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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have found increasing costs making a positive impact?

469 replies

Optimisiticcautiouslyso · 16/04/2022 10:50

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?

OP posts:
Quincythequince · 17/04/2022 06:53

OP do you realise that what you're saying is that in order for you to be more environmentally friendly, those around you needed to suffer

The biggest non sequitur I’ve seen on year for a while tbh!

Quincythequince · 17/04/2022 06:53

Here

cafedesreves · 17/04/2022 06:58

@EmeraldShamrock1

I know what matched betting is. It's still a form of gambling. It's also not something any sane person suggests as a way out of poverty and it's a very slippery slope into a full blown gambling addiction. Which never solved anyones poverty crisis did it. Yes I agree with this, gambling of any kind can become a serious addictions. Those shit shops have ravished WC areas.
Matched betting isn't gambling as there is no risk. You are not risking any money at all, just making money.
Quincythequince · 17/04/2022 07:02

I have no idea what matched betting is? Off to Google it but if you can’t ever lose money. How does someone else win money?

whitewashing · 17/04/2022 07:07

I get you OP…

Lunar27 · 17/04/2022 07:43

I think Ricky Gervais said it best when he came out with, "just because you're offended, it doesn't mean that you're right".

OP. Nothing wrong with sharing an opinion and your perspective. There is no shame in admitting that you're being more mindful and can't be expected to pander to people who see your post as some sort of insensitive poke at their personal circumstances.

This is a public forum for people from all walks of life and it's ridiculous that people need to sugar coat everything because it might offend those less fortunate.

Trapezeart · 17/04/2022 07:52

“It's now very common to hear people say, 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if that gives them certain rights. It's actually nothing more... than a whine. 'I find that offensive.' It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that.' Well, so fucking what."

[I saw hate in a graveyard -- Stephen Fry, The Guardian, 5 June 2005]”

I think Ricky Gervais is better known for asking "Why does Noddy wear a hat with a bell on?

historygeek · 17/04/2022 08:06

@Pissyduck

OP, you could have done all the things you mention like cutting down driving and food waste without being prompted to do it by a cost of living crisis.

Your just feeling all worthy and wanted to tell us about it, no congratulations coming from me.

Exactly. Life is not a Pulp song. OP is congratulating herself for living like the "Common People".
Moochio · 17/04/2022 08:16

You should need to have increased costs to have been doing those things anyway. Basically you didn't give a shit then and now it's costing you more money you suddenly care.

flashbac · 17/04/2022 08:39

@Lunar27

I think Ricky Gervais said it best when he came out with, "just because you're offended, it doesn't mean that you're right".

OP. Nothing wrong with sharing an opinion and your perspective. There is no shame in admitting that you're being more mindful and can't be expected to pander to people who see your post as some sort of insensitive poke at their personal circumstances.

This is a public forum for people from all walks of life and it's ridiculous that people need to sugar coat everything because it might offend those less fortunate.

She said rising costs are a positive thing. Some people will be starving or freezing (or both). Positive?
FourTeaFallOut · 17/04/2022 08:46

She said rising costs are a positive thing. Some people will be starving or freezing (or both). Positive?

I thought she specifically said that she was speaking about those who are financially comfortable enough that previous energy costs were not a problem but who are more mindful of them since the significant increase?

I think she was rude to ignore the impact on those who were already struggling in the opening post but she did go on to caveat her observation in later posts.

LauriePartridge4Eva · 17/04/2022 09:02

@Quincythequince

I have no idea what matched betting is? Off to Google it but if you can’t ever lose money. How does someone else win money?

From what I know of it, you bet every way mainly using free bets so you can't lose. BUT the companies are aware of it and the women on the make a tenner a day thread have said it can only work for a short while as your accounts get frozen once you get busted - and you will - and you lose your money.

Going back to PP I don't think encouraging people into ANY kind of betting is ethical...if they are desperate for money there is a chance they'll take risks they can't afford and in the end, the house ALWAYS wins.

Diddlysquat13 · 17/04/2022 09:04

This reply has been deleted

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Diddlysquat13 · 17/04/2022 09:05

* I think she was rude*

Rude? Bloody hell

Lunar27 · 17/04/2022 09:07

@flashbac

Positive for him/her.

"Am I being unreasonable to have found". The OP hasn't implied it to be positive overall.

It's not unreasonable to have an epiphany about how comfortable or wasteful we may/may not have become and this does not diminish the suffering of others.

bjjgirl · 17/04/2022 09:19

The thing is the majority of people I know are in the OP's situation, the price increases are not catastrophic and are a manageable but they are also painful, so this abs resulted in more mindfulness regarding waste etc.

I have been on the bones of my arse as a single mum working full time in the public sector, I am comfortable now as I have been promoted and finished paying off my student loan etc etc. previously these price hikes would have sent me under - now it has just negated my salary rise and student loan payments- around £400 a month

That's a lot of money but it is survivable for me and I am thankful, so so many people will be screwed by the inflation

Gardeningcreature · 17/04/2022 09:39

Am I the only person who is shocked that people walk around in t shirts and bare feet and put the heating on?
Wow I was brought up to put on a jumper if I was cold. My children have the same ethos.

Diddlysquat13 · 17/04/2022 09:42

@Gardeningcreature

Am I the only person who is shocked that people walk around in t shirts and bare feet and put the heating on? Wow I was brought up to put on a jumper if I was cold. My children have the same ethos.
Has anyone said that?

The op says “an extra jumper” which doesn’t indicate she was wearing shorts and a t shirt but rather… a jumper and she added another!

LouB76 · 17/04/2022 09:45

@SoftSheen

Obviously the current situation has the most devastating impact on low income families an we should all be mindful of that.

But it's not unreasonable to discuss measures that previously 'comfortable' families need to take to stay within budget. Many, many people in the UK are in this kind of position- not on the breadline, but no longer able to afford many 'treats'.

Also important to remember that if better-off people stop going to coffee shops, paying for children's swimming lessons, getting their hair cut as often etc, that this will impact local businesses and may lead to loss of jobs, further worsening the situation for lower income households.

I started a thread about this before Christmas. Saying that I was ,lengthening the time between hair and eyebrow apps, taking my own coffee to work in a travel mug, packed lunch etc. I got piled on, told that not everyone is as skint as me 🤷‍♀️ (I'm not, I can afford the essentials plus more). My point was that the economy is connected and if a lot of people stop or reduce costs to coffee shops, hairdresser s etc then it will have a knock on effect. Im not going to reduce my mortgage payments, pension contributions etc so the cuts are going to come from my disposable income. A lot of my friends are doing the same.
Trapezeart · 17/04/2022 09:51

I think it's sensible to conserve energy and it's also incredibly insensitive to forget that not everyone has a choice.

Diddlysquat13 · 17/04/2022 09:54

@Trapezeart

I think it's sensible to conserve energy and it's also incredibly insensitive to forget that not everyone has a choice.
But does every flipping post have to full of disclaimers?!
TheFormidableMrsC · 17/04/2022 09:56

I'm annoyed with how wasteful I've been, especially with utilities. We have had to make a lot of cutbacks like most others but none of it has been awful thus far. I can't say that next winter will be the same. However, we have used much less gas and electricity, I'm really strict with food waste and I'm using the car only when absolutely necessary. Otherwise we walk or cycle. I wish I'd done this a lot sooner to be honest. Also why did I never use the cold cycle for washing clothes? It's actually been extremely efficient. There are a lot of habits that I will deploy for life now.

LBFseBrom · 17/04/2022 10:28

TheFormidableMrsC, that sounds very thoughtful and sensible.

I agree 100% with DiddlySquat, a couple of posts above.

FourTeaFallOut · 17/04/2022 10:32

@Diddlysquat13

* I think she was rude*

Rude? Bloody hell

You are going to need to be more specific on this thread. Is that 'Rude. Bloody hell', implying she wasn't rude at all or 'Rude. Bloody hell', implying it was beyond rude. Can I have some context for the outrage?
LBFseBrom · 17/04/2022 10:41

@Diddlysquat13

* I think she was rude*

Rude? Bloody hell

And that!

Some people don't know what rude is!

There was nothing remotely rude in the op.

Honestly, some people are so defensive and quick to pounce. I was hard up once and very anxious about it, but I never lost sight of the fact that it was different for others, ie that they would have a different view of financies, and did not resent them for it. It was just the way things were, we can only deal with what we have at the time.