Utility bills... How much to you budget monthly?

Okay, I'm feeling anxious.  Our bills are much higher than those here, and I checked rates before signing up.  In fairness, one of us is always home since DH works here at home and one of us is with the kids, but still . . .

Gas: £66
Electricity: £99
Council Tax: £100
Water: £36 (rate, not meter)
Boiler protection/servicing plan: £16

Our house is not huge.  3 beds, one bath and semi-detached.  Built in the mid 60s.

Ours are higher as well. DH also works from home, which means both heating and a beast of a computer on all day. We also spend a lot of time in our apartment, and we really love both technology and keeping it cosy warm.

Electric: £140
Water: £14
Council Tax: £115
Internet/Phone: £45
TV License: £12

We live in a 1 bedroom apartment in an old Victorian building. The windows are not double glazed so we need to plastic them in the winter, otherwise there's a noticeable draft. But the rent is around £50 cheaper than comparable properties, so we figure that balances out our higher electric bill, plus we freaking love the 6ft windows and high ceilings.

Can anyone explain to me how unmetered gas and water works in the UK? For example, let's say that you are billed for 50 metric units of gas based upon the 'estimate' of the gas company. However, let's say you read the meter on 1 July and again on 1 August and based upon the actual meter readings, you only use 30 metric units of gas.

Is this ever corrected or do you just keep overpaying for gas? Seems crazy...

We tend to get in credit and every year or so they write us a check for a few hundred pounds.

Can anyone explain to me how unmetered gas and water works in the UK? For example, let's say that you are billed for 50 metric units of gas based upon the 'estimate' of the gas company. However, let's say you read the meter on 1 July and again on 1 August and based upon the actual meter readings, you only use 30 metric units of gas.

Is this ever corrected or do you just keep overpaying for gas? Seems crazy...

You can just call the company (or go online) and give them your actual meter reading. Then they will normally issue you with a new, accurate bill instead of the estimated one.

My gas/electricity company does this... they send me a bill with my estimated usage and then I have a certain number of days in which to submit the actual reading and they will issue a new bill - otherwise, I just have to pay the estimated amount.

I can submit an updated meter reading online anytime I want to though, even when the bill isn't due - just to keep it up to date.

Or, as missjoules said, you can just get credit back later on (this happened with my water bill - I pay a set price each month, but recently I got a letter saying that I was 2 months in credit, so I won't be charged for the next 2 months) .