Is competitive underheating the new competitive undereating?

[DucklingDaisy]

I don’t mean people saying they’re trying to minimise it because of the cost, more people insisting that 17 degrees is actually sweltering and they don’t see why anyone could possibly need more. Is it unfair to assume they’re the same people who insist they’re stuffed after a small salad?

This has always been the case on MN. “We don’t put the heating on until it reaches 6 degrees. We just put a jumper on and it’s fine, I’d die of overheating at 14 degrees”.

It’s the internet. People lie

It’s the internet. People lie.

But also, people are actually different! Even within my own extended family, I find some relatives' houses unbearably hot and others' really cold, but they are quite happy wtheir house temperatures! I have mine set at 18-19° and never ever have it on at night. That suits me.

Yup. It all falls under the competitive misery umbrella. There are a few other types too.

It seems people are talking about it more, but even before the cost of living crisis some of us didn't run the heating during the day most of the time/had it on low/were unwilling to pay high energy bills so everyone can sit around in t shirts. It just never came up in conversation unless you were in company of similarly minded people.

Some of the MN posts do have a hint of the Mumsnet chicken/huge salad so couldn't eat for days about them though.

People like different temperatures though. Family come to my house and they're cold, I go to theirs and it's far too hot. My living room is 16 right now and I'm genuinely not cold at all.

I think people are different - the people I know are comfortable across a range from 17 to 21 degrees. I don't know anyone who deliberately chooses to go higher or lower than that, except on MN!

I would be too cold in your living room if I was just sitting still @rainbowandglitter, and so would most people. If I was hoovering or being more active I would be fine.

I eat massive salad with the left over chicken (Sunday chicken lasts me all week) so I never need to heat my home as I’m so full that keeps me warm plus I wear my cashmere jumper so never feel the cold

says 70% of mumsnet

Given that we get endless threads complaining about the heat as soon as the thermometer hits 21 degrees it doesn't surprise me that all these "Four Yorkshiremen" competitive under heating threads have appeared.

In reality the under-eaters would likely be very thin and more likely to feel the cold?

Our thermostat is around 19° and tbh I am often quite chilly in our own house. My (elderly) NDN has his on 26° and I find that pretty stifling if I ever go round there.

I find it so odd; I’ve seen people post on here they are sitting in a house they can afford to heat but aren’t, and then heating it when they realise no one else is doing that if they don’t have to. People declaring 15 degrees is toasty warm or that four tea lights heat their room . Some of the stuff is just mind blowing and sometimes even scientifically impossible.

I'm pretty fat and I feel the cold, worst of both worlds!

I am like pretty much everyone trying to use as little heat as possible though and I'm amazed at how good hot water bottles are at keeping you feeling toasty when the room is a bit colder (not 14° cold)

I agree it is very silly. Especially considering the long term effects of not heating a house properly creating damp/mould. Hardly something to brag about

YANBU. Definitely competitive misery on here sometimes.

I agree. On the Oodie thread people are saying they don’t have to put the heating on. So the people are warm but presumably the house is damp and cold which will lead to more expensive problems in the long run.

YANBU

People feel the heat differently, like they have different appetites, but there is definitely an element of ridiculous underheating the same as undereating.

It's the ones who claim they couldn't possibly understand how someone could eat that much/be cold in that temperature.

It’s the misery Olympics - always a popular sport on MN.

But I believe them as much as the 6-figure earners.

People are just different, and we aclimatise to our local climates. I grew up on the north west coast of England - if you see me wearing a coat, it's probably snowing.

But that doesn't make me morally superior, just... warmer?

Incidentaly, I do have to put the heating on, for the sake of the house, but it doesn't all heat up evenly, so I find myself in the ridiculous situation of having to open windows to let the heat out so I don't overheat and faint.

Bodies are weird.

You're right but some of us have always been a bit frugal with heating due to necessity. So maybe if you get used to wearing thermals throughout the autumn and winter, you're less likely to go straight to putting the heating on.
Also I'd never heard of anyone having heating on overnight until I read it on mumsnet.
I got a heated throw after reading about it on here- best buy ever. I put the heating on for an hour a day to prevent damp but will need it more as it gets colder.

I live in a small house, it's about 30 years old. 17 degrees is pleasantly warm, in my mum's bungalow it would be chilly. All houses are not the same.

I like a warm house hate being cold! But we’ve been in the not putting the heating on. Weve had the odd hour on when it’s been raining a lot and to take dampness out the air.

Things I’ve learnt - our house is actually quite well insulated, and seems to stay around 18-20. 16 is colder but an an hour heating seems to heat well. I can cope with just putting another blanket on me in the evening, make sure I’m wearing socks and slippers. The kitchen floor is bloomin cold!

It has made me realise as a family we were wasteful it was just easier to put the heating on rather than other behaviours. Though if it gets colder I will put the heating on! But I know we are lucky as the house we are in is well insulated and not all homes are the same.

Yanbu.

MN makes up for undereating and under heating by overlaundering and overcleaning.

Everyone is skinny and cold with sparkling houses.