I feel utterly miserable about the state of everything. Anyone else?

[nellyelloe]

As I sit in my freezing cold home, about to try and pay my monthly £300 energy bill (heating on a few hours a day), after spending £140 on a shop that was £100 not long ago, and waiting for 18 months and counting now for a pain management referral and an operation, I am beyond miserable. I work full time in a professional position, but there's no joy from payday anymore, as it's instantly swallowed up.

I just feel total despair at how miserable everything is right now, and would kill for 2019 back

I'm so sorry you're feeling this way OP. I totally understand what you mean. There just doesn't seem to be any joy in things anymore. I used to enjoy the food shop because I could potter around putting a few treat items in or getting clothes for the DC's.

Now I detest going- just seeing the prices rise week on week and empty shelves. And the things in our life that broke up the week - odd meals out or drinks with friends are just an added expense.

You need to find the joy in other things I guess - cuddles with loved ones, film night on the sofa, trips to the woods etc. But finding this joy seems to be getting harder.

I often feel the same, but I’ve caved in and shoved the heating on and I will deal with the bills later.

My husband and I both work full time; we don’t have very much in savings after blowing most of them in 2019 moving to a bigger house. We do earn good wages in professional jobs, but they are swallowed up each month by our now ginormous mortgage and DH had to buy an automatic car after a serious ankle injury.

When we took on the mortgage, things were looking up. Our wages were increasing, our son was growing up, we had some disposable money. How quickly it all changed.

I know we are lucky compared to many, but I just feel that we worked hard for better than this. We both gave up so much, in order to be able to have a few luxuries.

But it is what it is. I’ve turned the Christmas lights on; turned the heating up to 18 degrees, ordered fish and chips and I’m sat under the heated blanket perusing Mumsnet and watching some Four in a Bed re-runs. Nope, I can’t really afford this anymore, but screw it.

Same OP. It's grim.

You need professional help. Please call someone.

I don’t understand the attitude I’ve seen on here that people with better jobs or savings are not affected as they can cover the increase. I am used to saving money and being able to put my disposable income towards other things - that’s the whole point of having a good job so your purchasing power goes further than just the necessities. We already spend nearly £300 per month on energy based on today’s meter reading- it’s not something I’m happy to accept, so unfortunately the radiators are off after a few hours of heating

@QueenCoconut I completely agree with this

We earn good money too but it makes me so fucking angry that it's no longer going as far. What's the point in working our arses off to earn a good income when stuff just keeps going up?!

People shouldn't be fucking freezing in 2022. It's a basic human right to be warm.

Hear hear @interstatelovesong. However I am trying not to be miserable and making the best of things.

Completely agree

Same! It's all we can do isn't it 😞

And who exactly do you suggest that I should call? As I'm sure that you are aware 'professional' is rather a broad term.

Will my friendly local accountant be able to remedy the ills of our society? Or perhaps its a plumber that I need?

Leemoe - Who is normalising paedophilia?

Yes OP. I've just agreed to a full time weekend job in the new year. So in total I'll be working 6.5 days a week. All to afford increased costs and decreased heat.

England will win the World Cup next week, that should cheer people up a bit.

Well, variously; high fashion- see the Balenciaga scandal and the rather nefarious connections of those affiliated with the brand.

The 'Queer' Conringent of the LBTQ+ with their support of 'MAPs' thats 'minor attracted person' ie paedophiles to you and I.

Then there was the whole Prince Andrew and his connections to convicted paedophile and child trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein. Seemingly the media has ran with the vilification of the duchess of Sussex rather than lauch a proper media investigation in to Epstein/Maxwell et al. No, apparently Amber Heard and Johhny Depp's martial issues were more of a stain on society and therefore the media circus was oddly reserved for them.

It's not only one isolated incident, that would be more simple to realistically dismiss but it appears to be being insidiously, if not normalised then definitely given a sympathetic ear by certain groups and factions.

If you pay attention to it, it is worrying.

Well, that would be lovely

You should take your own advice

I'm not because I dealt with this some time ago. For some odd reason I seem to be able to see these things coming. It makes me miserable then I plan around it.

The problem is that I have nobody to discuss it with at the time. If I'd have told people several years ago the Country would eventually end up in a situation like this nobody would have believed me. I've had to disconnect and do my own thing.

This country is turning into a mini China. Communist, surveillance everywhere and state control of every element of your life. The freedom of movement, expression, thought, etc is being crushed insidiously. Reality is being rewritten. Systems in place which actually do not benefit citizens, they are only there to help the state suppress dissent, save money or make money and to keep 'the order'.

Society is too scared or ignorant to question or stand up to this erosion of our rights. Walking on eggshells. Is it any wonder the mental health of the nation is in tatters?

Most of what's going on wrt what's behind the cost of living crisis is NOT being broadcast in the media. Overemployment due to Brexit, a factor in driving up wages and the erratic supply of produce? Nope.

US collusion in Ukraine pre invasion? Nope. Those in UK government high in office whose affiliates are deep in business with China and therefore Russia. Ad finitum.

All while we are freezing and getting poorer.

Depressing.

My house was down to 12 degrees today before I relented and put the heater on for 15 mins at full blast in the room I was in.

I'm permanently cold ATM and it makes no sense. We have a decent income between us but can't afford to live comfortably any more.

So you have the money but don’t see the value in having a warm home? I don’t understand people like you who can afford to heat their homes but choose not to whilst claiming at the same time it’s making you miserable, you are choosing to be cold yet can easily afford to be warm. Being unnecessarily cold seems to have become a sport on here.

Our house has been 9 degrees the last few days and we have had to put the heating on for an hour this evening.

I feel you op, this week I have been majorly down & just tired of the current situation. We have a small baby, my partner is a student and we are struggling to survive on his student loan without dipping into savings. That is also with him working 12 hour shifts and studying full time on an intense university course. We live far away from any family but I am very lucky to have supportive parents who will try and help out where they can but the living costs are rising for them too.

Prior to this I was desperately saving everything I could to get on to the property ladder but that seems an unreachable dream now. I am just happy we have our health and things could be much worse.

Can you please have a discussion with me about the upcoming euromillions?

I'm so sorry for other people suffering too. It's really hit me today, this total misery.

When I say I'm a professional, I don't mean a banker or such like, I am an OT, earning about £36k a year. Husband earns similar. We don't get bonuses or anything. Our mortgage has gone up several hundred pounds a month, same with energy bills, food shopping and everything else. A £300 energy bill is hitting us hard on top of everything else that has gone up. Same for most people I expect.

I just feel totally and utterly helpless today and like I have very little control over my own life. Energy bills going up yet again in April. I don't understand how people will cope