To just think fuck it now in regards to the heating?

[FuH]

I have a 2 year old who has chest issues. We've been in and out of hospital with him more times than I can count, he has two inhalers daily, steroids, children's nursing team who are regularly asked to come and see him etc..

It's always worse when it's cold. He's been really unwell again this past week and I was fretting about the heating, being home all day as he's off nursery, but needing to keep the house warm for him and I have just woken up this morning and thought FUCK THIS.

I cannot let my two year old child get even worse in -3 frost because I'm so worried about bills. I don't know what the answer is but I've decided from today that I'm not going to care.

Has anyone else just though 'fuck it'.

What a sorry state we are in.

I have my heating on . I can't believe people are expected to not heat their homes in minus temperatures.
As far as I'm aware they can't jail you for energy debt so just pay it off through the summer

No point freezing to death with money in the bank. Being cold is miserable.

Let's all go to one of rishi sunaks houses we can swim in his lovely warm swimming pool

3 DC (youngest is disabled) and I am limiting the heating [and severly limiting the fairy lights on the Christmas trees - but that's a different story]

It's literally freezing here and will be for days and days. Fuck this shit.

And I'm having my fucking fairy lights on too within reason 😒 as they make us happy.

I'm having to do the same thing. OH has idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and goes into horrific coughing fits in cold air. They've been bad enough before that he's passed out and smashed his face open a few times already.

I'm already £2k in debt to the energy company as we've needed the heating for weeks already now. But it's just money - it's not worth risking his health over. I'll sort out some sort of payment plan later but the heating stays on for now.

I'm having terrible anxiety when I think about it so I'm just trying to ignore it as much as possible.

I'm surprised you (or anyone for that matter) is surprised.

In a year the cost of a unit of gas has more than tripled.

The cost of electricity has more than doubled.

The standing charge has also increased significantly.

The only way anyone could not have a big increase in the last year is to use a lot less.

You've also been very lucky that you've been able to buy ahead with your oil as it's currently about 50% above the long term average cost.

www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/timeseries/kj5u/mm23

Prepayment meters are a very last resort, and for some people not something that the energy companies are allowed to enforce.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/stop-your-energy-supplier-installing-a-prepayment-meter/#:~:text=Your%20supplier%20can't%20make,get%20to%20your%20meter

How the fuck is it £20 for one day??
do you have electric heating?

Ours is on, I'm not letting the house get damp and mouldy.

I haven’t thought it yet but I'm not going to freeze. I have a smart meter and one thing I've found that doesn't use up too much money (comparatively) is just to heat one room with an electric radiator rather the whole house with central heating.

I keep banging on about this because it's new to me..
I got diagnosed with COPD this summer. I've been in my flat for ten years, usually with a neighbour downstairs who really likes having their heating on - my gas bills have been really low in the past, plus I hadn't ever really had the heating on over 18. My December gas bill last year was about thirty quid.

Now I'm heating to 21 in my front room when I'm up, and 18 in my bedroom overnight. The flat downstairs is empty, so i don't get the benefit from them any more.

It's costing a lot more this year, but I'm getting the govt support this year and next - I think I'd be really stuck without it.

Heating should not be on overnight! Double up duvets, socks and warm pyjamas should be enough! Of course you're going to be spending tons if you leave it on for hours

Agree that having heating on at 18 overnight is bonkers, unless for medical reasons.

We have never had hearing on overnight, we all sleep better without it and wake up non stuffy. Our heating is on the same as normal.

If you can't afford the price raises at least heat your home to £ level you did last year. Don't sit in the freezing damp cold.

Yep. Ashtmatic children in and out of hospital all the time. I don't care anymore. I don't. I am not buying chirstmas presents or special food apart from some cuddly toys for the kids so I will be warm and I won't be stressed about it

I thought about this, but isn't there a danger of the rest of the getting damp and mouldy?

I have mine on especially if the kids are here. The temperatures are below freezing now so you need it. Have left it on overnight the last 2 nights also as has been below freezing.

Thankfully heating overnight (for medical, not "bonkers", reasons) is 'only' costing me about £2 at the moment (1 bed flat).

I am the same. I'm not making any of us poorly.

@FuH also have a child with chronic chest issues (was prem and now asthmatic too), older than yours but cannot risk his health getting worse because of the cold, (has already had time off school and was unable to partake in PE when in school).
Have had heating set at 18 for a while now.

I think it is time to fight back. The energy companies can't put everyone on prepayment meters and as the CAB link outlines, there are lots of ways to refuse one.

Yes today did it. I wfh and sat with gloves, scarf, blanket on. My son is in the lounge wrapped up in an electric wrap. Someone suggested I had a water bottle too and I just though f this and have put the heating on. My bill for the day will be £11 in total. I can’t afford that everyday but there is a limit. It is bloody disgraceful that it has come to this. I thought I had a decent salary - I did - until my mortgage has gone up £100 month and my fuel £250 month and no pay rise.

That just seems wasteful to me, why on earth have it on 18 all night? You would be just as comfortable with it at 16 surely. Maybe put an extra blanket on the bed, wear a jumper and socks, hot water bottle. But probably wouldn't even need all that at 16. Ours is 16 because of having to get up in the night with babies but for actually sleeping I find it a bit warm

I never have heating on overnight cant see the point you are in bed warm anyway, i have a duck down duvet and use a hot water bottle wear bed socks and flannel pyjamas. And my whippet sleeps in bed with me, dont care if people think thats gross !

I think that can be avoided if you just put the central heating on for an hour or so in the evening (hopefully)