AIBU TO WONDER HOW IN GOD'S NAME PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE INRESE IN ENERGY PRICES

[Diamondsareforever123]

OK this obviously won't affect those who are lucky enough to have money - but - how are those on low incomes/benefit, poor pensioners, etc. ever going to possibly be able to afford the energy price increases? Also the increases will have a knock-on price increase effect on everything we buy - food, clothes ...... I am concerned.

Those who are keeping heating off a lot - how do you get all your washing dry this time of year?

A while back I did the calculations and having the heating on in our house for an hour is much cheaper than the tumble drier running. I barely use tumble drier now and considering getting rid tbh.

I grew up poor, and had Become pretty profligate by my family’s standards. We’re coping with rising costs by going back to doing things more like we did when I was a child. We’ve shifted to a weekly bath here (it’s like being a child in the 1970s again except without sharing the bath water! Well, other than with youngest who always likes to jump in my bath / shower anyway!) and a very short shower every other day. We don’t have the heating on, relying on hot water bottles and blankets to stay warm. I have a heated airer that costs a few pence to dry a load of laundry. Things are being worn till they’re dirty instead of fresh clothes daily like we were doing, so only need to do two or three loads a week (it’s one of the big washing machines that can take a double duvet, so can fit all the bedding in one load, which helps). If there’s just a bit of a mark on a jersey etc then I will spot clean it in the sink instead of putting it to wash. Still using the dishwasher as standing to wash up leaves me in pain after a short while, but I do make sure it is full before running, so only run it every other day. Taking food and flasks of drinks when going out instead of buying them out became a habit during the lockdowns anyway when all the coffee shops closed. It’s all good stuff to do anyway, but I’m aware we’re lucky that (for now at least) we just need to be a bit frugal and less wasteful, we’re not actually going to be cold or hungry. I’ve had to choose between heating or eating in the past, and it was brutal. I feel for anyone facing it. I’m also so angry with this government, who bunged £6bn to their mates for unusable PPE etc, but now can’t help people who need it.

Even worse for those of us on a Payg meter as if we run out and have no cash then we loose our food in fridge and freezer too
I have tried to get them to remove my payg but they won't as 8 sometimes use my emergency at the the end of month, but I'm paying in advance mostly ,

@AllOfUsAreDead

And people will keep voting tory despite freezing and starving. Its an interesting country we live in now, it's almost a dictatorship made by the people. Can't vote for anyone else..

Everyone warned them not to vote for these idiots at the referendum, and again at the general election. And again. Apparently they knew what they were voting for so we should all shut up... 🤷🏻‍♀️

I feel bad for everyone who hasn't voted for this shitshow, though.

It feels like something has to give but will it? People still seem to be in support of the Tories and Boris despite this mess. We've spent more money doing 90% less for people than Corbyn promised.

The Tories proposing changes to require voters at polling stations to show photo ID before they receive their ballot paper - which will disenfranchise the poorest voters who wouldn't likely vote for them.

Dirty waterways, unaffordable housing, sky high transport, high inflation and food costs, high energy costs, underfunded NHS, insufficient social benefits, more than a 1000 foodbanks, low minimum wage, homelessness on the rise and 40-60% children living in poverty aand food insecure households and more and more people in work but still poor. Something has to give - but its sodepressing because I genuinely see nothing changing.

@RJnomore1

It’s obvious from the responses to *@tolerable* you lot aren’t good at reading Scot’s and don’t know how bad things are getting up here…and not because of the tories…well not all …

I’m Scottish…couldn’t understand it all.

@TheUsualChaos

Those who are keeping heating off a lot - how do you get all your washing dry this time of year? A while back I did the calculations and having the heating on in our house for an hour is much cheaper than the tumble drier running. I barely use tumble drier now and considering getting rid tbh.

We are still using heating at 16 a few hours a day but bulky items like trousers, jumpers and towels are dried over the bannister where they get more air than the drying rack. We open a window during a shower to keep the house ventilated, and leave windows open until midday on weekends. If I need to reduce heating then I will put it on when I have washing or maybe invest in a heated drying rack.

I used to use an electric blanket but now I wear 2 pairs of socks, a fleece onesie with trousers on top and a top underneath, a hoodie, a dressing gown, hat, scarf, and gloves, I find it works better and having arthritis and asthma it is important to stay warm.

@TheUsualChaos

Those who are keeping heating off a lot - how do you get all your washing dry this time of year? A while back I did the calculations and having the heating on in our house for an hour is much cheaper than the tumble drier running. I barely use tumble drier now and considering getting rid tbh.

We don’t have a tumble drier and have never had one. I hang washing outside as much as possible. Then it comes inside and is hung in an airer. We have cut down on how much we wash clothes anyway. We have no heating on now, though it was on for an hour morning and evening until a couple of weeks ago.

Call me DG Clavnetti

I guess I can manage but it will or may even mean no more holidays after this year. Totally depressing.

Utility Warehouse claimed they could weather the storm but it now sounds like even they may increase from April.

I refuse to sit in a cold house so will have to cope.

I had sympathy for genuine cases but the person saying ID is not good for voting and Corbyn would have been better. You are very wrong. Wonder is most of these posters are from momentum and doing their bit of propaganda?

@Ladywoodster

It's not just homes which will struggle to pay energy bills. Small business too, community centres, medical centres, schools, libraries, charities etc will all have to find the extra, probably by making cuts elsewhere.

Yes I was going to keep my heating off but have actually now decided i have to let someone go instead and do the hours myself. I'm a new business so nothing in reserve for this kind of shit. Someone now will be jobless because of this but the increase for my business is equivalent to someone's wage. It's hell

@XenoBitch

Honestly? Bury my head in the sand. I have a friend who has taken to nursing cups of cheap tea all day in a community cafe. It is warm, and she can use their wifi to watch TV. She figures it is cheaper than being at home. I might do the same.

A lot of people will now be doing this but in my place i would have to move you on if you were only drinking one drink (and finished it) and someone else wanted the seat. I wouldn't do that if there was no wait for table tho but we also need business so we can pay our own business and personal bills

Lolamento not propaganda to say that Brexit+Tories=hardship for ordinary people.

I did not like Corbyn much, but I would have him as PM over Call-Me-Churchill any day.

@lololololollll that sounds so hard. Small businesses have struggled to survive the pandemic and now this.

@ClaudineClare

Lolamento not propaganda to say that Brexit+Tories=hardship for ordinary people.

I did not like Corbyn much, but I would have him as PM over Call-Me-Churchill any day.

Same here.

@Lolamento I haven't voted Labour in years. But have never voted Tory and never ever would. I think the majority of Tories (the party, not all their voters) are greedy, self serving and heartless. They don't believe equality is desirable. they don't think the needs of the poor are important. they seem to think being poor is a moral fault and that being rich is a sign of good judgement.I despise that attitude and I'm so inactive politically I don't really know what Momentum stands for!

I think we are lucky as we have just finished paying our funeral plan so instead of saving for emergencies we can put it towards the heating. We are aged 77 and 85 with health problems so need to keep the house warm. I will look into those heated airers though. My dh is partially incontinent so I do a lot of washing. We have had help from our dc and have applied for Attendance Allowance so hope we will get by. I do feel for the young families on low incomes. This government is beneath contempt.

Unfortunately because of the lack of action on replacing our old nuclear power plants years ago and not fitting carbon scrubbing technology to coal power plants we are at the mercies of the fluctuating gas prices. Wind and solar isn't enough to make up a steady base. Giving grata to help people insulate houses properly and replace old and inefficient heating systems would be good for the planet and peoples health as well.... but that doesn't make profits for the rich does it....
Why haven't people realised that the Tories just don't care about ordinary people? And who are the idiots that voted them in?

Grants not grata - autocorrect....

I am a pensioner and my oil and electricity charges and council tax take over half of my pension. I don't know what I will do when charges go up again in April. I go to bed at 8pm with a hot water bottle to save on heating and electricity. I am not eligible for any benefits.

Jollypots are you able to invest in a heated fleecy throw? They are pretty cheap to run and are very cosy.

Thank you ClaudineClair I will try to find one

I rang my supplier Utility Warehouse today who told me my fixed green plan expires end of March. I only have 6 radiators and a gas hob and am in credit. She said for me to call them again in March and to decide which rate I prefer depending on what is available.

I am hoping for the best while being cautious at the same time. I still think they will remain one of the cheapest. Currently £57 electric and £27 gas monthly.

@ClaudineClare

LaDamaDeElche are Spanish homes electric only or do they use gas too? Just curious.

Depends on the house/flat. We personally don't use it. Most people in my area who do seem to use bottled gas as they don't have access to mains gas.