Energy.

When I lived on my own for five years, before I got married, in difficult times I could cope and make do, to get myself through the lean times. Things are different now, that I am married with two children, for I haven’t got to think of just myself, for heating and lighting. We also have six cats and two dogs!

My energy supplier put up our bill gas and electric to over £200 a month! That is a big chunk out of my part time low wage.

I had made changes, turning the telly off at the mains, using a little amount of water in the bath, no one else does! A little amount of water in the kettle. Keeping the lights off in the dark mornings, for as long as possible, or not turning them all on downstairs when I’m alone. Refusing to put the heating on, when I am alone in the mornings while others are either in bed or at work. I have the warmest dressing gown that Meghan bought me from Primark, it has a hood and is SO warm. It is now tatty and off white, but it more than does the job. I have two hot water bottles that I often take to bed with me, one is placed at the bottom of the bed and the other is at my side, soon I am toasty all over, it’s amazing. I bought two for Paul too, but the tags are still on his, one day I’ll sell them, “Brand new with tags.” I also keep my warm winter coat on, when  come home from work.

It has been announced this week, that in January the bills for energy will be going up again! I don’t know what we will do.

We have had the heating on, sometimes in the evenings, mainly to dry clothes on the radiators, and because our grandson it with us for 24 hours. We have also had to put the heating on because of the damp downstairs to try to dry out the old house. We don’t seem to be getting anywhere with it, it seems to have steadily got worse over the years. I might have to get an expert in. I expect that will cost us an arm and a leg.

It is very cruel of the powers that be to put up the fuel in winter, when it is needed the most. I have friends who do not put the heating on at all, and they young kids who go to school.

When I am at work, I sometimes feel guilty, because there it is SO hot, that I am almost sweating, and my family is at home in the cold.

I have told Paul recently, “Do not sit in the cold, put the heating on.” He holds out, and keeps his long john’s on under his trousers and has lots of thick jumpers on.

I don’t know what we will do. I did think, when I saw the news, that it is going up, I wish I could disconnect my electric!

Everything we have is electric, the fridge, the freezer, the washing machine, the lights, the internet, the hot water, just to name a few and most of all the telly!

Are we doomed? They DO have the ultimate power over us all. Only those who are well off with very good jobs can afford to put the heating on, for as long as they want and even some on benefits, they seem, some of them to be more well off than those of us who slog it out going to work!

It is unfair! I will have to look up more creative ways to keep me and my family safe and warm.