keep it out of the red.  We may be driving less, not throwing as much food out among other methods of cutting back on spending.

But for one local council in Aberdeen they have some serious debt problems of their own, the council is currently £50 million under and has mentioned to staff members that they are to not use unnecessary electrical appliances whilst at work.  What constitutes an “unnecessary appliance”? Well top of their list are toasters, kettles and desk fans. There are even talks to send staff on training courses to encourage better driving practices to conserve fuel and reduce the £1.5 million diesel fuel costs. 

This and other fuel costs for the council tipped the scales at £10 million.  Other odd changes proposed include using scrap paper instead of ordering post-it notes, removing all non-council fridges, kettles, microwave ovens and even turning off safety lighting outside of office hours.

Whilst the council’s debt solutions seem a bit “out there” it’s this kind of frugality that may help people who are struggling with debt to cope in this age of missed repayments and house repossessions.  Conserving energy is a hot topic for both environmental concerns but also since it is a commodity that is both necessary and price is on the increase it makes sense to try and conserve energy if only to save on the pennies. Many more people have spent themselves in to bankruptcy and now face a similar situation to the Aberdeen council, hopefully with much less owing than £50 million but there are some solutions for if you do end up in a rut, such as Individual Volountary Arrangements which can help avoid bankruptcy.

Smart energy meters will bring about the end of estimated electricity bills and meter readings, and provide customers and energy suppliers with accurate information on the amount of electricity and gas being used.

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