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?

I'm currently in my office, 14.5c not cold, windows open to dry some washing. I am warm all the time.

Most people would find that too cold if they were just sitting down and not moving about. The legal minimum for heating an office is 16 degrees. You are unusual to feel warm enough at such a low temperature.

Got to love posters who make others feel greedy for wanting their basic needs fulfilled

I agree @EndlessRain

the competitive underspending on a Christmas present for your spouse is my favourite.

18 is too hot for me now, though and I have raynauds.
Hot blooded husband and kids who fling the windows open at night in December! Gotten used to it after 35 years and when I have to put it up to 18.5 when our grandson is over, I’m in a t-shirt. Not competing with anyone, just is what it is now. Lucky really, with costs as they are.

unfortunately, I have never been an under-eater 🤣

What's the record so far?

People are different. If people with their heating at 17 saying that is comfortable for them is 'competitive underheating, then people with their heating at 22 says they'd be 'freezing' anything less than 20 must be competitive overheating.

It's incredibly annoying when people start talking about it being a competition when it is really just people sharing their own experiences.

"we don't even say merry Christmas to each other, let alone buy a present, i do think merry Christmas to him though"

or some shit like that.

@whattodo1975 😂😂😂

I’m one of those warm people (possibly due to enormous fatness- no giant salads here!) and I don’t feel the need for heating until it’s 12/13 degrees, and have lived with zero heating all year because I couldn’t afford gas (so also had no hot water) BUT the house was damp and got moldy and it was not fun. I can now afford heating and have it set to 17.5… I feel warm and my house isn’t damp. If people are living like that out of choice rather then necessity I think they are bonkers.

After spending the last two winters at work sat in front of an open window Im amazed none of us suffered organ shutdown.

I refuse to be cold in my own home. We're not raking it in finance wise, and have to watch what we spend but we use what we need to.

I do live in a large, 4 bed detached house. But it's well insulated and holds any heat well which is great in winter but tortuous in summer. Except for the hallway, it's all marble floors and a bloody ice box all year round.

Currently our heating is set at 18c. It comes on for 30 mins in the morning and maybe 30-40 mins in the late afternoon and that's comfortable assuming we're wearing a jumper. But if I need it higher I'll put it higher.

Checking my usage on the app, I spend £2‐£6 a day on electric and £3‐£4 on gas. Depends on tumble dryer usage. So Saturday we used the dryer a lot and we spent £6.12 on electric and £1.67 on gas.

I think there is a difference between wanting to be frugal as you want to save money, being frugal because you have no choice and a very small number of MN who do it for shits and giggles. I expect most fit into the first category.

What’s wrong with 17? If it was 17 degrees outside it would be a nice day, so why isn’t it warm enough for inside?

Can I ask how everyone knows the temperature in the house? Do you have a thermometer in all of the rooms or base it on when the heating comes on?

What’s wrong with 17? If it was 17 degrees outside it would be a nice day, so why isn’t it warm enough for inside?

It would be an OK day, not T-shirt weather unless I was gardening or doing something strenuous. If I was sitting down 17 degrees is definitely jumper temperature.

I absolutely refuse to be a martyr to the cold. I spent far too long doing that.

I was determined to keep the heating off and go with heated throws and hot water bottles. We do do this but they dont warm the house,which is damp and unpleasant. Old building,high ceilings etc. Black mould growing on all windows,everyone coughing. So have bought a dehumidifier and am putting the heating on for a couple of hours at night.

Yeh, so it’d be fine sitting outside with a T-shirt and a jumper. So fine to be sitting inside with a T-shirt and a jumper. Wearing a jumper inside is being a martyr to the cold now?

Thermometer in the sitting room and thermostat by the front door (usually read the same). Upstairs is warmer.

I have thermostat in hallway which is where heating sets of from and then 2 thermometers in different rooms.

Yeh, so it’d be fine sitting outside with a T-shirt and a jumper.

No

My favourite is this but swap spouse for child.

A child is spoilt if they dare ask for more than a pair of socks, a third hand book, a set of marbles and a toothbrush.

This actually hit hard because I realised that as an adult you actually start asking for good versions of these...
Good quality natural fibre socks, expensive electric toothbrush, books and your marbles turn to stress balls😂

What’s wrong with 17? If it was 17 degrees outside it would be a nice day, so why isn’t it warm enough for inside?

If you're outside you're probably moving around; walking or gardening or some sort of activity. Inside you're more likely to be sitting down - unless of course you're one of those people who never sits down.

No? It was you that said “If I was sitting down 17 degrees is definitely jumper temperature”

I genuinely don’t think that sitting down anywhere when the temperature is 17 wearing two layers is unreasonable. And I think 18 is definitely fine. 18 degrees is a warm day surely by anyone’s standards. Well not anyone’s, of course I’ll admit this might vary somewhat for those who are elderly or young children or with health issues.

I think it's a way to hold yourself accountable. If you say publicly that you can't possibly eat the whole say doughnut it would be more difficult to then eat two. For them keeping the weight at check is probably more important than making meaningful connections with work colleagues