MSE News: 'Don't make kids pay the price of rising energy costs'

grahamc2003

iscamaid wrote: »

I resent some of the comments, what a cruel and self centred lot of people. I have two children and do not take home benefits, I work and take in a lodger and my husband has two jobs and we economise greatly. Between us we just about manage and do not have benefits other than the non-means tested child benefit,which helps keep our heads above water. However I feel grateful for what we have and have signed this petition willingly as I know that ther are people out there who struggle more than us. The petition was not just about an extra payment but providing advice about insulation and getting the best fuel deals. Some people here may not have read it properly. for all the nasty people who have suggested boiling down my children (nice!) I hope you remember then when you are retired and they are working and paying taxes to support society and yourselves.

I think the general feeling is that possibly the people struggling more than you may be wage earners too, who shouldn't be struggling when there are plenty on benefits (paid for by you) who (in some cases) choose not to work and yet do not struggle - their needs met (sometimes) by benefits. Sometimes incredibly generous benefits, like the unlimited child benefits - the more sprogs you have, the more handouts you get. If you have 7 or 8 or 9 kids, then a job on the min wage isn't going to be very attractive compared to the £400pw(my estimate) child benefits, which will in any case be cut, making the net effect of working in McDs not even cover the bus fare in.

Of course, benefits for kids come in many shapes, sometimes not viewed as a benefit. But free education in schools is one very coslty major benefit most receive. (Not saying it shouldn't be that way, just that many who claim not to have handouts from the state often do via schooling).

[Deleted User]

21Twinkle wrote: »

My point exactly - so when are the "true saviours of society" - ie Childless Couples - going to be rewarded ?

No children = No UK population!

But yes I agree, all thickies like you should be snipped at birth

Pincher

Cardew wrote: »

On a thread about gas and electricity, there really shouldn’t be squabbles about people having children, or the inequalities of Social Services support.

The Title of the thread seems to make it about kids.

I just get fed up with this kind of moral blackmail, which I rank with:

"It's cause I is bleck, ain't it?" Ali G

"I'm cycling round Jordan for charity." and then I saw Thomson was charging about £1,800 for the base holiday, and the charity only get the leftover, if any.

C_Mababejive

Are readers aware that many Local Authorities have been and continue to borrow money in order to finance the installation of PV systems to council houses..?

Generalisation on /

So certain social tenants,many of whom do not work/havent got a days work in them/are serial baby breeders have PV systems installed free of charge ,get cheaper electric,the local authority picks up the FiTs and both the cost of borrowing and the cost of the subsidies and FiTs are picked up by muggins taxpayers yet again...

Generalisation off/

Councils love it as they get to rake in the FiTs whilst appearing all goody goody and green,conveniently forgetting the carbon costs of manufacture etc of said systems,the visual impact and end of life costs.

There is nothing for free..unless you are a dole hopper..

Lube

Kim why you using another username

KimYeovil and KimYe0vil

CharlieBilly

Looks like they removed there post/s now

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/member.php?u=1751107

Lube wrote: »

Kim why you using another username

KimYeovil and KimYe0vil

Derivative

Having children is a choice.
If you choose to have children then you should forego other aspects of your lifestyle to bring them up.
Surely the heating bill is one of the top priorities - we're talking rent, council tax, utilities, food. The four absolute essentials.

If kids are paying the price of rising energy costs, the burden falls on the parent or guardian, not the energy companies.

Paul_Herring

EdgEy wrote: »

Surely the heating bill is one of the top priorities - we're talking rent, council tax, utilities, food. The four absolute essentials.

Sadly, judging by certain portions of the media, XBoxes, Sky, the latest mobile phone and fashion trainers are more likely to be considered 'absolute essentials,' and a lack of any/all of them is an indication of child destitution/poverty.

Derivative

Paul_Herring wrote: »

Sadly, judging by certain portions of the media, XBoxes, Sky, the latest mobile phone and fashion trainers are more likely to be considered 'absolute essentials,' and a lack of any/all of them is an indication of child destitution/poverty.

You don't even have to go as far as to assume people are wasting money on utter tosh though. It can be as innocent as driving to work instead of getting the bus, or buying Waitrose instead of Tesco.

The final effect of struggling to pay heating bills is the same of course, but you could just as easily say that parents are paying the price by having to buy less luxurious food.

Of course, that doesn't quite have the same impact as "think of the children".

SteveA1234

Although I appreciate that we all have tough decisions to make about how we spend our money when times are difficult, this is the type of news article I would expect to see in the Daily Mail or the Sun (sorry no offence intended, but this is not really news worthy).

People have very short memories. I'm not too old (41) but when I was a kid central heating was not that common as it is today. Yes, we had heating in the main living space but we definitely didn't heat the entire house and no one was any the worse for it. My bedroom had ice on the inside of the windows in the winter and I can remember the fun I had scrapping it off. No real hardship.

I have kids and they are spoilt really, as I suspect most are these days. A healthy person or child isn't going to be harmed due to the cold if dressed correctly Older people are different and can be much more vulnerable. There's no actual need to heat bedrooms, kitchens, etc . It's definitely more comfortable to do so!!! but there's a big difference between comfort and necessity.