How to live without heating - save £000s

Max68

The oil filled rad I bought recently has done me well today.  Rest of the house is 14 but haven't put the heating on yet.  Rad has been on and off all day and has only ticked over 2kwh since this morning, which isn't great but not a total disaster.  Large fleece, throw over my legs, water bottle under my feet.  Not over cold but to be honest it's not comfortable.  Credit to those who can handle it and just my opinion but before all this people could choose to live this way but it's 2022, people shouldn't "have" to live this way.  Personally I'm not far off from having enough.  All I spend my wages on is food and bills, and even then it doesn't really cover it, and if this is going to be the norm for the next 5 years or whatever then, and again it's just my opinion., what is the point?!

Mstty

Max68 said:

The oil filled rad I bought recently has done me well today.  Rest of the house is 14 but haven't put the heating on yet.  Rad has been on and off all day and has only ticked over 2kwh since this morning, which isn't great but not a total disaster.  Large fleece, throw over my legs, water bottle under my feet.  Not over cold but to be honest it's not comfortable.  Credit to those who can handle it and just my opinion but before all this people could choose to live this way but it's 2022, people shouldn't "have" to live this way.  Personally I'm not far off from having enough.  All I spend my wages on is food and bills, and even then it doesn't really cover it, and if this is going to be the norm for the next 5 years or whatever then, and again it's just my opinion., what is the point?!

Are there any other big changes you can make now for the next 5 years knowing things are not getting better for at least 2 years.

Not aimed at you but if the rising costs of everything mean people cannot afford to heat their house maybe one option (if applicable) is to sell and buy a smaller more energy efficient house. I know this is only an option for homeowners but it is always best to make the hard decisions early rather than ignore them. Especially with rising interest rates affecting mortgage payments on top of everything else.

[Deleted User]

It's such an odd mentality to me.

"I used to be able to afford all these things.  Now they have got more expensive, I can't afford them all any more.  This is clearly disgraceful and I demand someone fixes it."

If you can't afford all the things, then you can't buy all of the things.

Max68

Mstty said:

Max68 said:

The oil filled rad I bought recently has done me well today.  Rest of the house is 14 but haven't put the heating on yet.  Rad has been on and off all day and has only ticked over 2kwh since this morning, which isn't great but not a total disaster.  Large fleece, throw over my legs, water bottle under my feet.  Not over cold but to be honest it's not comfortable.  Credit to those who can handle it and just my opinion but before all this people could choose to live this way but it's 2022, people shouldn't "have" to live this way.  Personally I'm not far off from having enough.  All I spend my wages on is food and bills, and even then it doesn't really cover it, and if this is going to be the norm for the next 5 years or whatever then, and again it's just my opinion., what is the point?!

Are there any other big changes you can make now for the next 5 years knowing things are not getting better for at least 2 years.

Not aimed at you but if the rising costs of everything mean people cannot afford to heat their house maybe one option (if applicable) is to sell and buy a smaller more energy efficient house. I know this is only an option for homeowners but it is always best to make the hard decisions early rather than ignore them. Especially with rising interest rates affecting mortgage payments on top of everything else.

Already considered that.  I'm in a 2 bed terrace and it needs a lot of work on it which I can't afford 20 year old windows, 22 year old boiler, all stuff many a buyer want replaced before buying, I know I've tried..  Even flats in the South East are expensive.  Considered moving elsewhere but my mum resides in care locally so that's not really an option.  Discussed all this with a friend who is a property lawyer and it's not as easy and selling up and finding something mote affordable. Good friends live in a new build area in a house that is far more energy efficient than mine and he earns a lot more and even their heating is off as they can't afford it. Thank you anyway.

Max68

Deleted_User said:

It's such an odd mentality to me.

"I used to be able to afford all these things.  Now they have got more expensive, I can't afford them all any more.  This is clearly disgraceful and I demand someone fixes it."

If you can't afford all the things, then you can't buy all of the things.

Who is saying that?

[Deleted User]

Max68 said:

Deleted_User said:

It's such an odd mentality to me.

"I used to be able to afford all these things.  Now they have got more expensive, I can't afford them all any more.  This is clearly disgraceful and I demand someone fixes it."

If you can't afford all the things, then you can't buy all of the things.

Who is saying that?

Quite a lot of threads end up saying something which is effectively that.  I will only comment on the general theme though, not pick out individual forumites because that wouldn't be fair.

EssexHebridean

[Deleted User] said:

It's such an odd mentality to me.

"I used to be able to afford all these things.  Now they have got more expensive, I can't afford them all any more.  This is clearly disgraceful and I demand someone fixes it."

If you can't afford all the things, then you can't buy all of the things.

If “the things” are fancy clothes, booze, a super-duper new shiny phone, or a new car, then that’s an easy fix. When “the things” are food, energy to heat the home, or travel to get you to work though, it becomes a bit more problematic.  And no - I don’t have a solution, right now - obviously I wish I did - other than those who have enough and more ensuring they donate to charities that will help those who don’t have enough.

Qyburn

Max68 said:

Deleted_User said:

"I used to be able to afford all these things.  Now they have got more expensive, I can't afford them all any more.  This is clearly disgraceful and I demand someone fixes it."

If you can't afford all the things, then you can't buy all of the things.

Who is saying that?

I don't know if anyone's literally saying that but it's coming across in the various posts complaining about lack of subsidy for heating oil or wood pellets.

[Deleted User]

EssexHebridean said:

Deleted_User said:

It's such an odd mentality to me.

"I used to be able to afford all these things.  Now they have got more expensive, I can't afford them all any more.  This is clearly disgraceful and I demand someone fixes it."

If you can't afford all the things, then you can't buy all of the things.

If “the things” are fancy clothes, booze, a super-duper new shiny phone, or a new car, then that’s an easy fix. When “the things” are food, energy to heat the home, or travel to get you to work though, it becomes a bit more problematic.  And no - I don’t have a solution, right now - obviously I wish I did - other than those who have enough and more ensuring they donate to charities that will help those who don’t have enough.

Certainly problematic, but difficult times call for difficult decisions.  I'm no Norman Tebbit, but there does seem to be a little bit more "someone should fix this for me" than I would hope for.

Qyburn said:

Max68 said:

Deleted_User said:

"I used to be able to afford all these things.  Now they have got more expensive, I can't afford them all any more.  This is clearly disgraceful and I demand someone fixes it."

If you can't afford all the things, then you can't buy all of the things.

Who is saying that?

I don't know if anyone's literally saying that but it's coming across in the various posts complaining about lack of subsidy for heating oil or wood pellets.

There is always the recent thread "I don't have an energy bill any more, how do I get the rest of my £400 in cash?".  I think that was just a genuine misunderstanding about it being "£400 for all", but it all adds to the general air.

Max68

For sure when you look at some of the people on the news like the couple on 60 grand a year last week moaning that they couldn't have two holidays a year anymore then I agree with you but think it's the desperation many people feel when there isn't anymore to cut back on, unless of course you want to live like Hearts Lad, which credit to him for doing it, but for most people that's not living is it, it's existing. Personally I have cut back massively in the last two years.  That's through choice, to get a bit of a buffer for winter.  Haven't had a holiday since 2019, no longer go out with friends, no cinemas, restaurants, cut back on non-essentials like clothes, days out and I'm fine with that, it is what it is.  What is difficult though is working outside for a living wearing several layers currently and then getting home and spending the rest of the day in the same several layers because I don't want to be lumbered with a bill of £300/£400 or £500 per month which is most of my wage. We are seeing local shops and businesses boarding up because the customers are dwindling.  I don't think it's the case of demanding someone fixes it because it's unfixable but the frustration is the years of mistakes that led us all into this situation in the first place by people who don't have to worry abort affording their bills.