I won't be able to heat my home..

[Ihateboris]

Due to the war in Iran, I simply cannot afford to heat my home.

I'm on heating oil, and since day 1 of the war, oil prices have risen sharply. I've just done a quick calculation, and to fill my tank today it will cost £550, the day before it all kicked off it would have cost £260. I'm just hoping and praying we have a mild winter. 🙏 Just venting.

And if you are out of the house 8-6.30 5 days a week, surely your usage is very low anyway?

Omg...please read what I said! I don't have the lump sum available to buy 500L of oil. Like everybody, not only has the oil increased, but so has everything else...including food, petrol, council tax, electric, car insurance etc and rent. So I'm choosing to eat rather than heat. Alas, my outgoings have substantially increased in the last few months, but my income hasn't. Oh, and I have zero savings.

It was awful wasn't it.? Do as I say, not as I do.

As it happens, in just the last few days, some of my customers have reduced their hours, as they're also suffering financially. So, I may well be home more this winter, than last winter.

Are any of your customers away over the winter period? Could you offer house sitting at a rate comparable to kennels? Free heating and hot water. Just say you need some reviews and so are offering it at a very cheap rate. A few weeks of that over the winter would bring in a bit more money, stop.you missing the dog walking money while they were away and provide heating, and an opportunity to do a load of washing too.

I remember my friend doing anything to use the oil in her house, she lived in a very snowy area and left after a few years.

Random idea but maybe have a look what deals/offers local gyms have, especially council ones. I don’t know how old you are but the one I go to (NE) is very cheap for over 55s. It means you would have access to unlimited showers (and the gym if you like!).
The next LA was giving out free 2 month memberships through the GPs if your BMI was over a certain number, but sometimes there are fitness schemes too to get people in.

Have you got a library nearby as it can be a good place to go for a while, any social groups. it just means you would be out of the house slightly longer. I try to be out of mine, so I don’t heat it. Unfortunately DH is disabled and been off work so I don’t think I’ll have a choice if he isn’t back soon.
I would concentrate on heating one room well can you do that. I am a big fan of lots of blankets and hot water bottles, especially the one that goes round my neck.

just to add. I would ask locally on Facebook if there are any schemes (often you can ask anonymously) where I live there is an environmental charity and they give out heated blankets etc.

The gym suggestion is a great idea. There's a council run one within walking distance. I'm almost 56 so should be able to get a reduced rate Thank you 😊

I don’t know if you have seen that your NRG are offering payment by instalments?
I think it’s 50% up front and then 3 monthly instalments.
I appreciate you might not want to get into debt, but it could be a way to get the 500 litres minimum order.

How long would a full tank of oil last you?

How long does a tank last you?

If you don't have mains gas & rely on oil/LPG you have to kind of think of the cost as being spread over the year like on a gas/electric direct debit. Work out the average cost over the year & then put the monthly amount into a separate account.

Over the summer when you're hardly using it you will still be 'paying' ahead for the winter if that makes sense.

I feel your pain, it is very real.

Just got a quote for 800 litres for our 1000 litre tank. In winter this would normally last between three to four months. Usually around £400, the quote is £1005.

Luckily we can afford it, but bloody hell. The heating has been off since February, we only use the oil for hot water and have a quarter of a tank left.

We will be burning any sort of wood that we can find in the log burners as we need to make the oil last as long as possible.

Trump is a mentally incompetent arsehole.

Portmore, we all know how budgeting works. The problem is that the money you need to put aside has gone up at least three times in a short period of time.

You can budget all you like but there comes a point where the money just isn't there

@Ihateboris I grew up in a freezing cold house and we only had one tiny fire all winter. I was permanently scabby and my hands used to split but this winter I am going to try and get through again with no heating so what I would add is that if you are not heating your space, take care with pipes getting frozen because you might end up with a bill that will make you wish you had bought oil.

As a kid, Dad used to drain everything down unless we were going to have a bath. It would all get drained down again after for fear of a broken pipe.

I have everything crossed we have a mild winter.

I do budget ahead, but didn't factor in the Orange One's incompetence. This alone has royally buggered my budget. In addition, with food inflation etc, a lot of us who were already on the bread line are now looking ahead at a very bleak winter indeed.

I felt sick to my core, just incredulous and could not even imagine how people in your situation must have felt.

How long does a tank last you @Ihateboris ?

@Satmod just jumping in on your question to Ihateboris. I’ve pasted below what I wrote upthread as I mentioned my own use. How long a tank lasts varies a lot eg house size/type, boiler efficiency, the weather/temperatures, as well as personal use choices.

“In winter obviously you use more and in Dec Jan and Feb usually I’d be ordering 500 every month or so. So that’s hundreds again more than last year, up front. I’m at home all day which makes a difference.
I live in one of the coldest parts of the uk and that can be forgotten - our temperatures are not comparable to mid to south of England”

We only buy 2-3 a year (usually 1200l ish total), I thought we used quite a lot of heating/hot water with that to be honest.

I have heated throws, they work really well.

Just for clarification, maybe not for you but others reading. A heated throw goes over the person and keeps them warm. It cannot be used on a bed.

A heated blanket goes on the bed and lies flat, you cannot wrap it around yourself and personally (I've only come across them on holiday) I find them uncomfortable to sleep on.

If money is tight think about which one to invest in.

Put two duvets or a duvet and a blanket on your bed, you will trap air to insulate you.

Hot water bottles - I know some on here hate them but if you have one put it in the bed before you are ready to sleep, move it around a couple of times so the bed, or at lest parts of it are warm. Then you can remove it so it can't spill and burn you or the dog.

I know you said you are in rented accommodation but would your landlord allow you to put an electric shower in? I don't mean next week but as part of a long term plan.

Some businesses have charities that can wither give you a grant or buy things for you. Last year I got a soup maker from the EDF Winter Warmth Choices. The second link tells you what is available depending on your power supplier.

https://cadentgas.com/foundation-partners-projects

www.energy-uk.org.uk/customers/additional-support-for-customers/

How many in your family?

I appreciate that. @Ihateboris jas confirmed very small property. Single person. Out of the house a great deal.

My property is very old with high ceilings and sash windows that are not energy efficient. Even with the heating on, it can take hours to get to 18 or 19 degrees. Please don't suggest that I relocate as this would be false economy for many reasons.

In any case, my point is that I can't afford the minimum 500L order (unless I don't pay my other (more important) bills.

does the UK not have any tenancy tribunal depts you or others can report poor standard rental housing to?

this seems to be a longer term problem/issue for you…