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Original poster

Anyone else decided to stop caring about heating bills?

139 replies

ClarissaParry · 13/01/2023 09:13

I put the heating on during the cold snap in December, and now I'm £200 in debit.

I'm not happy about it, but my dc were warm.

I've decided to put my head in the sand and crack on with staying warm over winter. We're not talking 24C 24/7, but 17C or 18C morning and night, and during very cold days, for longer. Minimum temp is set to 13.5C at the moment, but on cold and damp days, I go for broke and up it to 14C!

I'm hoping spring is early this year and we have a long run of not needing the heating on so I can avoid getting too deep into debt with the energy company, but I'll still keep the house reasonably warm regardless. Am I the only one willfully ignoring their energy balance?

OP posts:
blindfate · 13/01/2023 09:36

Yep- I have a newborn and am on mat leave so things are tight but I'd rather pull back on spending elsewhere and be warm with happy healthy children. Worrying about heating bills was taking up too much headspace so I'm adopting the "worry about it if/when it happens" approach

Shodan · 13/01/2023 09:37

I stopped worrying about it when I realised that a) I was getting rather obsessive about looking at the smart meter and b) I was bloody cold.

Bestcatmum · 13/01/2023 09:37

I live in Somerset and have only had the heating on twice because it hasn't been cold enough. My house is super insulated though and I have a sofa duvet from the Fine Bedding Company. Worth every penny. It's the cosiest thing I've ever had.

Opos · 13/01/2023 09:38

I wish I could.

But am on a metre.

I just can't put it on :(

liveforsummer · 13/01/2023 09:39

Yes, and I'm not submitting meter reads in case I've used a lot more than the estimate. I'll pay off any excess over the summer when I'm using little to no gas at all and life is generally cheaper anyway

DogBowlsAreMyWeapon · 13/01/2023 09:39

Pretty much. I went into winter thinking I’d be tough, wrap up, use a Sheila maid etc etc. I’m electric only in the north of Scotland. My house started to get damp and the laundry wouldn’t dry … at which point I threw up my hands and December’s bill was over £300 - and we’re not sat around in bikinis.

I contacted the leccy company and said I’d pay them X and they could like it or lump it.

unfortunately it does change my long-term financial plans as I don’t see the situation improving.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 13/01/2023 09:40

No. And I think it's irresponsible

Sod that. I'm not freezing to death just because someone thinks I should be 'responsible.' And for what?

cantba · 13/01/2023 09:41

Me. I've gone for 21 in our main living area. 18 upstairs and heating off in rooms we rarely go in. It seems to cost a fortune to barely have it on so i figured better to have it on properly and actually be warm. We have underfloor heating though and if i let the temp drop right down it uses loads and loads to get back up. Bills are ridiculous though. I think the government will be forced to do something when everyone starts defaulting.

schnauzerbeard · 13/01/2023 09:42

I only think it's irresponsible if you know you can't afford it. If budget allows then I do not see how not worrying about heating bills is irresponsible.

Greensleevevssnotnose · 13/01/2023 09:42

Got my bill yesterday for Dec and it was£110:00 more than November. But we were warm and we're off for three weeks for Christmas so it was expected. I don't understand why the electric went up as we had the oven on only once for Christmas dinner. It is what it is. I refuse to be cold.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 13/01/2023 09:42

Justmuddlingalong · 13/01/2023 09:36

There's no council tax payments taken in February and March, so I'm going to transfer that amount into my energy account. It'll cover some of the bill, so the heating will be on when it's needed, especially if temperatures are to dip again.

I transfer the monthly govt payment and the heating allowance, plus the 2 months that I don't pay CT into a savings account. Looking at that I can afford to be warm.

StormObelisk · 13/01/2023 09:43

Me, within reason. I’ve been really unwell and at home. I don’t have a fire/wood burner so it is central heating only. I’m obviously wearing a sweater and socks/slippers, have a blanket on the sofa, but, I am severely asthmatic with an acute illness. My heating gets boosted to 20 degrees two or three times a day, otherwise it is set at 18.

I’m still in credit on my energy account but I’m seeing that reduce by £100 a month. I’m paying double what I was last winter, plus the £66 rebate on top.

HereForTheFreeLunch · 13/01/2023 09:44

Surely it's responsible to look after your family and keep them warm and dry.

I went 'sod it' in the cold snap - not so much now. But thankfully it's not a difficult decision as I can afford the extra. And we have great insulation so it's not even been that much extra. Was pleasantly surprised with meter readings. (new build 2019 house)

liveforsummer · 13/01/2023 09:47

I can't really afford it, at least not now. I'll pay it but the company will likely have to wait for the payment in full. I'm not having us all freezing and I have raynauds it's incredibly uncomfortable, painful and unpleasant to be cold for any prolonged period. It's more than just cold hands and feet

DadANDPK · 13/01/2023 09:58

2chocolateoranges · 13/01/2023 09:14

me

i refuse to be cold in my own home, if I’m cold, then the heating goes on, I’ll deal with the bills when they come in through the post!

@2chocolateoranges

it may be one upside of the shit show going on with the Royal Mail!!

@ClarissaParry 17/18° really is the minimum your home should be health wise. You're definitely not being even remotely unreasonable. People will mostly do what they need to, keep their heating low or off and staying warm with warm clothing, heated blankets etc, but it's not good that they'll be breathing in very cold air.

Take care of you & yours & let's hope prices stop increasing!

DadANDPK · 13/01/2023 10:01

QuizteamAguillera · 13/01/2023 09:15

i feel the same OP. That cold snap before Xmas was brutal.

Getting cold again next week unfortunately!

@QuizteamAguillera yeah it certainly is & where I live it's SO windy, I've never known it to be this windy! That's going to be lively with temperature drops & forecast of sleet.

TaRaDeBumDeAy · 13/01/2023 10:07

If I had kids, so they couldn't cut me off, I'd use it reasonably and sod the debt. Just let it build ongoing until they decide everyone is in too much debt and wipe it all.

Grumpybutfunny · 13/01/2023 10:10

@ClarissaParry everyone KWh we save is a KWh we don't spend on Russian fuel. If we did it on a population scale across Europe it would be trillions of dollars, whats being cold vs what Ukraine is going through.

DadANDPK · 13/01/2023 10:12

IDontCareMatthew · 13/01/2023 09:27

No. And I think it's irresponsible

Good luck with those bills though!

Having your home heated to the recommended temperature of 18° To prevent ill heath & damp is NOT irresponsible

blankittyblank · 13/01/2023 10:12

I think we'll get into debt this month, but once the weather warms up we'll build up a credit again. So I'm not too worried. Plus, aren't bills getting cheaper this year?
www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jan/12/uk-energy-bills-fall-gas-prices-cost-living

BellePeppa · 13/01/2023 10:14

Me too. At the beginning I was living in virtual darkness and minimal heating but realised it just wasn’t sustainable to be so cold, for the house to be so cold and to be in darkness other than the tv or my phone flashlight. Im hoping that it can even itself out if we get a long hot summer again but I’m not having sleepless nights over it anymore.

Sarahcoggles · 13/01/2023 10:17

OP what is it you don't understand about the poster not wanting to put money into Russia?

Of course one individual household won't make a difference, but that applies to everything. One vote won't make a difference, one person boycotting Nestle products won't make a difference, one person recycling won't make a difference, one person buying an electric car won't make a difference. Are you seeing the pattern? We are only ever one person. So all any of us can contribute is one person's worth of anything. But the hope is that lots of individuals will do the same. And then it does make a difference.

Waitrise · 13/01/2023 10:17

ClarissaParry · 13/01/2023 09:30

Which part is irresponsible?

Also quite curious about the PP who feels like 1 household would impact Russian fuel profits.

Show quote history

Well obviously it's all the 'one' houses multiplied isn't it ...

DadANDPK · 13/01/2023 10:18

SnowyGiveAway · 13/01/2023 09:35

I guess if you know you can afford the increased bills it's fine and understandable to think sod it. If you can't, you can't.

We are being very careful still as I just don't want huge bills. More layers etc. We have a log burner though so have a source of heat in the front room and take hot water bottles to bed. We are not cold in the house, we're just careful about how we stay warm.

People who can afford to stop worrying are lucky and shouldn't be cold just for the sake of it!

People who have log burners are lucky!!

Deep envy!

Magenta65 · 13/01/2023 10:19

were keeping an eye but if it’s cold the heatings going on. I’m not having mould and damp. We do have the attitude of the bill is what it is we can deal with it when it comes. Currently in the + by about £40 but that’s it. No council tax March and April for us so will keep the money back for the bill