Soaring heating costs, what's your plan.

An article in today"s "Times" extolled the health benefits of maintaining lower temperatures in the house, while at the same time spelling out the danger of hypothermia for "the elderly". Thick socks are apparently a "must", with an electric blanket or hot water bottle rather than heating the whole bedroom. We have lit our log burner twice recently, just enough to heat the room and then let it die down - lovely! No central heating on as yet, just a vest or two!

You were commenting on your increased costs VS. I commented that, unlike most of us, you are young (GN being for over 50s) and still working, not retired and on a fixed income. I’m not offering sympathy - far from it. I’m sure many of us wish we were your age and able to work in order to increase our income.

Germanshepherdsmum

You were commenting on your increased costs VS. I commented that, unlike most of us, you are young (GN being for over 50s) and still working, not retired and on a fixed income. I’m not offering sympathy - far from it. I’m sure many of us wish we were your age and able to work in order to increase our income.

I can't afford to heat my home any more than it is at present GSM

I don't understand why you have a problem with me saying so...

Again, I don't want anyone's sympathy or need it.

I'm just answering what is said to me

You're a Tory, aren't you GSM?

Something in the "get on your bike and stop complaining, you whippersnapper" vibe gave it away...

And you can clearly see that I shared something that I thought would help others keep their costs down a little.

No harm intended to anyone and if pension age people need more heat because breathing cold air causes illness, I don't dispute that, I just acknowledge that perhaps they cannot afford to whatever "help" is available because people couldn't afford too before the current issue

And also...

If you were to tell me tomorrow, the government was considering putting my taxes up to subsidise pension age people's heating to make it some sort of law that they were charged a fixed (low) rate no matter if they like their whole house to feel like Bahamas mid summer...

I would say YES! Do it! Where is the petition?

I don’t really understand why this thread has taken a turn. Families face the same issues with rising costs as older people do, and people who have caring responsibilities can’t just earn more by working harder unless they have lots of backup, and the energy and capacity. Why be so harsh?

dahlia
I was only 40 when I started to go into hypothermia. Fortunately I wasn’t alone. The danger is: it’s rather a nice feeling, you just feel very sleepy. I was very well wrapped up, tarring inside a very cold boat.

Your right about socks ?

GSM I think your comment to VS was very unkind. You have no idea what the job situation is in her area, or her circumstances, and her age has nothing to do with it., she was just be helpful. I must agree with Volver that your responses sounds very much like the Tory cry of work more hours if you can’t manage

Probably I could work more hours in a different job, I'm a teaching assistant so work about 32 hours a week with an unpaid lunch. I also get a bit more holiday than most jobs.

But this allows me to work around my younger children and my autistic daughter.

And I can't imagine doing anything else really

So either I'm valuable in my role to society or I'm not

But I'm not rich lol

Someone has to do the low income jobs regardless

Yes volver, and BOB, Conservative as you well know. And have always worked my backside off to pay my (and other people’s) way. No apologies, especially to someone 25 years younger than me.

32 hours a week and long holidays. Luxury. Your choice but don’t complain when others have no choice.

I don't want or need an apology either GSM

It doesn't seem like this is my problem

I hope whatever it is that is bothering you at the mo resolves

Barmeyoldbat Tory cry of work more hours if you can’t manage

I don't understand why able workers are not working more hours or getting a second job. Pity sake, why not?

I grew up in a house that always had ice on the inside of the windows and we were told off if we complained for being cold, so just had to put on another jumper and get on with it. We also wore hats and socks. We learned not to complain.

Even without heating, I doubt my modern house will get as cold as our childhood home did. Back in the day we wore vests and warm clothes. We also got vicks smeared on our chests even when we didn't have a cold (as it was supposed to keep your chest warm-is that even true?)

Most of the time when I'm home I have my back door open because of my pets going in and out. Happy to live like this as germs can't live in the cold so well. I have nothing to complain about.

Spot on, Norah.

Nothing at all bothering me VS.

Because Norah most have a family and children and be;ieve me I know what I am talking about. VS has children, she works in a school, school hours and has school holidays to care for her children. What is she suppose to do during the summer hols, some people have partners who work shifts how do they manage a regular job and children care. One of her children has special needs and believe me it’s not easy to find someone to care for such a child..
GSM as I have said to you before when you commented on my granddaughters choice of jobs, someone needs to do these jobs.

VS you should not have to work more hours in a different job when you have kids that need you. It's easy for people to judge but only you know what your kids needs are and they are only little for a short time.

I certainly never put my kids into anyone else's care and was always there for them, too. Working term time can be a really positive thing and as we know, those jobs do require a lot more hours than anyone gets paid for or anyone sees. You are valued, by the parents and the kids, so don't let anyone belittle what you do.

Working in education is incredibly important. What would happen if everyone supporting our kids or grandkids decided to leave "to earn more money"?

Yes I agree Barmeyoldbat It's totally unpleasant to attack someone for not earning more when they do valuable work in the community. Jobs like those are more than a job, as anyone who has done them knows.

Lol, shh, don't tell anyone but I once stayed at home all day with my little future scroungers and claimed benefits and everything!

Germanshepherdsmum

32 hours a week and long holidays. Luxury. Your choice but don’t complain when others have no choice.

I've used the word "despicable" once already tonight, so I won't use it again. Tempted though I am.

That goes for Norah's comments too.

My only hope is that you both think you're being satirical.

Just because we grew up in cold houses doesn't mean that we have to live in them now. Central heating and insulation mean that we now spend far less on heating as a proportion of our income than we did in the past and can afford to be much warmer.

Why do threads like this always end up with a race to the bottom, to find who is living in the coldest houses, wearing the most clothing, It reads like that John Clease sketch of a group of Yorkshire men each competing to prove they had the most deprived childhood.

I bought a heated throw (recommended on here a couple of weeks ago), I absolutely love it. Its not even cold tonight but I have it on low wrapped around me.

I don't think we had a deprived childhood, after all we had vests and vicks vapour rub! . It's probably more that my parents were frugal.

I have a heated pad and it purrs!

1summer

I bought a heated throw (recommended on here a couple of weeks ago), I absolutely love it. Its not even cold tonight but I have it on low wrapped around me.

They are so good for pain too, I have an autoimmune condition that has damaged my muscles and joints and my quality of sleep has improved so much