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AIBU?

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Original poster

If it comes to it would you choose heating or eating?

713 replies

Tuliprain · 06/02/2022 16:07

We were having this discussion the other night. I would choose eating and husband would choose heating - so we are already stuck. Im thinking we could warm up with blankets and hot water bottles etc but nothing you can do about hunger. He says the house will go mouldy and he’s rather be hungry than cold. Such a depressing subject to be considering.

OP posts:
RainbowZebraWarrior · 08/02/2022 12:14

@KurtWilde Flowers it's a bloody disgrace what the Govt put older people through

UndertheCedartree · 08/02/2022 13:13

@Mirw

Come to my house in the winter, you get a cosy bundle to wear. Why? I live on the west of Scotland and have no cereal heating, only a gas fore in the living room. It can be 5 degrees in the rest of the house including the bathroom so visitors need the cosy bundle. If they don't like it, don't come and visit... We have never had central heating so don't miss it. May more of hge UK population should try it!
We are trying it! Except we don't have the gas fire!
UndertheCedartree · 08/02/2022 13:15

@Pinkfluff76

I’d choose heating for sure. I’d rather be hungry than cold 🥶
But you can't live with no food. So ultimately once you have cut back on that as much as you can (cheapest food, food bank, skipping meals so kids have more), heating has to go.
D0lphine · 08/02/2022 13:19

At uni I remember being cold and hungry. Difference was I had energy and health to go out and earn money when needed. Lots of people don't have that luxury.

£10 went a long way in terms of food but it didn't (even then) in terms of heating our damp, mouldy house.

I remember wearing 3 layers on my bottom half, thermals, hat and dressing gowns and Hoodies to bed. I could see my breath in bed.

It was miserable and I refuse to go back there.

AryaStarkWolf · 08/02/2022 13:20

Definitely eating, you can at least put on more clothes blankets etc (neither are ideal though of course)

etulosba · 08/02/2022 13:45

I can go without food, I was probably one of those million who went without food last month probably because I forgot to eat

Your body uses the energy stored in food to heat itself. It can’t if you don’t eat enough.

UKorNZdilemma · 08/02/2022 17:13

@daisypond

Eat. We turned off the heating last week completely.
@daisypond where do you live? You really should put it on low, say 5°, so your pipes don't freeze
daisypond · 08/02/2022 17:33

@UKorNZdilemma
No, I wouldn’t think so. I’m in terraced housing, so relatively protected.

Siameasy · 08/02/2022 17:44

We are lucky to be in a new build so the heating doesn’t need to go on much. DD is always rampaging around and currently in just underwear.
Growing up in the 80s though our house was freezing. It was so depressing. We just had a calor gas heater and the odd “blower” heater and one of those wall gas fire things. Don’t know how we managed but we did

mylifestory · 08/02/2022 19:40

@KurtWilde
mylifestory

Its not just a case of eating or heating, what about all those other things ppl cd give up like expensive tv or phone packages? I know its whats always quoted but there are many other things you can cut back on too, there's so many little things ppl take for granted that they must have, ive learnt to cut back on those a couple of times in my life when its all gone tits up & I never really went back to them so manage to save for a rainy day .....

And what about those who've already given those up? Have you read the thread?

  • i mentioned that there are many more things like this. I was once towards the end of a house renovation at xmas, i dedicated myself to it for 6 months so had no job, no money, no more savings, nada. Xmas in our house was a turkey & 2 bottles of champagne, no gifts or anything. Now that is giving stuff up big time.
KurtWilde · 08/02/2022 19:49

@mylifestory why have you tagged me in this??

People who are facing poverty have already given up extras. Me included. I don't have a phone contract, I don't have tv packages, I don't smoke. My outgoings have been cut to the bare essentials.
Rent
Council tax
Food (already shop at the cheapest supermarket)
Gas
Electric
Water
Internet (because I need it for work)

And I'm one of millions for whom there's nothing left to cut back on.

Renovating a house?? Not something I can ever even dream of doing. Maybe you could've bought presents instead of alcohol that Christmas eh. That's what I'd have done. I've gone without food to make sure my kids have eaten well in the past and will likely have to do it again. THAT'S giving stuff up 'big time'

Waxonwaxoff0 · 08/02/2022 19:57

[quote mylifestory]@KurtWilde
mylifestory

Its not just a case of eating or heating, what about all those other things ppl cd give up like expensive tv or phone packages? I know its whats always quoted but there are many other things you can cut back on too, there's so many little things ppl take for granted that they must have, ive learnt to cut back on those a couple of times in my life when its all gone tits up & I never really went back to them so manage to save for a rainy day .....

And what about those who've already given those up? Have you read the thread?

  • i mentioned that there are many more things like this. I was once towards the end of a house renovation at xmas, i dedicated myself to it for 6 months so had no job, no money, no more savings, nada. Xmas in our house was a turkey & 2 bottles of champagne, no gifts or anything. Now that is giving stuff up big time.[/quote]
Buying 2 bottles of champagne is not "giving stuff up big time." Utterly laughable. If you can afford champagne and home renovations you're doing absolutely fine in life, do not compare yourself to someone living in poverty and say you're "giving stuff up."
D0lphine · 08/02/2022 19:58

Shall we all just move abroad?

Seriously. If we have remote only jobs in a cheap country we would live like kings.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 08/02/2022 19:59

I honestly can't believe someone would talk about doing home renovations and buying champagne and then have the nerve to say they were "giving stuff up big time." Open your eyes to the real world.

Piggyk2 · 08/02/2022 20:27

@Waxonwaxoff0

I honestly can't believe someone would talk about doing home renovations and buying champagne and then have the nerve to say they were "giving stuff up big time." Open your eyes to the real world.
Only on MN Grin
Cromple · 08/02/2022 20:37

Xmas in our house was a turkey & 2 bottles of champagne, no gifts or anything. Now that is giving stuff up big time
A turkey and champagne bottles is not giving up big time at Christmas Hmm you have no clue

DearlyBeloathed · 08/02/2022 20:51

[quote mylifestory]@KurtWilde
mylifestory

Its not just a case of eating or heating, what about all those other things ppl cd give up like expensive tv or phone packages? I know its whats always quoted but there are many other things you can cut back on too, there's so many little things ppl take for granted that they must have, ive learnt to cut back on those a couple of times in my life when its all gone tits up & I never really went back to them so manage to save for a rainy day .....

And what about those who've already given those up? Have you read the thread?

  • i mentioned that there are many more things like this. I was once towards the end of a house renovation at xmas, i dedicated myself to it for 6 months so had no job, no money, no more savings, nada. Xmas in our house was a turkey & 2 bottles of champagne, no gifts or anything. Now that is giving stuff up big time.[/quote]
My heart bleeds for you.
RainbowZebraWarrior · 08/02/2022 21:51

[quote mylifestory]@KurtWilde
mylifestory

Its not just a case of eating or heating, what about all those other things ppl cd give up like expensive tv or phone packages? I know its whats always quoted but there are many other things you can cut back on too, there's so many little things ppl take for granted that they must have, ive learnt to cut back on those a couple of times in my life when its all gone tits up & I never really went back to them so manage to save for a rainy day .....

And what about those who've already given those up? Have you read the thread?

  • i mentioned that there are many more things like this. I was once towards the end of a house renovation at xmas, i dedicated myself to it for 6 months so had no job, no money, no more savings, nada. Xmas in our house was a turkey & 2 bottles of champagne, no gifts or anything. Now that is giving stuff up big time.[/quote]
Read the fucking room, mate.

Jesus.

Un fucking believable

daisypond · 08/02/2022 21:57

@D0lphine

Shall we all just move abroad?

Seriously. If we have remote only jobs in a cheap country we would live like kings.

Which cheap country do you suggest will hand out visas for remote workers?
DerAlteMann · 08/02/2022 22:28

Eat.

Foxylass · 09/02/2022 08:08

Warm air carries more moisture so yes, heating and ventilation do go hand in hand.
If you are heating a house you also need to ventilate it to let some of the warm (wetter) air out.

Foxylass · 09/02/2022 08:13

@undetetected my previous comment was meant to be in direct response to one asking about heating and ventilation... I messed up but hope it dets seen here.

AutomaticMoon · 09/02/2022 09:12

@Foxylass

Warm air carries more moisture so yes, heating and ventilation do go hand in hand. If you are heating a house you also need to ventilate it to let some of the warm (wetter) air out.
The moisture doesn’t come from the heat though, it’s from breathing, cooking, showers, etc. The moisture will be there regardless of the heat, unless you ventilate sufficiently. But in the uk walls need to ‘breathe’ apparently and let outdoor moisture penetrate inside too. I have moisture coming in through walls and rotten window sills with or without heating.
HappyWinter · 09/02/2022 11:28

@KurtWilde I'm so sorry for your mum's situation, it's awful, the prices have gone up so much and so tough on a fixed income.

The other problem with damp is that the things than can help mitigate it cost money too. I've found using a dehumidifier when drying washing helps, and a window vac for condensation on windows and it's good in the shower as you can hoover up any moisture in there and it makes the whole house drier and requiring less heating. They work, but if you are struggling to pay bills, it's impossible to find the money for them.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 09/02/2022 11:31

It would be food.

It is a scandal that this is happening