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

[Tuliprain]

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.

In all honesty im not getting the constant dramatics, it's something we rarely use.

Ive always layered up and used blankets on the sofa, this year Ive upgraded to a heated throw. It wouldnt even occur to me to use the heating when it was just me in the house. Or at night for that matter.

I get people with disabilities will struggle as will the elderly. I actually think those groups of people should have the maximum support directed towards them..... But the majority could do with cutting with the dramatics😬

And food will always come above heating. S,

Glad to live in a country with really nice free hot home cooked meals (often several options too) at schools, up to age 18. At least then you’d know the kids have proper food most days. People shouldn’t have to have no heating on if they want to eat, I know there could be no choice but it’s deeply disturbing.

Eat. I remember staying at my grand house with no central heating - just a single fire.

You bundle up, lots of blankets, hot water bottle, Hat and gloves, big socks. Not ideal but you need to eat.

I’m in denial a bit atm. I’m thinking (hoping) the government will come up with something before it starts to kick in, other than the token effort they have made so far with the council tax refund and October offset payment. Fortunately most of us won’t be using our heating in a couple of months for a few months. I usually stop end of March, and switch on again October, so I’m guessing it’s going to be later in the year when we really start to see the big cost increases.

I don't think people SHOULD have to live like this, but living here has taught me that it's perfectly possible to healthily live without heating

What is simply uncomfortable for a healthy adult comes with adverse health outcomes for those who are vulnerable. Could we stop peddling this myth that it's just fine for people to freeze in their homes, by just about every metric it's false.

I think eating depends on if you have extra weight you could lose. Obviously you have to eat, but you can eat less as there is a buffer. I'm at a bmi of 20 and could get to 18 before it really started to mess with my head and send me back into dangerous ed territory.

There was a thread a while ago by a woman who suspected her neighbours were running a cannabis farm (turned out they were)..her house was tropical hot. Thinking of her now for some reason. 😅

@bitemyarsenic

No doubt will be flamed but seriously do people think that central heating has always existed? Ridiculous notion. You eat or you starve. Put a jumper and socks on, exclude drafts etc. Stop washing towels after every use.

This! Christ the first house I had with central heating was in 1983. I grew up in a house with one coal fire and a bloody outside loo! Ice on the inside of the windows. I'm 60. We have got really soft ( me included), as PP have said- you can live with heat but not food. And eating keeps your core temperature up.

In all honesty im not getting the constant dramatics, it's something we rarely use

It's not generally insanely cold in the UK in winter, severe cold snaps aside, but it's an awful damp cold and I can't cope with it without heating.
I grew up somewhere where the winter temperatures got well into the minuses overnight, and with no central heating, and that was manageable but when I moved to the UK and into a flat with crap storage heating I experienced cold and misery that I hadn't realised was possible.

Another positive idea is what my neighbour does. She is 80 but has joined a swim only membership. She pays only £12month. She can have a hot shower afterwards so saving roughly £16 a month or £4 after membership. But she is not worrying about hot water and is getting fit.
We can all dwell and have competitive misery. If an 80yr old can do that then we all have scope to change and make the best of it. Or you can live in misery mindset.

This is a bit extreme but it was that or defaulting on the mortgage/moving house to be able to eat and moderately warm the house.

I changed my mortgage to interest only for three years. The amount I was paying in capital will now be used towards the raising costs, I’ll get the mortgage back to capital repayment as soon as we get out of this crisis (if we ever do).

The fact that this is even being discussed is utterly abhorrent, the Tories are decimating this country

@Scianel

In all honesty im not getting the constant dramatics, it's something we rarely use

It's not generally insanely cold in the UK in winter, severe cold snaps aside, but it's an awful damp cold and I can't cope with it without heating.
I grew up somewhere where the winter temperatures got well into the minuses overnight, and with no central heating, and that was manageable but when I moved to the UK and into a flat with crap storage heating I experienced cold and misery that I hadn't realised was possible.

What was the difference between where you grew up and the flat where you lived when you moved to the UK? Was it the effect of the crap storage heating, or something else as well?

I'm genuinely disgusted that this is even a question in a first world country. it really is wrong.

Having both been cold and hungry in the past, I'd say a combination is best in the winter. Yes, you can do exercise to warm up and wear layers when it's cold, but when it's been cold for a long time, the place feels damp, you try to sleep and quite literally ache from the cold, it is properly debilitating.

If you're in this situation, seek help, visit your food bank, write to your MP over and over and over again. Do not let up. Do not allow this government to make this a question for people, especially for the most vulnerable ones. It is not necessary that people face this. We have the money to help everyone. It's just being siphoned out through rich companies and individuals taking advantage.

I grew up in a council flat, the block didn't have central heating or hot water until I was 15. You get used to washing in the cold and wearing a hoodie and tracksuit bottoms to bed, but the times when there was no food were the worse. I'm so thankful there are food banks now so no other child has to deal with being properly hungry.

Anyone really struggling please find out what local food banks are available and how you can access them, some need a referral.

Second, your council may have a discretionary fund which may help, when the warmer home grants open, please apply.

If you are on a low income check if you are receiving all benefits and look at the healthy start vouchers.

So many people are not receiving what they are entitled too and tight now, every penny will help.

Also some schools will help with a grant, free school meals (even if you are not formally entitled) or support.

I do know some people will be doing all this and still struggling. But this may help someone

Eat. As a child we didn't have heating, just one coal fire for a 3 storey terrace house, we didn't have any double glazing and we coped! I need to fuel my body to be able to cope with kids/work. Extra layers, blankets and shutting curtains at dusk will help with the cold, especially as a lot of homes now have double glazing and better insulation

Heating for sure. My bones set solid when I'm cold due to arthritis.
But happy to live on basic cheap pasta tarted up with anything handy. Keep stocked with smoked cooking bacon, tuna, cheap Aldi pasta sauces and squeezy garlic paste. It can be fun and inventive for kids too. The instant noodle blocks just need boiled water poured over and an egg stirred in.
Iceland frozen veg packs are invaluable, cheap and nutritious and keep forever.

What was the difference between where you grew up and the flat where you lived when you moved to the UK?

A few things, I think. It was a very dry cold where I lived (some downsides, your skin cracked to the point your lips bled!). I find with dry cold it's just a case of the right clothing, you can get by with a fire or heater in the main living area etc. Damp cold just feels intolerable to me, like it gets right inside me somehow.

It also heated up substantially during the day and winter was short so that made it easier as well.
All I remember is that even though I'd experienced physically far lower temperatures, I had never felt cold in my life like a Scottish February. And yes the crap accommodation didn't help, I was naive and didn't know about central heating and double glazing.

Eat. Definitely.

It would have to be food. If I cldnt afford even basic food and heating then I'd have to eat and just layer up and get big blackness and duvets.

If it was a choice between basic food to enable some heat I would go with that. I hate being cold so if I cld only afford to heat one room then I'd do that too and get cheap basic food.

Choosing however is awful and it's going to be the reality for so many people now which is so sad 😞

If I’m fit and healthy and able to work, I’d get another job or up my hours if possible if it came to a choice between the two.
I grew up without central heating and it’s horrible but survivable. No one can survive without food!

Eating, I haven’t had central heating for 27 of my 55 years and grew up with frozen condensation on the inside of the windows and being able to see my breath when laid in bed.

It wasn’t pleasant I’m sure but I don’t recall the cold, only the novelty.

I am going to start heating one room though which makes absolute sense, and putting a hot water bottle in my bed.

I lived in a warmer climate where winter (July) average temperature is 16/8, and my house was unheated and uninsulated, so I know I could go colder than that without heating here as my house holds the heat well.

With food, a sweet potato, red lentil and coconut milk curry with rice is cheap and fills you up for ages. Porridge for breakfast, skip lunch as it's easy to go hungry in the day, better to save food for dinner so you can sleep.

All I remember is that even though I'd experienced physically far lower temperatures, I had never felt cold in my life like a Scottish February.

Agree with this. I’m brought up in a country with very long winters and easily down to -30. Never been cold indoors in my life (nor am I now). Moved to UK when I was 19 and have never been as cold in my life. This is when I learnt to drink tea. 😂 I can never forget how cold I was all the time, and the lack of long hot showers. And lack of being able to dry clothes properly. (Still loved it though!)