To have found increasing costs making a positive impact?

[Optimisiticcautiouslyso]

Increasing petrol costs - so I’m actively cutting driving and walking so much more than ever

Increasing energy costs - so I don’t think I’ve ever been more aware of lights off, putting on an extra jumper rather than spinning the heating upwards

Increasing food costs - much more mindful with what I’m buying and much more thoughtful with my cooking and eating

Anyone else?

@Optimisiticcautiouslyso do you have any idea what it is like to be really really poor?

You’re not agreeing with me, because that wasn’t ever my point, which you do of course know.

Let’s agree to disagree and move on.

You really are tone deaf. It's wonderful the price rises are having such a positive impact on you, wow you are walking more, bully for you, the thing is some people can't actually afford petrol to get to work now and are struggling to afford to eat. Do you understand how silly you sound, when you think beyond your own situation?

I don’t have any idea what it’s like to be really poor.

Genuine question here, why under my circumstances would it not be ok for me to post about any changes I am having to make, or things I’m noticing in lights of changes to fuel prices etc

[quote AchillesPoirot]@Optimisiticcautiouslyso do you have any idea what it is like to be really really poor?[/quote]
No
As I suspect majority of mumsnetters don’t either

But does that mean unless I have experienced absolute poverty - I can’t ask whether anyone has made any positive changes due to enforced external financial developments?

I’m just asking as I think that changes your perspective.

But does that mean unless I have experienced absolute poverty - I can’t ask whether anyone has made any positive changes due to enforced external financial developments?

No. and I never said that.

@Quincythequince

I don’t have any idea what it’s like to be really poor.

Genuine question here, why under my circumstances would it not be ok for me to post about any changes I am having to make, or things I’m noticing in lights of changes to fuel prices etc

I never said it wasn’t.

@AchillesPoirot

I’m just asking as I think that changes your perspective.

Of course it does

I mean not just when you’re really poor but forever.

@AchillesPoirot

I mean not just when you’re really poor but forever.

Sorry I don’t understand

@KnowingMeKnowingYouAhaaaa

You really are tone deaf. It's wonderful the price rises are having such a positive impact on you, wow you are walking more, bully for you, the thing is some people can't actually afford petrol to get to work now and are struggling to afford to eat. Do you understand how silly you sound, when you think beyond your own situation?

Pot, meet kettle, eh?

[quote AchillesPoirot]@Optimisiticcautiouslyso do you have any idea what it is like to be really really poor?[/quote]
So why ask the question?

It’s loaded within the context of the responses to this thread and still doesn’t mean the Op can’t talk about her experience.

I have been poor in my time (phone cut off, no foods in cupboards) but am far from it now.

Am I allowed to comment ? (I haven’t btw, on my own personal circumstances that is) - bet I have known greater poverty than many on this thread that’s for sure!

I think lots of older folk, used to enjoy going for a drive out, I did used to enjoy going for a drive with newer car years ago.
Limited car use, don’t need tho enjoy the freedom it brings!
Being wise , frugal gets warring at times luckily it’s not bad for me I feel for those that it is

Sorry I don’t understand

I think Poirot is making the same point I made early on: that you may feel differently once the novelty wears off.

Instead of turning on each other because of disparity in income- we need to pull together to make sure that people truly understand that political choices they make affect things in terms of local amenities, future prospects, jobs and in your wallets— same goes with those who don’t vote— personally I’m not happy with stuck up berks like Rees Mogg saying that food banks for low paid workers are a very good thing. The point is that working families shouldn’t be in the economic position of having to use food banks. The fact the government got rid of Sure start, connexions for teenagers etc— it’s like a race to the bottom

The majority of posts on this thread make the UK sound like a 3rd world developing slum of a country.

What has happened to Great Britain that mothers are having to starve themselves so their children can be fed. So upsetting and wrong.

OP I have always been frugal and walk around switching off lights, the quickest of showers and shop with a list so meals are all planned and 100% no food waste. It either gets eaten, frozen or given to neighbours. I also wrap up warm before even thinking of putting the heating on and walk everywhere or cycle. I mend all my clothes and socks before rushing out to buy new ones. No disposable wet wipes here as use old clothes as rags and keep rewashing them. People have commented that I'm tight (anf uptight about switching off lights and electricity switches but I dislike waste so much so I'm not bothered by comments)

Its good you are being more environmentally aware, more people need to be.

Sorry to everyone who is struggling. Many people have already said they have nothing to cut back on. I suspect the next things to go will be buying presents for childrens birthdays and celebrating Christmas. Very depressing.

@Quincythequince

I don’t have any idea what it’s like to be really poor.

Genuine question here, why under my circumstances would it not be ok for me to post about any changes I am having to make, or things I’m noticing in lights of changes to fuel prices etc

Because really, people who have no experience of poverty should be listening to those who have, not centering themselves and their experiences in a crisis in which their circumstances place them at the periphery.

@DrSbaitso

Sorry I don’t understand

I think Poirot is making the same point I made early on: that you may feel differently once the novelty wears off.

I explained why I asked ?

It’s this but also that the experience changes you and you never view things in the same way again.

I’m fine now. I’m not skint. And this post has still got right up my nose as I sit in my warm house with enough money to feed us.

It’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t been really really poor for a long time how difficult it is. How much it grinds you down and how hard it is. It never ever ever ends - or at least it doesn’t seem to.

I will never forget the winter of 2010 when I couldn’t afford to heat my house properly. We slept ate and lived in the living room and I stole wood off cuts to burn on the fire.

I was skinnier than I’ve ever been because I was putting oil at extortionate prices into the tank by the jar because I couldn’t afford the minimum order.

It’s not just put on a jumper and don’t waste food. That’s so not even close to what it is for many many people on a daily weekly monthly yearly basis.

5128 read on love! Read on!

Sorry @DrSbaitso I’ve quoted you badly. It looks like I’m having a go at you and I’m not. I was agreeing with you.

Not getting into the race to the bottom ‘competitive poverty’ shit you see on here.

You do realise people’s financial circumstances can change - and quite quickly too in some cases. Or maybe you don’t 🤦🏼‍♀️

Because really, people who have no experience of poverty should be listening to those who have, not centering themselves and their experiences in a crisis in which their circumstances place them at the periphery

This comment would be fair enough if she dropped her observation in the middle of a thread concerning how those who are struggling will manage with further price rises. I think it's fair enough to start a topic with your own observation specific to those in the same situation -isn't it?

That's nice for you op. But as I live 10 miles from a shop and work in clients' homes, no, increasing costs of fuel haven't had a positive impact. As I live rurally, public transport in virtually non existent, so no alternative but to drive and pay more for fuel. And therefore have less income left to pay for food and house fuel bill which have also gone up.
It's colder here too. For more months of the year. Putting a jumper on doesn't cut it when it's freezing in an old, uninsulated house. But nice that you are feeling positive 🙄