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Original poster

Can you (really) not afford gas /electric bills and how are you managing

66 replies

Gasmyarse · 19/12/2022 10:41

I had my heating on for the 1st time a couple of days back .it was on for 2 hrs and cost me 5.00. That is to much monru for me if I was to do that everyday or for longer. So I have decided not to put it on again at all . Although I'm considering having it on Xmas day if I'm able to.

My situation is not really bad but I just can't afford to have heating on . If i did do that I would end up at food banks.

I think people who say they can afford it who then say well I'm not going cold so I will put ot on anyway. Or say to others just put it on you can't go cold like that . I don't think some people get it. Some people (really) can't afford lt. Especially people on prepay meters.

Also people saying they can't afford it saying they can pay it later in the summer. Or they had to dig into savings.

I think there are different categories or can't afford it.

My house is not bad as its a new build. We have blankets , dressing downs warm clothes to be warm. My kids don't seem ti care . But i do feel bad for people in colder areas and in old houses. Who are truly choosing heat or eat .

OP posts:
MoreTeaLessCoffee · 19/12/2022 10:45

I'm sorry OP, it's really miserable not being able to heat your home. I'm in the category of people who can use savings for now but not indefinitely. Something I found recently is I really needed the heating on when I was sick. It was just unbearable to be ill and cold and I didn't think I'd get well. So if you are really struggling I'd suggest keeping your heating money back in case you or the kids get ill. (I can't believe I'm writing this in 2022 but here we are).

MiniTheMinx · 19/12/2022 11:21

I'm struggling to get my head around this idea of warm banks. WTF. What does one do all day at the warm bank? who are they for? Ridiculous.

Massive radical wholesale change is what is needed and yet here we are tinkering around the edges with food banks and now warm banks.

If anyone has any children they can not afford to keep warm ill adopt them. Seriously, no children should be living in damp cold homes with no food in 2022. Of course I can not adopt them, but its heart breaking. I'm angry, I don't get why most people seem so apathetic.

Threadkillacilla · 19/12/2022 11:28

We have a max budget of £40 per week but had to blow it last ten days. I've got an OAP so need to warm up sometimes.

ApolloandDaphne · 19/12/2022 11:29

What do you suggest people do then @MiniTheMinx ? I you have no money for heating what do you suggest? People are not being apathetic, they are struggling to feed and heat their families.

DuplicateUserName · 19/12/2022 11:35

MiniTheMinx · 19/12/2022 11:21

I'm struggling to get my head around this idea of warm banks. WTF. What does one do all day at the warm bank? who are they for? Ridiculous.

Massive radical wholesale change is what is needed and yet here we are tinkering around the edges with food banks and now warm banks.

If anyone has any children they can not afford to keep warm ill adopt them. Seriously, no children should be living in damp cold homes with no food in 2022. Of course I can not adopt them, but its heart breaking. I'm angry, I don't get why most people seem so apathetic.

I'm struggling to get my head around this idea of warm banks. WTF. What does one do all day at the warm bank? who are they for? Ridiculous.

If you don't know the answer to those questions, how can you say it's ridiculous?

A quick Google when explain.

DuplicateUserName · 19/12/2022 11:35

*Will

Original poster
Gasmyarse · 19/12/2022 11:40

MoreTeaLessCoffee · 19/12/2022 10:45

I'm sorry OP, it's really miserable not being able to heat your home. I'm in the category of people who can use savings for now but not indefinitely. Something I found recently is I really needed the heating on when I was sick. It was just unbearable to be ill and cold and I didn't think I'd get well. So if you are really struggling I'd suggest keeping your heating money back in case you or the kids get ill. (I can't believe I'm writing this in 2022 but here we are).

That must have been awful being ill and cold. Definitely could not manage that.

Its annoying not to be able to have it on. But its not the end of the world we are healthy. Have food to eat . And it's not freezing in my house it Says temp is 14. I feel more for the people in old houses . And on prepay meters

OP posts:
mrsm43s · 19/12/2022 11:43

Well, you've been given at least £66/month from the government specifically for spending on fuel bills. Plus £150 via the council tax earlier this year. Plus those on low incomes have been given an extra £650. Plus extra money if elderly or disabled.

So you can afford your heating on for at least an hour or two a day, using the money specifically given to you by the government for that purpose.

The very cold snap appears to have passed now, so hopefully it won't cost quite so much to warm your house to a manageable temperature.

BrieAndChilli · 19/12/2022 11:48

it is hard to distinguish the people who are truely in fuel poverty from the rest of us moaning about fuel bills but in reality can afford it, we just need to redistribute our disposable income.

We are moaning about the cost of heating and have cut down on how loing we have it on but in reality we have a lot of things we can cut down on before we need to freeze to death. We are also lucky as on top of the £66 from the government, work also gave us a £600 cost of living bonus payment in october, DH has got a xmas bonus plus I have had a promotion this month meaning I will be getting more money each month. So although we are moaning about our fuel bill tripling we are bloody lucky.

I think there are a lot of people like us who although it is shit to have to spend more of your income on utilities they can adjust thier budgets. We really need to listen to the people who were on the line before and really cannot afford any increases.

Singleandproud · 19/12/2022 11:53

I have a friend and her smart meter said she used £28 in one day which is beyond a joke although has a large house. I live in a 1950s 2 bed flat and my electric and gas come to less than £4 for the entire day with the heating on all day. British gas variable tariff because its a smaller home.

@Gasmyarse can you turn the radiators off in the rooms you don't use much? Bedrooms etc as they don't need to be warm as the children will be covered in duvets and spend more time in the living room? Have you got a door or curtain over the stairs to stop all the hot air going straight up them? You should be warm in at least one room and that should be manageable.

Original poster
Gasmyarse · 19/12/2022 11:54

MiniTheMinx · 19/12/2022 11:21

I'm struggling to get my head around this idea of warm banks. WTF. What does one do all day at the warm bank? who are they for? Ridiculous.

Massive radical wholesale change is what is needed and yet here we are tinkering around the edges with food banks and now warm banks.

If anyone has any children they can not afford to keep warm ill adopt them. Seriously, no children should be living in damp cold homes with no food in 2022. Of course I can not adopt them, but its heart breaking. I'm angry, I don't get why most people seem so apathetic.

It's awful that it has come to that. People having to leave their homes to keep warm is awful that's if they are not to old or frail to leave. Even then at 5pm they have to go back to a cold house.

My daughter could see her breath in her flat the other day. I remember that as a kid in the 80s

My kids have not complained about the cold to be honest. Will be very hard for little baby's abd elderly/ill /disabled though

OP posts:
Bigheartsshapelittleminds · 19/12/2022 11:55

When I have the heating on it costs £10 a day as I'm all electric. That means the government discount is gone within a week. It barely scratches the surface. I built up credit over summer but that will all be gone after this month because it's been so cold. I'll have no credit built up for Jan-march so praying it's not too cold. I've had to put my direct debit up by another £50 a month to make sure I don't go into debt (my choice). I know I'm one of the lucky ones that has room in their finances to pay it but not sure how much longer I can afford to.

Seasonofthewitch83 · 19/12/2022 12:02

Ours is costing £10 a day at the moment to have the heating on for a bit in the morning and the evening, and use of a tumble drier a few times a week as its more efficient and cheaper than trying to dry clothes over heating thats barely on. Our house is also small and I cannot stand damp clothes horses everywhere.

Our DD had already gone up to £200 a month. 18 months ago it was £70. We need to find the money to cover the increase but christ knows from where. I think we will have to have a sit down in January when we get hit with the rent/nursery/council tax increases that will swallow our payrises.

Original poster
Gasmyarse · 19/12/2022 12:02

mrsm43s · 19/12/2022 11:43

Well, you've been given at least £66/month from the government specifically for spending on fuel bills. Plus £150 via the council tax earlier this year. Plus those on low incomes have been given an extra £650. Plus extra money if elderly or disabled.

So you can afford your heating on for at least an hour or two a day, using the money specifically given to you by the government for that purpose.

The very cold snap appears to have passed now, so hopefully it won't cost quite so much to warm your house to a manageable temperature.

I never got the 150 tax rebate thing.

You can't really say what I or others can and can't afford.

I did use my own situation as an example but there are people alot worse of than myself . As you say its not overly cold now . Not on my house anyway. But it will be for others.

OP posts:
AuntieMarys · 19/12/2022 12:08

My heating is not going on today...house temperature is 12.6 and outside is 14.
I've even got my washing on! We are expecting the bill today...we've estimated £400.
Last month it was £162.

MiniTheMinx · 19/12/2022 12:11

ApolloandDaphne sorry I probably wasn't clear. I didn't mean people unable to afford heating and food are apathetic, I meant the rest of us are.

I do know what a warm bank is. Apparently we have three here. But its a ridiculous idea. Can people working from home use it? according to the local radio.....yes. Along with isolated frail and elderly and people with young children. People have to be able to get there, take their own food and some entertainment and return to their cold homes. Some people won't be able to get there.

Pelo22 · 19/12/2022 12:12

mrsm43s · 19/12/2022 11:43

Well, you've been given at least £66/month from the government specifically for spending on fuel bills. Plus £150 via the council tax earlier this year. Plus those on low incomes have been given an extra £650. Plus extra money if elderly or disabled.

So you can afford your heating on for at least an hour or two a day, using the money specifically given to you by the government for that purpose.

The very cold snap appears to have passed now, so hopefully it won't cost quite so much to warm your house to a manageable temperature.

If you're a family on a low income, or if you're able to claim anything
A single person on a low income (min wage) doesn't get the £650

jevoudrais · 19/12/2022 12:15

The plus for those not on prepayment meters is that you can pay it off over time providing when your usage drops in the spring/summer you can keep paying a bit more than you are using. But it must be awful for a lot of people right now. January is always tough for a lot of people and if we get another cold snap it's going to be even worse.

We are grateful that we can afford to use the heating a bit. We live in a 200 year old cottage and the humidity has been really high, but having had the heating on for probably four hours or so a day the last week we are just about on top of that now. Hopefully the winter will be mild, especially as the gov are rolling back on the help initially promised.

hattie43 · 19/12/2022 12:15

How is 2hrs costing £5. What are you using that costs that much .

autumn1610 · 19/12/2022 12:23

We have ours on continuously at 16 or 16.5 degrees. I get a hot water bottle if I feel too cold. Currently using £50-55 a week combined gas and electric, so expect this bill to be around £200. We built up about £500 credit over the summer (council tax rebate paid straight into account and paying £120 a month) our energy company has reduced our payments to £65 a month. Hopefully the money we have built up will last us through now.

Original poster
Gasmyarse · 19/12/2022 12:25

Singleandproud · 19/12/2022 11:53

I have a friend and her smart meter said she used £28 in one day which is beyond a joke although has a large house. I live in a 1950s 2 bed flat and my electric and gas come to less than £4 for the entire day with the heating on all day. British gas variable tariff because its a smaller home.

@Gasmyarse can you turn the radiators off in the rooms you don't use much? Bedrooms etc as they don't need to be warm as the children will be covered in duvets and spend more time in the living room? Have you got a door or curtain over the stairs to stop all the hot air going straight up them? You should be warm in at least one room and that should be manageable.

Wow that's awful for your friend. I should think she's scared to put her heating on now.

4 pounds sounds good. Considering . I'm in a 5 bed 3 story house. Would probably be at least double what yours is. With the shutting doors etc it's quite hard because I have children with special needs mental health issues ect. So I need the doors open. But to be honest at the moment my house is not overly cold. I was kind of reflecting on the cold days we had and thinking about people on prepayment and in colder houses. I used to be on prepayment meters myself so know what its like.

OP posts:
RoseBucket · 19/12/2022 12:28

My bills in the last few months have gone from £38 to £66 in October to £89 November and just waiting for the new one but I’m estimating it to be about £160 due to dd home from Uni and the cold snap. I have excess to cover it but the gas will have to be switched off, thank goodness for warmer weather!

Thoughtful2355 · 19/12/2022 12:36

my gas and electric is £10- £13 a day on payg and yes we struggle with it. often have to borrow money to put it on.

Quveas · 19/12/2022 12:44

@MiniTheMinx
I'm struggling to get my head around this idea of warm banks. WTF. What does one do all day at the warm bank? who are they for? Ridiculous.

I assume that you may be a troll or similar, because it is hard to imagine that anyone in 2022 is genuinely this stupid. There is nothing ridiculous about have heated public spaces for those who can't afford heating in their homes, for example, the poor, the vulnerable, the disabled and the elderly. It must be nice for you in your ivory tower and being able to heat it all day and night via the unicorn fuelled generators, but in the real world there are many people who can't afford fuel, food or both. I guess you meant to be offensive. Well done. You succeeded both in being offensive and proving yourself to be really, deeply stupid.

MiniTheMinx · 19/12/2022 12:51

Quveas · 19/12/2022 12:44

@MiniTheMinx
I'm struggling to get my head around this idea of warm banks. WTF. What does one do all day at the warm bank? who are they for? Ridiculous.

I assume that you may be a troll or similar, because it is hard to imagine that anyone in 2022 is genuinely this stupid. There is nothing ridiculous about have heated public spaces for those who can't afford heating in their homes, for example, the poor, the vulnerable, the disabled and the elderly. It must be nice for you in your ivory tower and being able to heat it all day and night via the unicorn fuelled generators, but in the real world there are many people who can't afford fuel, food or both. I guess you meant to be offensive. Well done. You succeeded both in being offensive and proving yourself to be really, deeply stupid.

Eh......I'm horrified that people are being reduced to using charity. I'm concerned for people. I don't believe this sort of charity would be necessary in a more equal society where everyone could earn enough or have support and be able to stay warm and eat.