What do you think this winter will really be like?

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I've done a bit too much doom scrolling tonight. Our landlord has just put our rent up by 120 pounds due to inflation and our fixed energy bill ends this month. I am starting to grow really concerned on how we are going to manage, as well as society as a whole. So many people are going to be in so much trouble I don't understand why there seems to be no plan!

What do you think this winter will really be like? The catastrophic rolling blackout, schools with 3 day weeks scenario, or do you think the government will do something to fix it. Somewhere in the middle of the two? Societal unrest?

I've never felt so uneasy living in this country before.

To the OP I believe there is some expectation of an announcement this week which may include support/measures to lessen the crisis. But it’s all speculation at this stage I guess

You've got a weird definition of elderly - you can be below state retirement age and have been at secondary school in the mid-sixties

The Times are predicting a pretty depressing winter for everyone and they are not usually doom mongers like the tabloids.

Police fear hard winter of surging crime and civil unrest

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/07b8a936-2bb9-11ed-b39f-ae396665d39a?shareToken=52af078187bd482e5841cb831598d29d

I think some of the biggest problems will be for small businesses. There's no energy cap for them and some are seeing bills rise to 5 figures a month. Expect a lot of pubs, restaurants and cafes to close.

I don't think the government will do anything remotely useful. They think everyone but the very poorest has plenty of savings to fall back and/or that people can just tighten their belts a bit - as if they can find hundreds of pounds a month this way.

I’ve got a spare kettle, surely I’d be wasting money if I bought a new one 🤔😂

Do you mean the mid 70s?

i remember the early 70s, 3 day week, candlelight
but i think we had an open fire
unfortunately we are not so lucky now, totally reliant on gas/electricity

i dont remember it being cold though, just the joy of powercuts, to a child!

I was little in the 70’s but I do remember the electric going off while DM was cooking tea, so eating a jam butty in candlelight instead. I also remember bin bags piled up and a water company van going round shouting out a message about something 🤔

There will be support as it would be catastrophic without. However I'm not sure how the economy will end up looking or what services will be even more slashed.

You know Boris isn't the PM anymore I presume?

One thing you can count on, with the gas and electricity costs soaring, I'd put money on it being an extra cold winter!

I remember it too, my mum trying to cook chips by candlelight 😁

But as you say we had a coal fire so at least one room was warm.

I think the government will step in to mitigate the increased cost of energy in the home.

The new government will help - but they can’t do much. These problems are outside their control. Unfortunately, energy prices need to be a bit painful because there is not enough supply to go around.

Energy supply cannot meet all the demands of consumers and businesses. The prices need to make people use less.

Im hoping the new prime minister will do something.
Even with the something i am expecting some sort of energy rationing. I hope the stategy isnt just poor people self-ration as they cant afford it so rich people can still have energy. I am very confident schools and hospitals will be given some sort of ring fenced energy grant.

In the 2008 blip me and my husband were both made redundant over the year so thats something i am worried about again.

What we're the mid-sixties like? I am only aware of what it was like in the 70s (run away inflation, strikes, power cuts etc.)

He's still Prime Minister.

It’ll be rubbish, for some more so than others. There will be some that really suffer and others than barely notice.

However, most people will just muddle through the best they can.

I think those saying hope for the best but prepare for the worst are right.

I think it won't be as bad as we're fearing as things have drifted due to this leadership contest. Nothing's being done and fear has ramped up. Mind you I also think it will be a cold winter and it will be very hard for some. I don't think there will be civil unrest but I hope there will be some huge protests.

Im assuming the worst and preparing for blackouts and no heating.

@VeniVidiWeeWee not many of us will remember the mid sixties, that would make us at least 65 years old 😂

New PM will do something as drastic as possible to look like a hero and start on a positive note - I hope!

We we’re a very different nation /society in the 70s. Can you imagine what would happen if any part of a large city suffered a blackout? No power to burglar alarms, traffic jams due to traffic control failure, scary!

What were the mid-sixties like? I am only aware of what it was like in the 70s (run away inflation, strikes, power cuts etc.)

Ditto. I was a child in the 60s, my parents didn't have much money but don't remember any great hardship. Although my parents would have hidden it from us which they couldn't in the 70s

@VeniVidiWeeWee can you fill us in please? Am embarrassed to have no idea what happened in the mid sixties.

I said this on another thread but I don't think the big issue is paying one's own bill. It's the impact on schools & hospitals particularly when the NHS is already broken. And then small businesses & unemployment. All very depressing

I think the comparison to the 70s are pointless. We had a much more equal society then & it saw big increases in pay. Definitely not the same today!