Is your heating ON or OFF?

Caterina

Still off, but last night a few logs went into the wood burners and two hot water bottles into my bed!

Today DS is complaining that he is freezing. He is a strappy 20 years old so it is not like I am depriving a young child of necessary warmth, and I told him to wear a jumper over his fancy (cotton) t-shirts. Now he has gone and had a hot bath (in the middle of the day) - I wonder if it would not be more economical to give the house a shot of warmth through central heating rather than have him run full hot baths every day.

What do other people do here about their moaning and whinging family members (who, btw, are not paying the bills and also don't give a monkey's about the environment) like my DS? Any advice gratefully received!

Lotus-eater

Caterina wrote: »

What do other people do here about their moaning and whinging family members (who, btw, are not paying the bills and also don't give a monkey's about the environment) like my DS? Any advice gratefully received!

Tell him to pay towards the bills then To put a big jumper on, to be grateful you are concerned about the future of the earth that he is going to inherit.
If that doesn't work, a slap round the ear and an admonishment to "grow up" usually works wonders

We don't turn our hot water on unless someone needs a bath, we have an electric shower and a dishwasher, so don't really need hot water that often. Maybe you could turn yours off?

Swipe

Caterina wrote: »

and also don't give a monkey's about the environment) like my DS? Any advice gratefully received!

If the truth be known, the majority of people don't give a monkey's about the environment (although the Govt and the media would have you believe differently). What people do give a monkey's about is saving money for themselves, albeit in the name of the environment. The problem is while saving money on one hand we are being environmentally taxed on the other.

twoflower169

We put ours on a couple of weeks ago, having said that I dropped the temp down on the timer so it has to drop below 18 to come on, and so its not kicking in that often, but I did notice the early timer for this morning it had come on! But with a LO I like to know I have the option, I'm happy to layer up in the day, DH never feels the cold. Last year we had an oil filled elec rad plugged in for 6months nearly as we have a new house that we found out, over the summer, had pockets of no insulating in the walls, which have now been filled so hoping that will help this year, that rad is not coming in the house! But trying to hold off just bumping the heating up and on! Bought LO a dressing gown as well, he was given some fleccy socks, where can I get some, they look so cosy!

Caterina

Thanks for suggestions - he knows how to switch on the water heater, at 20 he is really difficult to fool! And I have suggested in the past that he starts contributing to the household running expenses (a family meeting is well overdue about this).

The reality is that he would rather give me a tenner a month (he is still a student and does not earn much other than a few quid on a paper round) and still have his hot baths, than take on board the environmental issues - he really could not care less and I cannot MAKE him care.

Afraid that a slap around the ear is an absolute no-no, I really only smacked him when he was little, a few times when he was terribly naughty, and felt always terribly guilty. Soon I stopped doing it because I was a very "smacked" child and it did me absolutely no good but instead prompted me to rebel quite dramatically as soon as I was old enough, with unpleasant consequences to mine and my family's lives (long boring story that there is no need to share).

Ultimately it is not that we are so skint that we cannot afford a few hot baths for him (thankfully), but it is the environment bit that gets me the most.

Ah well, see how it goes and will let you know!

Little_Maya

Caterina wrote: »

What do other people do here about their moaning and whinging family members (who, btw, are not paying the bills and also don't give a monkey's about the environment) like my DS? Any advice gratefully received!

If he can't contribute financially, how about getting him to do the housework? That would keep him warm

Caterina

Little_Maya wrote: »

If he can't contribute financially, how about getting him to do the housework? That would keep him warm

Little Maya, this is a great idea and I am very grateful - he already does some tasks, which takes me more energy to make him do than if I did them myself (but I still persevere otherwise he would just sit on his a**e).

As I said in the last post, a family meeting is long overdue where we read them (also DD!) the riot act, this might help a bit!

kerleytops

Still OFF, we are lucky we live in a newish house, end terrace, with excellent insulation and even in the depths of winter we can be very sparing with heating. Also have loads of built in extra padding ie fat

Little_Maya

Caterina you have the patience of a saint! I'm pretty sure my mum would have booted me out if I'd behaved that way lol. Running out of idea... he's a student so how about he goes to the library to do some studying they must have the heating on there.

alittlebitofmagic

TF you can buy ladies fleecy socks in next, primark, new look. Last year m&s and other places had them too, but I have spotted them in the first shops already