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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not turn on heating

243 replies

mailfuckoff · 09/01/2018 11:51

I have trouble with spending money on myself and for looking after myself. It's cold and I'm working from home. If the kids were here I would turn on the heating but it seems wasteful for just me. However I have a few layers and a blanket and I'm cold. Do you turn on the heating just for you.

OP posts:
agentdaisy · 09/01/2018 13:45

If I'm wearing a t-shirt and jumper and I'm still cold then I'll put the heating on for an hour or two. Putting the heating on isn't just for me, it also helps keep the house from getting damp.

If our house gets really cold then it takes forever to warm it up again. Letting the house get too cold also makes it damp and causes condensation on the windows while everyone is at home.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 09/01/2018 13:45

Sometimes.

In the evening I would, but not so much in the day, mainly because I know if I was to move my bum & do what I should be doing, I wouldn’t be cold! I’m only cold because I’m arsing around on the internet! Howeve, when I’m actually working from home I’ll put the heating on if a pair of socks and a thin cardigan doesn’t warm me up enough.

I don’t think it’s because I think I’m not worth it, just that it’s expensive & more so wasteful, to heat up a whole house for one healthy middle aged adult. Children & the elderly are an entirely different consideration.

I really need to sort out some of the insulation issues here for next winter though. It’s expensive to heat this not exactly huge house.

WhiskeySourpuss · 09/01/2018 13:46

Definitely put the heating on if I'm cold and at home alone. I hate the cold it gives me a sore head... my office is currently 21 degrees and I'm moaning about being freezing.

I spend the best part of my day constantly whinging at the boys in the office to close doors behind them, not to stand chatting in doorways and have been known to shout on occasion "you're either in or you're out" when they're constantly back and forth. There are 3 doors and if any are open I get an awful draft on my legs because I'm dressed to work in an office whereas they're dressed to work outside so don't notice it so much. They are evil though and will put their freezing hands on the back of my neck as they walk past Angry

AnnieAnoniMouse · 09/01/2018 13:47

Oh, but sometimes, I just put it on because even though it’s not really very cold, it’s grey, miserable & I just want to feel cosy! 😊

maddnessintheroost · 09/01/2018 13:48

I would layer up if it was just me but I like to keep the house above 16 oC as and usually around 18oC as we have a 1 year old

Kitsharrington · 09/01/2018 13:50

I grew up with a heat nazi for a father and always swore to myself that as an adult I would NEVER be cold in my own home. So, yes, I have the heating on, just for me, all day.

IrkThePurist · 09/01/2018 13:51

extinctspecies your link doesn't contradict what I said.
''3. You should leave the heating on low constantly
It’s very common for people to think it’s more energy efficient to leave the heating turned on at a low temperature constantly, rather than turn it on and off. Wrong.

“This means these homes are heated when no-one is there to benefit and then the home is too cold when people are in the home,” the experts said.''

Leave it on low and use a bit of common sense about managing the temp in the room you are in, when you are in the house.

Elendon · 09/01/2018 13:56

I put the heating on during cold winter months simply because it is good for your house (and of course it's good for you too). I set it to 16 degrees and put a jumper on - a vest is essential for me.

Hypothermia can affect anyone of any age. Keep warm with hot drinks too.

suzy2b · 09/01/2018 13:59

If i'm cold i put the heating on no other form of heating on thermostat only on the rads my friend lives in a flat it is so warm she doesn't need to put her heating on

KatharinaRosalie · 09/01/2018 14:00

Yes, of course I turn heating on when I'm home. Why do you believe you don't deserve to be comfortable if it's 'just you'?

Mummaofboys · 09/01/2018 14:00

That's what you’re working for, so you can afford things like heating and food, go and put it on!

MinorRSole · 09/01/2018 14:04

I work from home too not that I'm getting anything done today and I always have the heating on. I hate being cold, it plays havoc with my asthma too. We have oil central heating and my oil lasts so long they had to refund me last year so I feel very lucky not to have to worry about being cold

ShatnersBassoon · 09/01/2018 14:08

Yes, if I've done the obvious things like putting a sweater on and I'm still not comfortable. I'm not into punishing myself, I'm as valuable as anyone in the house.

k2p2k2tog · 09/01/2018 14:08

You are all NUTS. I am working from home. I work from home every day and if it's cold, the heating goes on. It's 3.5C outside today, I am not going to be productive sitting with 10 jumpers, a sleeping bag and a hot water bottle when I could just whack the heating on at 20C. As it is when there are other people in hte house. I'm just as important as those other people and deserve to be warm too.

As for the poster who'll heat the house for her dog but not for herself - barking. Pun fully intended.

PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon · 09/01/2018 14:08

Yep. I will stick it on for just me!
I have arthritis and my joints get worse if they are cold so I have no issue turning it one (even before so really, I just have a better excuse now)

extinctspecies · 09/01/2018 14:12

Well actually it depends on how well insulated your house is.

This explanation is better: www.uswitch.com/energy-saving/guides/heating-on-all-the-time/

extinctspecies · 09/01/2018 14:14

Far from clear cut: www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/energy-saving-myths#heatingon

AnnabelleLecter · 09/01/2018 14:14

Yes as a child I lived in a house with no central heating, just a fire downstairs. It's fucking miserable. Always have the heating on.

speakout · 09/01/2018 14:16

I use a heater in one room if I am working from home.
Much cheaper than firing it up and heating the whole house.

heron98 · 09/01/2018 14:19

I am working from home and have the heating turned right up. That's why I go to work, so I have money and don't have to freeze in my own home.

heron98 · 09/01/2018 14:20

Plus, it's always "Just me" as I live alone, so if I went by your logic I would never have it on!

taratill · 09/01/2018 14:22

I hate overheated houses. Makes me feel ill. I put the heating on for an hour at the moment in the morning. Turn it off over night and I've just switched it on at 18 until bed time.

I cannot comprehend how people can live in homes heated above 20c degrees. If I sleep in a heated home I ended up with a sore throat.

Drainedandconfused · 09/01/2018 14:27

No gas at my house (live quite remote) I’ve got ancient storage heaters that don’t work, I have to wheel 2 oil radiators around the house, on the plus side I have a huge open fireplace so I have a fire blazing every day which warms the living room and kitchen. I’d i had central heating I would definitely put it on just for me.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 09/01/2018 14:27

I'm here all day every day on my own and put the heating on. I would be miserable sitting in the cold. I understand not everybody can afford to have their heating on all day though, that must be hard Sad

Elendon · 09/01/2018 14:28

I too dislike overheated houses. It's unhealthy in my view. However, I also hate cold houses. A constant temperature is best in my view, less at night (the heating goes on at night if it falls below 10% in cold weather winter).

Keep your house and yourself warm and safe during cold, miserable weather.