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 suppose if the gazillion threads from people saying how much they loved lockdown were ok then this is ok too?

I kind of agree, from a personal level it’s made me realise I’ve been wasting so much money all these years and budget properly for the first time - I’m on mat leave we save so ouch from no meals out, just picnics, no expensive swimming lessons just take them to local pool, don’t buy so many clothes. However, just typing that makes me realise that only people in a very privileged position can recognise these types of benefits - and I feel like a bit of a prat 😂. It must be so so hard for a lot of L people

I mean if those on the breadline were just more thoughtful, we wouldnt even need food banks.

I think it’s good that the OP has come to the realisation that she was being wasteful.

We, too, are fucked. We live in the Welsh mountains and it’s still freezing at nights, but since 1st April we’ve been too scared to put the heating on. However, we are lucky in that we have a log burner, a small house and DP is a carpenter so we have lots of ‘free’ wood to burn. We also have blankets.

Until February this year, I had a low paid, part time job that I commuted 150 miles a week for. Luckily for me, there is a recruitment crisis in the education sector and I’m a qualified teacher. Despite not being first language Welsh, I’ve been able to walk into an assistant job because of my qualifications and now I work school hours. What used to be my weekly commute is now my monthly. It’s still a wage that is too low to pay tax on, but it’s slashed my petrol bill and I still don’t need childcare.

I meal planned anyway and food prices have risen so much that I can’t swallow those prices. I cook everything from scratch, including baking. I’m lucky enough to have a kitchen and store cupboards that mean I can cook cleverly, thriftily and healthily. It’s not fun but it’s doable.

I’m also lucky enough to have experience in another sector that enabled me to set up a small business just before Christmas. I’m paying other people an hourly rate well above the living wage and make a little extra on the side myself.

Financially we are pretty fucked going forward, but I’ve been fortunate enough to make some changes that lots of other people can’t. I’m exhausted by being this poor and for constantly having to struggle, despite doing things to try and better our lives.

Oh dear, I feel like the positive environmental impact is going to become akin to the fuzzy sovereignty that was promised to keep us all fed after Brexit.

I had to give up my career in nursing because I have had a complete mental breakdown due to managing a care home during COVID. I earned 45k a year. I was able to give my children nice things sometimes and could afford the occasional treat. Now I am waiting to start a NMW job. I have worked since I was 14. I am 37 now and my career has fallen apart.

I look at the gas and electric meter multiple times a day, I ration using my oven. The heating hasnt been on for a month. I cook from scratch and bulk out meals with grated veg, pulses etc because I need to stretch the food I can afford for longer. I have done online surveys and sold things so I could buy DS trainers (he has outgrown them, its not even a treat as such, he needs shoes!) for his birthday. I feel mum guilt every single day because I cannot provide any of the nice things that my children deserve just as much as everyone else's children. I dont care about me and what I have. It breaks my heart that they deserve better than I am able to give them.

I dont think the OP was meaning to be out of touch with what is happening. But honestly at this point I couldnt give a stuff about the positive environmental impact poverty is having.

@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 agree there are plenty of people that can see some benefits which is great, but there are many, many more who are desperately struggling.

It’s all very well to go on about disclaimers and not being negative, but surely you knew you’d get a reaction from people being upset that they’re on the edge financially and mentally.

It’s a post which is really thoughtless and insensitive- but I think you already knew that

Jesus, what a self centred and sanctimonious post.

@purplemunkey

I'm sure it's lovely for you to be able to treat this as a 'mindfulness' experience. I probably would have thought about the impact it has on other people who aren't quite so lucky before posting something so silly.

Well said!

I have been very aware and trying to cut how much I spend for a long, long time to try and keep my head above water. Now that we’re in the midst of this crisis I am panicking every single day. I am glad that you’ve found positives from this situation OP, I’m sure Boris will be really happy for you too.

Its so exciting being more poor than I already was.

I now eat every second day, unless the kids leave some of their food. I'm going to lose so much weight.

As for electric, we'll it makes me so much more imaginative when the kids are in bed coming up with ideas of things to do without the electric on at all.

Its like a party 24/7

YABU OP.

Costs are spiralling so fast right now I really feel for those that are struggling.
Everything seems to be increasing- energy, mortgage, food.
I can't see any positives to people going hungry and not being able to heat their homes.

Sorry you’re getting a hard time on here OP. It’s not deserved.

I don’t read anything OP said as “tone deaf”. She’s merely saying that due to rising costs she is finding that she now has to cut back. Something most people have realised at some point over the last few months. The fact that some people have had it harder for longer is not her fault and there is no need for such nastiness.

Being poor doesn’t give you the right to direct your resentment at other ordinary members of society who may be better off than yourself no matter how frustrated you are.

@Agrudge

I'd be more interested in knowing what people are doing to make more money to offset the rising costs?

Everyone whines about how costs are going up.

Do something to improve your situation instead complaining

Theres always a way to make more money if you have the right mindset

There's always one that comes out with this bollocks. It's almost like they think "the poor" haven't thought of this already.

Extra work means extra fuel costs as there is no public transport where I live. I also already work 12 hours a day 5 days a week, so at what point do I actually, you know, sleep. People shouldn't have to work themselves into the ground just to exist.

I’m not going to add to the pile on but it does highlight inequality in the UK.

@purplemunkey

I'm sure it's lovely for you to be able to treat this as a 'mindfulness' experience. I probably would have thought about the impact it has on other people who aren't quite so lucky before posting something so silly.

I felt similar when I read the OP, @purplemunkey.

I work in welfare rights, and I've had clients in tears because they can't work out how they're going to pay ever-increasing rent, energy charges and still be able to eat. I work exclusively with clients with MH issues and I've had 3 express suicidal ideation this week alone.

I only work 3 mornings, too, I'm sure it would be more if I was f/t. Like Martin Lewis, I have no more advice left to give.

You know what op. This is so so tone deaf it’s shocking.

I’m in a fortunate financial position now - but only a few years ago I wasn’t.

Bully for you that you can think that this is a good thing.

Try it in winter when you actually CANT put the heating on for DAYS and you can’t feel your fingers. When you get fucking chilblains. So when you’re walking miles because you can’t afford the fuel every step is agony.

When you know you can’t afford to drop that egg. And a request for a quid from school has you skipping your own lunch.

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.

well, the 2 years of covid was a high price to pay for some people to realise they waste recourses.

@MarieInternette

Sorry you’re getting a hard time on here OP. It’s not deserved.

I don’t read anything OP said as “tone deaf”. She’s merely saying that due to rising costs she is finding that she now has to cut back. Something most people have realised at some point over the last few months. The fact that some people have had it harder for longer is not her fault and there is no need for such nastiness.

Being poor doesn’t give you the right to direct your resentment at other ordinary members of society who may be better off than yourself no matter how frustrated you are.

Just 'having to cut back' shows that the OP is so spectacularly out of touch that it's embarrassing. Read the room!

@Porkmore

We were living like that before. There's no wiggle room and we're fucked

Snap. Absolutely petrified.

Your in a luxury position. Many people that not being able to afford petrol will mean they can’t get to work.

The cost of electric will mean they sit in the cold.

Etc etc, as others have said it is a very ignorant standpoint

I didn’t have fucking anything to cut back. I literally had no money to cut anywhere. The only thing I could’ve cut was my own food. And I did. I used to be a size 6. It cost me my teeth. And my bones.

But sure that’s grand.

Collateral innit.

The cynic in me wondered if this was part of the governments plan to get us to go greener.
Fuck the poor who already knew about being careful with resources.

It's almost embarrasing OP.

My OH is from a wealthy family.
I remember once he told me they were so poor as a child that the housekeeper had them huddle round the Aga to keep warm.