Stop implying it's not so bad now because you grew up with no central heating and scraped ice off the windows.

[flashbac]

FFS

I also had no central heating in the house as a kid. There was a hole under the bathtub that cats would use to come in while you were freezing arse off on the loo. It was bloody grim. I don't wish it on anybody. People shouldn't have to be uncomfortable in their own bleeding homes for goodness sakes. It shouldn't be happening in this day and age. Stop defending it.

Oh judge away. You should be thanking us tbh. If the 2019 election had gone the other way (I know I know, no chance with that leader) we'd be in a much worse position

Wow, this must be a record - it actually got to five pages before the first “Yeah but Corbyn …” Frankly it couldn’t be much worse. All caused by a government with policies like Robin Hood in reverse.

@VeryQuaintIrene

For all my life (born in 60s), I've had a sense that things were on the whole getting better, the world was getting more open and people were getting more prosperous. For the past 5 years or so, it feels like that is no longer true. And yes, I do in great measure blame the Conservatives.

It was the same in the late 1980s/early90s; the recession then hit many people very hard. I knew folk who lost their homes at that time and goodness knows what else. Every Friday on the news a list of firms that had gone bust was read. People couldn't afford to have shoes mended, never mind new ones. It was a very difficult time - with no Covid to blame at least partially. However we did recover later on in the '90s.

Oh judge away. You should be thanking us tbh. If the 2019 election had gone the other way (I know I know, no chance with that leader) we'd be in a much worse position.

Foolish to think that. We don’t know what position we’d be in, but let’s not forget it was tories who introduced the price cap, with no forethought, and who promised us lower bills, and who now realising their folley, expect the people to deal with the consequences.

Pretending it’s ok because Labour would have been worse is dishonest.

@Manicsfan

If you voted Tory, you are culpable. I judge you. Disabled people and elderly have been dying needlessly for over a decade now. And yet folk still vote Tory. Hang your selfish heads in shame.

Yes, absolutely this

Wait for the interest rates to start going up.
Then we’ll be in the do-do

And about a third of those eligible to vote didn't vote. Maybe if more of them had turned out to vote we'd have a different government.

I nearly didn’t go out to vote last time because, what was the point, the alternative wasn’t good either. In the end I did, casting a (rare) vote for Labour because I believed the Boris needed to be stopped, and SNP needed to be out too. I only went because I have never not voted. I think a lot of people felt the same but chose not to go out. A decent opposition would really have helped. I will vote Labour next time no matter what, because things need to change. I’m a natural Lib Dem voter but a vote for them will effectively keep Boris in power.

Hole under bath tub?

You were lucky. We lived in t'hole in road. We dreamed bout havin' bath tub over us...

@paxman

Remember there’s local elections next month. It’s pretty much the only way to show government how we’re all feeling. They don’t appear to understand how most people live

This. We need to show our disgust for a government who allows their constituents to suffer simply because they would rather put more money in their own pockets

I joined a FB group that gives advice for people in debt or struggling, I was in debt years ago so have been able to help a few people out. But in the last few days there has been post after post from older members about how the under 40s won't cope due to poor budgeting skills and being spoiled. Apparently we should all pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and stop being big babies.

For those on the breadline saving 20p here and there isn't really going to help. Shaving a few quid off a family shop will no way offset the huge rise in prices.

Neither is discussing huddling round a fireplace as most houses don't have one.

The problems we are facing today are different to 1950-1970 or whenever else in the past. Rents are far higher, most families need two incomes, childcare is beyond expensive. Back in the 70s i wouldn't have needed to work, I could have spent all day line drying my laundry and making economical meals.

The cost of everyday essentials have rocketed whilst the price of luxuries have come down. You can buy a smart phone for less than the price of a weekly family shop.

I imagine the ice on the inside of windows and sleeping in hats won't be as fun as they remember it. I am very concerned about my in-laws because despite being part of the older generation I know their health will be greatly impacted by living in a cold damp house.

I grew up with 2 gas fires in each front room (but we only used one). We had central heating panels but it wasn’t switched on. We also had paraffin heaters and those tiny gas fire heaters at the top of the wall in the kitchen and bathroom. I don’t recall ice inside windows but my DB had chronic asthma and almost died twice as a child and my DM’s mum lived in luxury and didn’t help out until much later. All changed when DM inherited a lot of money when I was 10, we had central heating, insulation etc.

It wasn’t fun no matter anyone saying otherwise.

And about a third of those eligible to vote didn't vote. Maybe if more of them had turned out to vote we'd have a different government.

............... who's to say they wouldn't have voted for the Conservatives ?.

who's to say they wouldn't have voted for the Conservatives

Which is why I said 'maybe'.

I grew up scrapping ice off the inside of the windows. In the late 1990s I lived for years in a flat with just a gas fire in the living room and one small convection heater for the rest of the place and would jump out of bed and switch on ten minutes before we got up. I do think we should expect to stay warm now but I don't think we should expect to heat houses so we can live in shorts and Tshirt in winter or sleep all night without a reasonable duvet. We shouldn't be heating rooms we aren't using.

@BeardyButton

Agree…. It’s hideous. All the ‘back in my day’ people are likely sitting pretty with retirement funds and property that has increased in value. Meanwhile the nxt generation can’t afford to get on the property ladder, no ability to fund retirements and now can’t heat the houses they don’t own.

“I deserve all this wealth as I worked so hard for it “ is nonsense. So is the “millennials can’t afford property as they spend too much on lattes”.

Lots of older people aren't sitting pretty at all and the fact is we did live through hard times. Personally I don't want those times back for me or anyone else in fact I would think we are hating it more because we know how miserable it is to live in poverty.

Personally I don't know anyone in my age group, I'm late 60s, who is enjoying this but the reality is some older people might have tips that could help. Other than trying to cut back on things like electricity I'm not sure what anyone can do really. I've stopped using the tumble dryer, I used it alot as have a disabled husband and lots of washing but it has certainly saved me money this month. I'm trying to plan meals so the oven isn't used as much, trying to find out if an airfryer would save me money.

Maybe time to review the boomers have had it so easy.

@Gonnagetgoing

I grew up with 2 gas fires in each front room (but we only used one). We had central heating panels but it wasn’t switched on. We also had paraffin heaters and those tiny gas fire heaters at the top of the wall in the kitchen and bathroom. I don’t recall ice inside windows but my DB had chronic asthma and almost died twice as a child and my DM’s mum lived in luxury and didn’t help out until much later. All changed when DM inherited a lot of money when I was 10, we had central heating, insulation etc.

It wasn’t fun no matter anyone saying otherwise.

It really isn't fun at all.

@Pyewhacket

And about a third of those eligible to vote didn't vote. Maybe if more of them had turned out to vote we'd have a different government.

............... who's to say they wouldn't have voted for the Conservatives ?.

Let’s hope this shitshow incentivises them to turn out next time and vote these bastards out.

@flashbac

FFS

I also had no central heating in the house as a kid. There was a hole under the bathtub that cats would use to come in while you were freezing arse off on the loo. It was bloody grim. I don't wish it on anybody. People shouldn't have to be uncomfortable in their own bleeding homes for goodness sakes. It shouldn't be happening in this day and age. Stop defending it.

Couldn't agree more.

@noblegiraffe

Bet the people posting this pompous shit are not having to choose between heating and eating, and are not having to scrape ice off the inside of their windows.

Nope, I grew up like this and it’s only in the last 10 years or so that I’ve not had my net curtains freeze to the windows, or had to live off Tesco No Frills stuff. Didn’t hurt me, it was the norm for me and it’s surprising at how quickly you adapt, but no chance would I want to go back to those days again and I really don’t envy those that sadly have to.

why are people happy with the bar being set so low?

^

This.

And I've noticed people have started apologising on here for going on holiday, having a party etc! Like it's some major extravagance, a week at Brideshead or wherever.

@Thelnebriati

One big difference between now and then is that now, I don't have open fireplaces or a working chimney.

But on the plus side, nowadays we have far superior thermal fabrics so it's far easier to dress warm, stay warm on the sofa under a thick light throw, sleep cosy under a duvet.

All available in charity shops ( another modern phenomenon unknown 50 years ago, back when people owned less and made stuff last instead of buying more and more ).

@dipdye

why are people happy with the bar being set so low?

^

This.

And I've noticed people have started apologising on here for going on holiday, having a party etc! Like it's some major extravagance, a week at Brideshead or wherever.

Well, to be fair, I’m beginning to feel a bit guilty about unnecessary spending. It just feels a bit crass when people can’t afford to eat.

@UnnecessaryFennel

Oh here they all are, the usual suspects trotting in, defending the indefensible as ever. The alarm must have gone off at CCHQ.

Was wondering when they would show up. Another one who grew up cold, one fire in the whole house old overcoats on the beds, finally got central heating in my late twenties. My children were never cold, in 2022 I don’t expect my grandchildren to be cold so why the fuck are we accepting this shit & minimising peoples suffering, we have a government that are wilfully & deliberately bringing this country to it’s knees, driven by ideology putting party/donors/mates before country led by a corrupt proven liar & a talentless vapid stupid cabinet. The rot started with Thatcher, when we hawked around the rest of the world selling off the family silver, rather than paying taxes that properly funded services no country should privatise utilities/transport/care it’s doesn’t work except for the investors, we have a MSM that rarely calls out the lies/misleading information no grown up debates come election time, just stupid three word slogans I dunno maybe we do get the government we deserve they have repeatedly treated us with contempt yet we do nothing it’s so utterly depressing.

My DS, 3, has asthma and has been hospitalised twice, once very seriously ill. I used to think "He'd never have lived if he'd been born in the 1970s" and now I doubt he'd make it if he'd been born in say the old pit villages of County Durham in 2022. It's wrong.

He can put on 17 jumpers - the damp and cold air would prevent us from effectively treating his breathing issues.

@Blossomtoes spend away if you can afford it. Otherwise it's more job cuts and business closures.

I grew up with all of that, no central heating, it was grim. I thought we only had net curtains in the winter until I realised it was frost on the inside. Dads overcoat on the bed. Do I remember being cold? Yes.
Then as a young woman working three day weeks because of the miners strikes, power cuts, petrol rationing.

Never want to experience those days again.