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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think it’s not going to be a case of heating or eating for many families

453 replies

LadyCatStark · 09/03/2022 11:45

We can forget heating altogether! I know it’s a nice little rhyme but for many, many families it’s going to be a case of eating or putting just enough petrol in the car to get you to work to pay all these increased costs. Eating yourself, or feeding your kids (hopefully most people will choose their kids). Eating healthily or eating cheap rubbish.

I’ve just nipped to Aldi as I had a work appointment cancel in the area and spent £40 just on the few bits I needed, not even a proper shop. I could have cried that I’d driven even just the 15 minutes to my appointment and it was cancelled and every drop of fuel counts.

OP posts:
the80sweregreat · 09/03/2022 15:23

The only glimmer of light at the moment is we are coming up into spring / summer and people will turn off the heating. I know you have to pay standing charges, but it is something and might give people a bit of a break , for a few months at least.
The cost of petrol / diesel is a worry and it'll affect everything else in terms of cost.
Food costs are another worry too.
I haven't the answers , it is affecting everyone and it'll be the poorer amongst us that will suffer the most. The rich can absorb the costs more , but I'm not suggesting they won't notice the higher bills too. They might have to cut back too and it all has a knock on effect on the economy. Which is also bad as well.

It is depressing and I'm not sure what can be done ? I feel we are going backwards in terms of living standards. I've heard the word recession , which isn't good :(

R2G · 09/03/2022 15:43

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R2G · 12/03/2022 21:45

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lightisnotwhite · 12/03/2022 22:41

Diesel prices are really worrying. Even red diesel that farmers use is now horribly expensive. Things are cost more very quickly at this rate.

I think prices have shot up so quickly nothings filtered through. It’s really going to be very tough, very shortly.

Seafog · 12/03/2022 22:44

I think the next year will be quite divisive, into those who can absorb the increasing costs, and those who can not.
I worry about the shortage of affordable housing, the lack of mental health resources, the increasing costs of everything, and the looming environmental cascade/collapse.
It's not going to be easy.

Viviennemary · 12/03/2022 22:48

There is no doubt a lot of folk will have to tighten their belts.

Cognoscenti · 12/03/2022 23:01

That is terrible if so, I had noticed fuel had gone up a lot but didn't realise food shopping had become more expensive.
It doesn't sound tenable.

TheCanyon · 12/03/2022 23:05

I'd rather be warm than eat. Unfortunately I live with 5 others that like fed. 13 years ago as a single parent I ate twice a week at most, can do it again I'm sure.

Yorkshirelass04 · 12/03/2022 23:08

This is an entirely foreseeable consequence of Brexit.

People got what they voted for and so have to accept what comes with that.

GrazingSheep · 12/03/2022 23:13

This is an entirely foreseeable consequence of Brexit.

I’m pretty sure it’s an entirely unforseeably consequence of war in Europe

earsup · 12/03/2022 23:15

It's not just the UK....my friend in Barelona is struggling....lorry driver strike so all shelves empty today....i send her shots of my receipts, she says everything is dearer over there....no poundland or wilko shops...their electric is second most expensive in the world...goes up constantly....solar panel tax is very high also....not usually worth fitting them...

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 12/03/2022 23:17

This is an entirely foreseeable consequence of Brexit.

And I'm pretty sure Brexit has nothing to do with global wholesale energy prices.

Whitefire · 12/03/2022 23:19

@GrazingSheep

This is an entirely foreseeable consequence of Brexit.

I’m pretty sure it’s an entirely unforseeably consequence of war in Europe

It is a consequence of a 'perfect storm' anything that could tip the balance has happened.
PickAChew · 12/03/2022 23:19

@Yorkshirelass04

This is an entirely foreseeable consequence of Brexit.

People got what they voted for and so have to accept what comes with that.

That doesn't explain why prices are also rising in the US.
Copenhagenoffice · 12/03/2022 23:20

It's probably a mixture of Brexit, COVID and now the war tbf

TwoBigNoisyBoys · 12/03/2022 23:20

Yep. I haven’t had the heating on for the last three days here. 13 degrees in the house, blankets and jumpers on.

Flickflak · 12/03/2022 23:25

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LizzieMacQueen · 12/03/2022 23:27

Re saving on heating water costs. What do you think would be an acceptable drop in showering habits? Once every second day? Or maybe better to shower daily but in tepid rather than hot water?

EasterIssland · 12/03/2022 23:29

My Spanish friends are seeing high petrol prices , expensive energy bills and so with gas. Food has increased as well and there is currently lack of food because of panic buying.

They must have had their own brexit for going through the same economical problems as us!

CuteGirlsWatchMeEatEther · 12/03/2022 23:29

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Yorkshirelass04 · 12/03/2022 23:33

@GrazingSheep

This is an entirely foreseeable consequence of Brexit.

I’m pretty sure it’s an entirely unforseeably consequence of war in Europe

No, because cost of living heating and eating was going up before 17 days ago. It's not Ukraine.

Let's not let the war and Covid mean the government is off the hook for their disastrous decisions over the past few years that have undoubtedly made everyone poorer. Brexit has had a massive impact on cost and availability of goods.

oviraptor21 · 12/03/2022 23:43

Brexit may be responsible for many things but rising fuel prices is not one of them.

TooMinty · 12/03/2022 23:49

It's totally shit but I think theoretically in the UK we can live without heating (although cold and miserable and with lots of layers). So people will be doing heating off so they can eat. Fucking depressing though.

earsup · 12/03/2022 23:53

@EasterIssland

My Spanish friends are seeing high petrol prices , expensive energy bills and so with gas. Food has increased as well and there is currently lack of food because of panic buying.

They must have had their own brexit for going through the same economical problems as us!

yes friend paid £1.73 a litre today.....says all is more expensive over there now...gas comes from algeria so might be bit cheaper than here i assume....at least her heating is off now....but lives near the mountains and does get cold at night still......
Hawkins001 · 12/03/2022 23:53

@LadyCatStark

We can forget heating altogether! I know it’s a nice little rhyme but for many, many families it’s going to be a case of eating or putting just enough petrol in the car to get you to work to pay all these increased costs. Eating yourself, or feeding your kids (hopefully most people will choose their kids). Eating healthily or eating cheap rubbish.

I’ve just nipped to Aldi as I had a work appointment cancel in the area and spent £40 just on the few bits I needed, not even a proper shop. I could have cried that I’d driven even just the 15 minutes to my appointment and it was cancelled and every drop of fuel counts.

Depends on what luxuries can be sacrificed instead.
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