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Original poster

Unsure how I can afford these bills

141 replies

onebornsecibd · 01/10/2023 16:36

I've just moved in with a mate who has different lifestyle habits.

Her room is heated all the time to 24 degrees and she uses the tumble dryer etc to dry clothes.

Last night she put the heating on when she was going to bed, and she's got a heated blanket.

Yesterday we spent £7 in total on gas and electric.

I think she just feels the cold more but I would I rather put of turning on the heat until it actually gets colder.

We split the bills. I though it would be cheaper to live together but it's actually more expensive :(

OP posts:
Original poster
onebornsecibd · 02/10/2023 10:07

Ginmonkeyagain · 02/10/2023 07:38

You can get individual temperature controls for radiators, that will be a start.

Also tell madam if she is cold she needs to put a jumper on.

Yes we have that but it doesn't mean the boiler doesn't work burning the same.

OP posts:
Original poster
onebornsecibd · 02/10/2023 10:12

ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere · 02/10/2023 10:06

OK, so you have thermostatic radiators, so set the temp lower in all the rooms but hers. Although if she wants to hang out in the living room then there'll probably be a running battle.

It's the best you can do though - and it will make a difference to the bill (maybe not the huge one you're hoping for), obviously the energy required to heat a whole house up to 23 is more than heating one room up to 23 - basically the water circulating in the heating will stay hotter for longer since it's not being put through so many radiators, so the boiler will have to do less work.

I never hang out washing either. Too much of it, too busy, too many birds shitting where the line would be.

This is what we do but she's manually turning hers on and hers is set to a higher temp so will kick in.... so the boiler is turning on more regularly than it should,

OP posts:
ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere · 02/10/2023 10:29

This is what we do but she's manually turning hers on and hers is set to a higher temp so will kick in.... so the boiler is turning on more regularly than it should

But for a shorter period, as it has to heat the water less often as less of the heat is being radiated - it is cheaper to only heat one room rather than 3, even though there is the pipework which also takes a chunk of energy.

Nannyfannybanny · 02/10/2023 10:30

One minute you are complaining about the heat,then telling people that they are going to die of hyperthermia in less than 15c!! All this ice and snow!!! I am assuming that you must live in northern Scotland!!

ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere · 02/10/2023 10:31

If you're that worried about the boiler, get her an electric radiator just for her room, and turn it off in the rest of the house - although I doubt someone who feels the way she does will do anything other than leave it on, leave her door open, and turn up the rest of the heating anyway.

Oh, and if she's blocking her radiator, that's basically insulating her radiator, so it actually uses even less energy. The circulator will stay on, but the boiler won't heat the water unless it drops below a certain temperature, so all it does is inhibit how fast her room warms up

ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere · 02/10/2023 10:32

To be fair, I live north and up high, and it dropped to 7 degrees last night.

We have the heating on for a couple of hours first thing (for hot water also), and then a quick boost about 5pm when the temperature starts to drop again already - but the rest of the time it's off and everyone is comfortable - I think it's about 20 degrees in the house right now

Taketurn · 02/10/2023 10:32

when i was in uni I had a room mate like that. I went home to visit family for 3 weeks and came back to a massive gas bill. I made her pay 75% of the bill.

whatnot929 · 02/10/2023 10:34

onebornsecibd · 01/10/2023 19:24

I've spoken to her. We have to split bills 50/50. I can't leave the tenancy early.... so what am I supposed to do?

Show quote history

You use your words! You say yes, we agreed 50/50, but that was before I knew you used so much gas/elec for no good reason, so either you use less or you pay more. And you stick to it.

Original poster
onebornsecibd · 02/10/2023 11:17

ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere · 02/10/2023 10:31

If you're that worried about the boiler, get her an electric radiator just for her room, and turn it off in the rest of the house - although I doubt someone who feels the way she does will do anything other than leave it on, leave her door open, and turn up the rest of the heating anyway.

Oh, and if she's blocking her radiator, that's basically insulating her radiator, so it actually uses even less energy. The circulator will stay on, but the boiler won't heat the water unless it drops below a certain temperature, so all it does is inhibit how fast her room warms up

Blocking the radiator means she's turning on the trv more and more.... because the radiator isn't getting hot enough... so instead of 22 or whatever she is settling it to 26 and the boiler is constantly being switched on....

OP posts:
Original poster
onebornsecibd · 02/10/2023 11:17

Nannyfannybanny · 02/10/2023 10:30

One minute you are complaining about the heat,then telling people that they are going to die of hyperthermia in less than 15c!! All this ice and snow!!! I am assuming that you must live in northern Scotland!!

No. I've never written that.

I'm stating that there is a temperature that homes are advised to be set at, for those who live in it's health,

OP posts:
Poniesandrainbows · 02/10/2023 11:24

I don't understand. People are backing you up by saying it's too warm to have the heating on and you're arguing with them. What?

Chocolatelabradorsarethebest · 02/10/2023 11:34

Is anyone else starting to feel sorry for the flatmate and think OP is actually the hard work one?!

Original poster
onebornsecibd · 02/10/2023 12:45

Poniesandrainbows · 02/10/2023 11:24

I don't understand. People are backing you up by saying it's too warm to have the heating on and you're arguing with them. What?

I'm not arguing with them....

OP posts:
Original poster
onebornsecibd · 02/10/2023 12:45

Chocolatelabradorsarethebest · 02/10/2023 11:34

Is anyone else starting to feel sorry for the flatmate and think OP is actually the hard work one?!

"You sound like hard work...."

OP posts:
TibetanTerrah · 02/10/2023 12:58

You'll never agree on this unfortunately but I'm with you. Actually worse than you. I will wear two dressing gowns and work with a hot water bottle in bed under a heated throw before putting the heating on not quite that bad

I'd be telling her (in person, not some PA text) that I won't be paying 50/50 on at least the gas bill. It's not fair for her to expect you to subsidise her preference, especially when it's too warm for your preference.

If she whines 'I'm cold' you have a few options. Say fine, you pay all the gas and have it on when you like. Or agree a temp when it goes on. Jumper and hot water bottle suggestions clearly fall on deaf ears so I wouldn't bother mentioning it again.

Or go full on crazy and keep a diary of the temp each day, how long she had it on, and any of those days that you would never have put it on, refuse to pay them on a pro rata basis Wink

Or, go half crazy, and read the gas meter before and after you use it, every time. If you put the heating on, split the units used 50/50. If she puts it on, you check the meter and log what you're not paying. Present her with a batshit spreadsheet of your usage when the bill comes Grin

Can you tell I spent many years living with entitled flatmates who thought 'shared bills' meant carte blanche to use EVERYTHING excessively. I live alone now!

Original poster
onebornsecibd · 02/10/2023 13:18

TibetanTerrah · 02/10/2023 12:58

You'll never agree on this unfortunately but I'm with you. Actually worse than you. I will wear two dressing gowns and work with a hot water bottle in bed under a heated throw before putting the heating on not quite that bad

I'd be telling her (in person, not some PA text) that I won't be paying 50/50 on at least the gas bill. It's not fair for her to expect you to subsidise her preference, especially when it's too warm for your preference.

If she whines 'I'm cold' you have a few options. Say fine, you pay all the gas and have it on when you like. Or agree a temp when it goes on. Jumper and hot water bottle suggestions clearly fall on deaf ears so I wouldn't bother mentioning it again.

Or go full on crazy and keep a diary of the temp each day, how long she had it on, and any of those days that you would never have put it on, refuse to pay them on a pro rata basis Wink

Or, go half crazy, and read the gas meter before and after you use it, every time. If you put the heating on, split the units used 50/50. If she puts it on, you check the meter and log what you're not paying. Present her with a batshit spreadsheet of your usage when the bill comes Grin

Can you tell I spent many years living with entitled flatmates who thought 'shared bills' meant carte blanche to use EVERYTHING excessively. I live alone now!

Thanks.

It's so tough!

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