What's the big deal about heating???

[2boyzNosleep]

So, NOT including financial issues, why is putting on the heating a huge issue?

After reading some recent threads regarding heating, it's got me thinking.

If you can afford it, why do people refuse to put heating on as long as possible? Why purposefully suffer in a freezing cold house? We all know that living in the cold is detrimental to our health, so personally I'd rather stick the heating on and be comfortable and healthy and an higher energy bill, than save money, freezing & be more susceptible to illness.

I'm on a fixed tariff so I pay the same amount each month for energy based on an estimate. Usually the estimate is well over what we use and we end up getting money back, so we're not shocked by a massive quarter bill to try and pay. Not sure if that's part of it?

Again, just to be clear, I'm not talking about people who are really suffering with paying bills, cost of living etc.

So the amount you pay in total is affected by your usage - you can see here “At the end of the tariff we are usually in credit/have a refund as we've used less than they've estimated.”

Where did I say I have unlimited energy?!?

I clearly stated that the payments are based on the previous years usage, and then some. The supplier overestimated what we will use for the following year, then set a fixed amount.

So using easy made up numbers to explain:

Previous year: used 20 units for the entire year

Estimated usage for the next year; 24 units

Unit price fixed at £1 per unit.

Total amount for the year to pay= £24 (divided into 12 monthly payments= £2/month)

When the contract is up: 22 units used, meaning we are £2 in credit.

If we have used more, let's say 30 units, then we owe £5.

I really don't know how to explain it any simpler.

I didn't say that it wasn't. So far over the last few years we've been under our estimated usage.

What I meant is that it doesn't make a huge difference overall, unless we suddenly increase our usage by a significant amount.

So, unlike people that pay monthly or quarterly, we don't get shocked by a massive bill once we put the heating on as its factored in.

I'm not saying that I blast the heating or put it on for a mild day in July, or don't ever think about it.

I was wondering whether it would be a factor I people choosing not to put their heating on. Even if they had the money to pay for it outright without it affecting their finances negatively.

Anyway, thanks for those of you who shared your views and experiences.

All our heating comes from burning wood. Wood that I cut, haul, split, stack. So it gets on my nerves when people in our house start burning em to early....cos once we light it it burns till April.

Ok 😁

do many people still use fireplaces? I’m in Australia and our winters are very mild especially in qld where I am. But we have a fireplace and put that on in winter and it warms the whole house. We do have reverse cycle air con but don’t use it for heating cause it’s drying and we wake up with sore throats.

my husband however would be one like the OP is talking about when it comes to air con in the summer. We are comfortably off, 2 good incomes and a small mortgage. We can easily afford to run the air con. Yet as soon as someone, usually ds15, turns if on he starts ranting about the cost of it and ‘we can’t afford to run the air con all the time’ ‘it’s too expensive’ ect ect. I just tell him he is being ridiculous and if we are hot we will put it on.

Weird isn't it, I looked at ours again last night & it also said 15°. When I'd looked a couple of days ago, we had nothing over 4° day or night. The wind is definitely blowing here, light rain...(SE also!)

Also I never heard of anyone complain about a warm house giving people eczema asthma etc in northern Europe. (I feel a bit of that could be either psychological, or there's something medically wrong if so many have this issue.) There's no competitive "i can stand the longest" going on. Not a thing that's talked about or debated. It's just accepted that one needs a warm house, like you need a house with a loo and running water. Our insulation is a lot better though.
I also feel all this obsession is false economy somewhat. If you're so cold how do you concentrate on anything, you can't wfh, you are always miserable and tell yourself it is totally normal and everyone else does the same with people starting these threads. Starting a thread about it probably shows that at some level it's known it's not very normal and people are seeking reassurance that it is.

If you're so cold how do you concentrate on anything, you can't wfh, you are always miserable and tell yourself it is totally normal and everyone else does the same with people starting these threads.

But I’m not cold at all. I’m just wearing a long-sleeved shirt, not even a jumper. Thermometer says it’s 17 degrees, which is fine.

Honestly old farm house type places cost a fortune to heat through properly. I have one and it’s cheaper to have hotspots kitchen aga sitting room woodstove. Electric blankets on the bed upstairs so it’s toastie when you get in. Can easily burn through £30 quid of oil if you crank heating up for guests.

Some people might be ok with 17. I'm talking about the 12 degree enthusiasts

If it was 12 degrees, I’d just be putting on a jumper. I don’t think that’s particularly cold.

Well see, you're either very holy and can't feel the cold, or have a different type of skin than most people. Or have been accustomed from childhood to living in the woods.

That’s just ridiculous

Yes absolutely. We have an old thatched cottage and though the cob walls are great in general, oil fired boilers are ££££!

I've never heard of anyone without financial issues going without hearing in winter.