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Original poster

Choosing between heating and eating

145 replies

Hunger1987 · 27/05/2022 21:23

What a terrible government induced state we find ourselves in.

we have turned our heat off and hoping that until September we won’t need to turn it on again.

are you choosing right now between heating or eating? It’s a bloody disgrace

OP posts:
summer712 · 27/05/2022 22:28

We are going to see a lot more theft of energy where people are getting meters hooked up to alternative supplies ie the road lamps where it's not monitored and gas meters being rigged. Which will of course see more accidents and casualties. Especially with gas which won't take out just one house. It will take next doors and maybe others also.

Lillimae32 · 27/05/2022 22:35

Wow.. some of these responses are bloody horrible. We are struggling (only slightly) and we have a good income so I can only imagine how poorer folk are coping…

Scianel · 27/05/2022 22:44

Lillimae32 I get the impression on MN that wanting to be warm and comfortable is considered morally a bit flabby.
There are endless competitive posts about how cold various houses are and how little the heating is put on, and how warm and cozy they are in just a t-shirt at 15 degrees anyway.

DrManhattan · 27/05/2022 22:45

Some meanness on here. Anyone who defends the tories needs to have a word.

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 27/05/2022 22:53

I'm a cold person and haven't had heating on in months. Our house is ridiculously drafty as lots of holes where we are doing renovations. I've used a kind of filter floss to block up the holes for now. We get by having duvets and blankets all over house to snuggle in. In worst cases I use hot water bottle. Wear extra layers. I'm currently in bed wearing slippers, fluffy socks, pjs and a cardigan with a hot coffee. Cold makes me arthritis bad and my joints start seizing up.

I also have been saving energy hanging out all washing even if it's not warm just windy. I appreciate not everyone can do this though but it's helped our energy bill massively.

Hope your situation gets better.

BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants · 27/05/2022 23:01

Lucky now we can have the heating off and just have a small bit to pay off on my gas and will try to pay off a bit weekly so have a bit of credit on it before the winter. Shocking and the same here and food gone so expensive as is everything else. Why are some people say why are you on internet as buy food instead, jesus take away all our little joys in life why don't ye. It is going to be worse I think next winter so will be buying a big blankie for the sofa and electric blanket for my bed as don't like heat on in bedroom anyway as messes up my sinus. Lovely to have the windows open all day today and washing outside drying. Maybe try buying a few little bits each week to save for a rainy day..

PurpleButterflyWings · 27/05/2022 23:05
Biscuit
SuziSecondLaw · 27/05/2022 23:06

Scianel · 27/05/2022 22:44

Lillimae32 I get the impression on MN that wanting to be warm and comfortable is considered morally a bit flabby.
There are endless competitive posts about how cold various houses are and how little the heating is put on, and how warm and cozy they are in just a t-shirt at 15 degrees anyway.

Yeah, there's so much of this.

CombatBarbie · 27/05/2022 23:08

AnuSTart · 27/05/2022 21:35

This!

Why the f are you needing your heating on?? Even the Scottish highlands are reasonable right now.

Show quote history

Well in SW and had to put my heating on for an hour this evening and the wood fire has been on all afternoon! Last 2 yrs heating has gone off in March until Oct but we are having a mega late spring down here.....

peachgreen · 27/05/2022 23:10

Embarrassing amount of Tory defenders on this thread. Yikes.

willithappen · 27/05/2022 23:13

From the Scottish Highlands myself and considering the wind and torrential downpour of rain we were having I was considering putting the heating on but wrapped up. However, I get so confused by all those proudly claiming they switch heating off between x and y months of year. Cool if that works for you but doesn't mean it will for everyone. Whilst generally those summer months are warmer it's never a guarantee and there are days it's nippy and I'd quite like the heating on. I'm not gonna sit in my house freezing adamant the heating won't go on solely because of what month of the year it is

If OP wanted their heating on today they should quite frankly be able to decide to do that without worrying about rising costs, regardless of what month of the year it is

BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 27/05/2022 23:20

Well dh is recovering from covid and it's been cold up here, so we lit the stove. We shop at Lidl for everything apart from washing powder and have enough to eat thankfully.

childofthecorn · 27/05/2022 23:21

I'm surprised your heating is going off at nearly June and going back on September. We only get frosts between roughly November and March/April, as a rough benchmark for it being cold, like actually cold. Maybe you need to, like, wear a jumper?

childofthecorn · 27/05/2022 23:24

If you're heating your house in very nearly summer,.I suspect you're not actually literally choosing between heating and eating. Practically everyone has to ration heating a bit in the summer months for affordability, it seems you're expecting to hear your house year round for nothing?!?!

Goldencarp · 27/05/2022 23:26

No not at the moment because the heating has been off since April. If the fuel prices do rise again in October it will be tight.

PurpleButterflyWings · 27/05/2022 23:26

childofthecorn · 27/05/2022 23:24

If you're heating your house in very nearly summer,.I suspect you're not actually literally choosing between heating and eating. Practically everyone has to ration heating a bit in the summer months for affordability, it seems you're expecting to hear your house year round for nothing?!?!

This. ^

CombatBarbie · 27/05/2022 23:29

childofthecorn · 27/05/2022 23:21

I'm surprised your heating is going off at nearly June and going back on September. We only get frosts between roughly November and March/April, as a rough benchmark for it being cold, like actually cold. Maybe you need to, like, wear a jumper?

Well if I don't light fire or put heating on for an hour in morning/evening, its sits at 13 degrees.... Wear a jumper... Yeah OK. Not the whole of the UK is sitting in sunshine y'know. Some days it's warmer outside than inside my house but that relies heavily on that big yellow thing in the sky.... Of which I have rarely seen the past few months.

I too am rationing my heating despite it shock being end of May as its just cost me £530 for 500 litres of oil 😭

willithappen · 27/05/2022 23:32

childofthecorn · 27/05/2022 23:21

I'm surprised your heating is going off at nearly June and going back on September. We only get frosts between roughly November and March/April, as a rough benchmark for it being cold, like actually cold. Maybe you need to, like, wear a jumper?

I read that last statement like it was said by a preppy American teenager in the movies 🙈 but did you mean to be so rude? 🧐

mackthepony · 27/05/2022 23:40

The Tories deserve every ounce of vitrol they get.

DashboardConfessional · 27/05/2022 23:42

I said this on another thread but it's not the heating that is the issue in our house - the electricity is 75% of our bill. It's the fridge, electric shower, washer dryer, dishwasher, DH's laptop and second screen for WFH. If we stop using the dishwasher we just use more water and gas to heat it. There comes a point when it's not heating or heating, it's eating or basic hygiene.

Giraffapuses · 27/05/2022 23:47

This thread is insane. I'm so sorry your living with fuel poverty. Many thousands of people face the same challenge. I'd suggest talking with your energy company often they can help (I used to work for one.of the so called 'Big six').

Antarcticant · 27/05/2022 23:49

I've instigated a rule that we will only use the oven 2 days a week from now on.

XenoBitch · 27/05/2022 23:53

Antarcticant · 27/05/2022 23:49

I've instigated a rule that we will only use the oven 2 days a week from now on.

Get an air fryer. You wont use your oven again.

gotthis · 27/05/2022 23:58

It's warm enough where I am not to use heating, but the cost of heating water, food, electric means we are feeling stretched already. I am doing a cold shower now, though obviously I can't do that to my children, washing up in cold water as much as possible, line drying, cutting back on food for myself, same as lots of people I expect. Hope the government gets some moral backbone and a brainwave soon, I am rather worried they are not up to it and will destroy our country.

Livelovebehappy · 28/05/2022 00:08

You’re getting £400 OP this Autumn to help when you really need to use the heating, possibly more if you’re on benefits. I would save your angst for the Autumn/Winter when you really will need to heat your home. I can’t really muster up a lot of sympathy for you when we’re at the end of May, and you still have your heating on. It’s not the warmest atm I know, but nothing a cardigan wont sort out.

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