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?

I'm not defensive about the op. I answered her question in the beginning in the spirit I think it was intended. But I can see why focussing on how the op and others like her, myself included, has upset other posters by talking about the fuel rises in this context without any mention of the pain it is causing others - to whom talking the benefits of professorships seem a cruel joke, so yeah, a little rude.

Professorships = fuel rises!

@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.

Agree, the OP made an interesting and thought-provoking post. Those who find it offensive can just move on to another thread.

People who are financially comfortable owe no one an apology or ridiculous sugar-coating.

@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.

You probably are the only one yes, as NO ONE has said that!

Your post is quite distasteful towards people who are genuinely struggling. Fortunately for us, we’re not in that camp yet but it’s like a creeping tide and I fear it will reach us at some point. I’m on a temp contract which ends in 8 months. I’ve been on about 8 job interviews and whilst I got offered one, had to turn it down for personal reasons. Every time I think about it I get a bit panicky.

I thought I had read that, no wonder I was shocked. As you were 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

@FourTeaFallOut

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.

I don't think the OP had really thought about the implications of her post. If you have enough money to heat your home, buy petrol and food, then yes, you can make a few changes such as being more careful with electricity. It's a different situation altogether for those who have already done everything possible to economise, and now find that prices are rising even higher. But I don't think she was being deliberately insensitive, just a bit thoughtless.

I think the concept of the opening post and a discussion about this was fine. It's good to be more aware of how much you have previously consumed and the changes you're now making. It's the use of 'mindful' for me. That is the insensitive part. The tone of the next few posts feels very wishy washy 'oh its it all lovely to be mindfully aware' This isn't a yoga retreat. It's offensive, and demonstrates a lack of empathy, to imply it's a mindful experience, when a vast proportion of the population are going to be pushed into poverty, even more than they already are.

Not rude, definitely a bit um lacking in something.

Is this Justine and others of her tribe indicating?

@vickyc90

I'm going to come out and back up the OP, what's wrong with being honest about her situation. I will be giving up my current car/baby for a hybrid that although nice, isn't as exciting, but I'm sick of the petrol prices.

We are batch cooking to save money as the food shop has noticeably gone up yet the veg is actually going off quicker.

Once the extension is complete we will look at solar panels.

We both spent 4 years at uni, did an unpaid internship then studied post graduate qualifications to get the salaries we are on. It not a privilege to be where we are it's the result of bloody hard work!

I'm currently curled up on the sofa with a hot water bottle as I've hurt my c section scar decorating today as I can't get a tiller for love nor money. We bought a renovation project as we didn't want to spend >100k more for a house when we can get this one to the same standard for 20k.

Yes some people will be hit hard by this, hence we will be donating to food banks and local animal charities over the coming months. No doubt as a country we could get cheap Russian oil and gas right now but ethically we can't do that.

My point is the OP privilege is earned not given! If people could stop attacking each other because they are in a better or worse position as a country we could come out the other side of this stronger and more prosperous.

Good on you OP for using this situation to make positive changes

I apologise if this sounds rude, but I'm actually wondering if this post is satirical.

You state that privilege is earned, while disregarding the options that have apparently been available to you that others have not had. You were financially stable enough to not only undertake an unpaid internship, but also postgraduate study in order to advance your career into what I assume is now a financially rewarding direction.

I've no doubt you and your OH have both worked extremely hard for what you have, but so do many other who wouldn't have a chance of achieving the same level of financial stability.

The hybrid car, solar panels, DIY to save money are all great choices, but that's the whole point- they are choices available to you.

A lot of people don't have those, which is what I think previous posters are trying to point out.

The fact that this post inspired someone to suggest 'the poor' be segregated on mumsnet so that the middle classes can say this kind of stuff without hearing different perspectives...

I have been working on a public funded greenspace project and one of the middle class committee members actually suggested that we plant herb and fruit borders "for when the local poor are hungry".

We both spent 4 years at uni, did an unpaid internship then studied post graduate qualifications to get the salaries we are on. It not a privilege to be where we are it's the result of bloody hard work!

I’m not saying this wasn’t hard work
But never in my adult life have I been able to do unpaid intern work. I’ve friends that have done it to progress. But I wouldnt have the financial backing to do this, the ability to live rent free or reduced rent.

All you’ve written points to an incredibly privileged starting point, yes, boosted with hard work. But that starting point meant your half way up the ladder already

I read the 'should the poor/ middle class have their own topic' thread earlier and wondered what I referred to.

Now I understand.

My point is the OP privilege is earned not given!

Er, no by definition privilege is an unearned advantage. Yes you can work hard and maximise the gains your privileges give you, but that doesn’t mean you earned it. Example, you are given a deposit to get on the housing ladder by mum and dad aged 22. At 42, you are mortgage free and sitting in a million pound home. You didn’t actually earn that privilege even though you worked to pay a mortgage (which was probably less than what your unprivileged peers have paid all those years in rent). Privilege is something that grows. It has knock on effects that amplify as you go through life.

Your going to university.....privilege. Unpaid internship...very privilege. Able bodied and have knowledge and time to do DIY....more privilege. The fact you have worked hard only means you have not squandered your privileges by living at home and playing video games all your life to date.

We both spent 4 years at uni, did an unpaid internship then studied post graduate qualifications to get the salaries we are on. It not a privilege to be where we are it's the result of bloody hard work!

Do you think this option is available for everyone?

Young family carer's, DC born into violence or addiction riddled families.

16 y.o's leaving school for a menial job to buy their younger siblings food.

That might seem a extremely unusual case for you however it's life for many young people.

The young boys who never felt anything but scruffy wearing hand downs are offered the opportunity of new hi trainers to hold drugs.

Parents in these areas have bigger worries keeping their DC alive, out of gangs.

The gangs pick on the DC who avoid them so you have to decide on the risk of snubbing or befriending the local louts while educating your DC on the risks.

Inspiration and motivation is easy with the right support, without support it's impossible.

I was offered a (minimally) paid internship in New York straight out of uni. I didn't have a tenner to my name and had to decline. There was no way for me to make up the shortfall and my family were on beans. That was a proper poverty sliding doors moment.

I've been luckier since.