Eating Before Heating...

[Baby_Sham]

I've just been listening to a phone-in on Radio 2 on 'eating before heating'.
Call me naive, but I had no idea things were *so* bad, and listening to how some people have to cope through the colder, winter months, has left me feeling both saddened and sickened.

A woman having to choose between feeding her three children, or keeping them warm... how did things get so bad and why are we in this situation? Why does the government not do something about it?

I just broke my heart listening to a lady phone in and break down in tears live on air, as she explained how she was forced to get into debt, using a payday lender to have the heating on.
More and more people are having to make a choice between 'eating or heating' and I just wondered if anyone on here has to make similar choices over the winter?

Surely change HAS to happen?

[bednobs]

i think everyone probably has to make difficult decisions on what priorities their money goes on. Not as difficult as the one you point out in the question though (for example, mine would probably be something along the lines of "can i afford to go out to dinner this month, or had i better spend that money on bills"
I think it's very easy to get into a difficult situation no matter what your wages are - most(?) people probably have outgoings that are around their income. It only takes an extraordinary event (dog getting run over, engine falling out of car etc) to tip you over the "spend more than you have" category.
I wonder if you are getting the whole story though - was that person/the dad working? do they smoke? Do they have sky TV?

[tamborine]

what phone was she using & how is it paid for ?

Am amazed at 'poor' people with top-o-range phones discussing which cereal to buy.

[youngmafbog]

There will be people who fall through the cracks and will have genuine problems. However I fail to see how anyone, given the benefits systems we have, if they spend their money soley on essentials will get into this stark choice.

I mean look at what we lavish on foreigners coming into the country and hook even had a new car on the state.

Bednobs, add mobile phone and crates of booze to that list too. Something does not quite add up.

[Baby_Sham]

She did say that she has no children, so feels thankful that her situation could be a lot, lot worse, but she said she lives in a housing association home (which she was also thankful for) but has a dog and had to choose to keep him warm before eating!? :-/

There were then many, many people who phoned in with similar stories, all having to make the choice between eating and heating.

I was just really really shocked.

[hc4361]

Tambo, unfair. The lady that broke down is a civil servant in full time employment and for all we know the phone may be supplied by her employers.

Or she may have a landline that blocks outgoing calls. The radio station telephoned her after she emailed the show.

Not all telephones cost an arm and a leg.

[Baby_Sham]

I totally disagree on that, that people on benefits 'should' have no problem with eating and heating.
How much does your average person on, lets say, job seekers allowance get? If you have children to feed, food to buy, other essential utilities (electric, water rates) then it really doesn't leave you much to play with, does it.

[Baby_Sham]

Thankyou hc, I missed the very start of when she phoned in, but was drawn into listening when I heard her break down in tears.

[tamborine]

judging on my ex DSS tenants, some dont deserve the roof tax payers pay for.

n.b. I didnt hear the prog you mention.

[McMouse]

When I was a child it was cold in winter and we froze at home. The only heat was from a pot-bellied stove set on the concrete floor. We had meagre rationed food and wrapped ourselves up in layers of woolies. Went to bed early under a pile of blankets. I don't remember anyone complaining......it seems normal.

[Baby_Sham]

You cannot judge all people on benefits by your previous tenants Tambo! :-/

[Baby_Sham]

McMouse, I understand what you're saying, and my Dad said something very similar, but surely in this day and age being able to keep warm should not be a privilege, it should be a basic human right, no?

[hc4361]

There was another woman who had been self employed but became too ill to work 12 months ago. She listed her income and it was dire. She certainly wasn't getting the standard sick pay as far as I could tell, although she did get £30 towards her mortgage. Her house is about to be repossessed and then she will have nowhere to live.

For those interested they can listen to show on iPlayer later on today.

I think I'm fairly lucky that my gas and electric bills are under £60 a month.

[McMouse]

My house is as warm as toast but I still consider central heating to be a luxury which I am fortunate to be able to afford.

[tamborine]

I know BabyS, but its a bitter experience that is costing me too much ;(

Back to your call, the dog has a fur coat that adapts to conditions. She shouldn't have the dog if she cant afford it.

[hc4361]

McMouse, my childhood was the same. Woke up to the net curtains frozen to the insides of the windows, only the living room heated by a parkray, no bathroom and the loo was outside.

I remember corned beef legs from sitting too close to the fire while my back was freezing. No fridge and bottles of milk frozen in the kitchen.

Wet laundry dripping from the overhead airer. Been there, done that.

In modern houses there is often no fireplace, gas fire or woodburner. It is a choice of the central heating or a portable electric heater, both expensive to run.

[ck1]

I listened to a similar story on Radio 2 last year, a woman called in saying she couldn't afford to feed her kids, she defended her sky tv because 'everybody has to have some pleasure in life'. I feel genuinely sad for people who really struggle but I think a lot of the time it's just that the money is being spent elsewhere

[Baby_Sham]

Our's are also under £60 a month, but if I was on my own I would still really struggle to pay this. I just don't know how some people 'cope', and up until today I've never really given it much thought.

I also 'get' the whole 'money being spent elsewhere' comment too, and would seriously question someone debating over being able to feed their kids or giving up Sky TV!

[vulcan42]

The lady who was on the programme, without giving a full reason why, said the dog had been foisted on her, it wasn't by choice. And as she also said, it wasn't the dogs fault.

[Baby_Sham]

I also think it's very unfair to say if you can't afford a pet then you shouldn't have one.
None of us can predict our future.
Are you saying people who find themselves in this situation, for whatever reason, should get rid of their animals?

Tambo, where has your heart gone today? It's like it's been replaced with a swinging brick!

[lcg]

that has always happened in my house. we do not have enough money for the radiators, so it is always extra clothes and blankets, i'm afraid. i already work 60-70 hours a week and there just ain't no way i'm doing more.....heating is overrated anyway :-(