Winter fuel allowance

moneyistooshorttomention

Whoops - personally I've just clicked to the "can't be bothered to work" - as I took that at face value. Ah right - "don't work - because we've retired". Got it....

I wouldn't mind working still personally (part-time - as I think a full workweek is actually rather long still - for anyone). No chance though - as I'd only do so for work I actually wanted to do and was paid reasonably for. I've never had work I actually wanted yet - and only once got paid reasonably briefly. So - I don't think that's very likely somehow.....:cool:. Now if anyone wants a Societal Trends Analyser/Future Forecaster on the other hand - and the majority of the evidence for that is down to my "gut feelings/being a people watcher" - I'm open to offers.....(Brexit and President Trump down and European election results already decided on for some countries....).

Only work these days being voluntary work and my own housework then....

Davesnave

I could still do what I did, as it's enjoyable and sometimes easier than what I do now, but that's the job, not all the hassle that goes with it.

There's probably a huge untapped army of people out there from various professions. We'd still work, were it not for all the BS.

I wouldn't want more than a few mornings a week, though. I know my limits and I'd still need enough time to do my alternative job here on the 'farm.'

moneyistooshorttomention

I know what you mean Dave.

I suspect there'd be quite a few of us that wouldn't be quite so averse to the idea of our former paid work - IF it still had "normal" pay and conditions (ie what we were used to in the 1970s and, possibly, 1980s and not the very harsh way things have gone in the world of work since then).

At the start of my worklife I wouldnt have dreamt anyone would think in terms of "monitoring" my work pace (as I did office jobs - not factory jobs) or there'd be any pressure to work antisocial hours (again - as I did office jobs - so that means 9-5 Monday-Friday imo).


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Back on track - and my bank has just told me my WFA has gone into the bank and that £10:cool: Christmas payment. Good - so that's on track okay at last.

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I know what you mean Dave.

I suspect there'd be quite a few of us that wouldn't be quite so averse to the idea of our former paid work - IF it still had "normal" pay and conditions (ie what we were used to in the 1970s and, possibly, 1980s and not the very harsh way things have gone in the world of work since then)

That wasn't quite what I meant, but we'll let it pass, I think. For me, the 70s decade was full of surreal experiences, which left little doubt about why GB Plc was doing so badly.

Now the pendulum has swung the other way, but we are even more up against it globally than we were then.

Anyway, by simply ringing around and hustling a little, I saved an incredible £84 today on the price of my next oil delivery. That's almost half of the WFP.

The new wood burner also goes in tomorrow, so I shall be back on free or cheap fuel very soon. :j

moneyistooshorttomention

Wot - no solar panels Dave?:rotfl:

Must admit I would have seriously contemplated them if my house hadnt had mains gas. Thankfully - it does - so I just ripped out the oil type stuff without a second thought.

Personally - I'd have worried about the technicalities involved in using solar panels - as I'm just not that way minded (so pushing a button or moving a lever will do me). I would imagine you're a lot more au fait with how to operate things like that though?

Can't complain basically I guess at a joint gas/electric spend of about £60 per month on average. I'm currently only paying £17 a month - because I'd been bargaining on £80 a month and found I'd been overpaying them quite a lot. That's with it being a (small) detached house and I use however much heat I decide to (too old to economise any longer I figure...).

Davesnave

At present there isn't a huge difference between oil and gas prices, but that's all subject to the vagaries of the market.

I re-roofed this year, thinking that I'd then be set up for solar in future, as we have the perfect location. Also, when the hot water system was renewed, we added a large heat store for similar reasons.

But it's solar power which grows the trees and it's those we have right now, having harvested in earlier years, besides the ones bartered for grazing etc.

Eco friendly central heating and water made no sense at the prices we were quoted, the difference over oil being almost enough to pay for our conservatory, which will typically feed in heat during the clear winter days and buffer us against the prevailing wind.

ancientofdays

My winter fuel allowance has pinged into the bank account but I'm still wearing extra layers and the central heating is just a bit of chill-reducing background until evening. I am rather cold right now.

Farway

My WFA popped into bank on the 29th, no letter yet but that is not a problem for me because I can & did check bank on line

moneyistooshorttomention

In the event - my WFA ended up on going on an NHS bill in effect - it covered some of the cost of a new pair of glasses.

Still struggling to get my head round why most of us are given nothing whatsoever towards glasses - as they are a medical necessity.:(

So it's helped towards one necessity (health care costs) rather than another (heating costs)....

No gin and choccies here LOL.