Winter in the UK?

[floridaorange]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/aug/17/two-thirds-of-uk-families-could-be-in-fuel-poverty-by-january-research-finds

How concerning is the energy costs for heating homes in the UK this winter? I can never tell how sensationalized news is these days.

[♫♫♫♫♫♫]

Re: Winter in the UK?

This year has been like waiting for winter to come on Game of Thrones. It’s all that they have had on TV since last year. People have been constantly whining about heating their homes in the middle of a heat wave, even now it’s rarely cold enough to even put the heating on. I’m in a 2 year fixed deal so my energy costs won’t go up until September next year. It’s quite bizarre, the government are giving everyone fuel payments, I pay £130 a month, but they are giving my £60 back, so £70 a month for me, I’m also £200 in credit.

[floridaorange]

Re: Winter in the UK?

God I'm so sick of the sensationalized fake news.... I swear we are being told you are all going to freeze to death over there this winter... glad to hear that's not the case whatsoever.

[♫♫♫♫♫♫]

Re: Winter in the UK?

I’ve got no doubt people are struggling, but there is certainly an element of a victim narrative. Pretty much every industry are calling out for bigger pay rises, but I do feel with some it is an excuse as some of them are far from struggling.

The minimum wage is currently £9.50 an hour, for a 40 hour week that would be £19,760 a year, so after tax they would be earning £1408 a month, so I wonder what else they are spending their money on. For as long as I have worked I have always paid my rent/mortgage first, followed by my energy and council tax. The only way that someone could be struggling is if they have high rent or mortgage, which would have been their personal choice, either that or they are blowing it on drink, drugs, gambling etc.

As a union rep in my last job I used to be involved in the pay talks and every year the convener would tell the company that the employees were hanging on by their fingernails, which I could never understand, because most employees were earning nearly double the minimum wage, and if you’re hanging on by your fingernails on double the minimum wage, you need to have a look at yourself.