Typical household energy bill to rise to £3,549

[Borchester]

Or lose weight and get fitter, but I'm sure you knew that also.

Actually, you are both right.

Did a bit of gardening on Thursday. Nothing spectacular. I just turned over a couple of beds and planted some B&Q special offer daffs and tulips so as to make a cheery start to the spring.

And my, did I feel good. And hungry. My dinner did not touch the sides going down. Nor did the next load. I scoffed for Britain. I reckon food futures must have risen 200% that evening.

Then I closed my eyes and effectively passed out for the next couple of days. And ate nothing.

So overall, I reckon that exercise probably cuts food consumption. But by gum, nothing beats that first mega scoff.

[T00ts]

I want more handouts. I want anything that is going. I also want a night out with Emilia Clarke, but if the government were running things I would probably end up with Owen Jones.

Overall, I think it best that we look after our own interests. Not a bad bunch the government, but they tend to bugger things up

I can't help but wonder just how much some - not all - are prepared to cut back. I am not discounting those on the least money who need to keep themselves at least above 18C to live and many much higher. Those on a comparative pittance who will no doubt struggle but I do get a bit cross with those who are panicking because they won't be able to live like they have been. Hardship is part of life and if we are so pitiful that we cannot cope then it says little for our character. Those of us who will cope must see our neighbours ok and share. We cannot expect the Government to provide as if we are all on the bread line. Mortgages, rents, taxes will all have to be paid. Building Societies will put things in place to let people default for a while as they have done before. It will be tough but so it is for other countries.
I just get the feeling that some are so pampered that they are panicking before we have really got to the crisis if in the end there is one. There are all sorts of ways to save on living expenses we just need to get our heads around it. 

[B0ycey]

Please explain how these rises are the governments fault? Or do you generally just want more handouts?

I want affordable bills if that is what you are asking Nick.

As for whether or not this crisis is the Government's fault, first you need to quote me actually saying that. The quote you quoted me on, is actually explaining that bills, although at an 80% increase now, will almost double again in January. 

There are a number of things the government can do to help right now as it happens and one is more handouts if you must know. They could also *cough* buy in Russian gas. But ultimately where they could help people the most in terms of wholesale price is by attempting and pledging to cut our energy usage by 30% at a minimum and preferably 40% by January to counter supply and demand. They could begin with turning streetlights off, cancelling Christmas lights, turning the heating down in government buildings, cold showers in swimming pools, energy saving incentives, whatever they can think of. Bring in rationing, send leaflets to households for energy saving techniques reduce tariffs for energy usage off peak the list goes on. The fact that the government have only copied Labours idea of a windfall tax, a tax at first they didn't want to execute, and only now Zahawi is the first person in government to have a eureka movement saying  that cutting our gas usage might help in cutting our energy bills says it all about this government in my opinion Nick.

[Nick]

I want more handouts. I want anything that is going. I also want a night out with Emilia Clarke, but if the government were running things I would probably end up with Owen Jones.

Overall, I think it best that we look after our own interests. Not a bad bunch the government, but they tend to bugger things up

I cannot stick that jumped up git, supercilious isn't the word. 

[Nick]

You may have hit the nail on the head there Toots.My father once went to Clapham Commom, saw a fallen tree and tipped the park keepers to bring it home for us. It kept us in firewood for a year.

Not wishing to cast asparagus, but I sometimes think that the problem today is that a lot of folk don't enjoy a good crisis

And lack any resilience, the default is stick your hand out instead of thinking what can I do to improve my lot. 

[Borchester]

Please explain how these rises are the governments fault? Or do you generally just want more handouts?

I want more handouts. I want anything that is going. I also want a night out with Emilia Clarke, but if the government were running things I would probably end up with Owen Jones.

Overall, I think it best that we look after our own interests. Not a bad bunch the government, but they tend to bugger things up

[Nick]

What a superb Tory comment.
Moving around to keep warm actually uses energy which we have to create through the use of food. You knew that, I'm sure.
So people will need to eat more and exercise more whilst wearing 2 sweaters. Great advice, T00ts! Eating and heating!

Or lose weight and get fitter, but I'm sure you knew that also.

[Nick]

Indeed. Double what people are saying they currently can't afford. So when the comedy is so absurd we may as well get a clown to headline the act.

Also, as a hidden extra, this is only a cap until January, when the guesstimate is going to be £5000. Keep that as a spoiler though Borky. We need to save the best gags at the end.

Also, I best hand out some bad news to you mate. The £3500 figure is the average people will pay. The thing that is capped is the unit of usage. If you currently spending £4000 on gas, your bill is actually going to be £7500 annually. But on the plus side, Liz Truss is going to hand out tax breaks for the rich so you will know as you pay your gas bill you will also be helping out some poor hedgefunder with his escort costs.

Please explain how these rises are the governments fault? Or do you generally just want more handouts? 

[Borchester]

Not Tory but realistic. Don't tell me that you didn't have windows frozen on the inside of the bedrooms growing up, and one fire downstairs if you were lucky. You're just being grumpy.

You may have hit the nail on the head there Toots.My father once went to Clapham Commom, saw a fallen tree and tipped the park keepers to bring it home for us. It kept us in firewood for a year.

Not wishing to cast asparagus, but I sometimes think that the problem today is that a lot of folk don't enjoy a good crisis

[T00ts]

What a superb Tory comment.
Moving around to keep warm actually uses energy which we have to create through the use of food. You knew that, I'm sure.
So people will need to eat more and exercise more whilst wearing 2 sweaters. Great advice, T00ts! Eating and heating!

Not Tory but realistic. Don't tell me that you didn't have windows frozen on the inside of the bedrooms growing up, and one fire downstairs if you were lucky. You're just being grumpy. 

[Barry]

I heard the same partly caused by fuel and there have been a lot of house sales etc.

If so, the fuel pocket money they have given out has probably not made too much of a dent. I wonder if Liz will provide more pocket money, because tax cuts don't help those who don't pay tax.
I still stand by a minimum of £20k tax free income would be good.

[Barry]

They might have to wear a couple of sweaters like we did when we were young. At least the young can move around to keep warm unlike the old and infirm.

What a superb Tory comment.
Moving around to keep warm actually uses energy which we have to create through the use of food. You knew that, I'm sure.
So people will need to eat more and exercise more whilst wearing 2 sweaters. Great advice, T00ts! Eating and heating!

[T00ts]

And the government take from VAT will rise accordingly. I'm sure the government will be thinking about people who are cold in their houses whilst putting another £200 into the Treasury coffers per family per year.

I heard a rumour that the Treasury is unexpectedly awash with cash - does anyone know if that is true?

I heard the same partly caused by fuel and there have been a lot of house sales etc. 

[Barry]

And the government take from VAT will rise accordingly. I'm sure the government will be thinking about people who are cold in their houses whilst putting another £200 into the Treasury coffers per family per year.

I heard a rumour that the Treasury is unexpectedly awash with cash - does anyone know if that is true?

[T00ts]

Your lucky Toots  , the boots on the other foot in our house with the Mrs continuously handing out 'help with the bills' to our kids . The increase in that department will no doubt see our megre savings depleted further .

We have already had one returnee , if the other starts thinking about it I might have to do one and leave them to it .

They might have to wear a couple of sweaters like we did when we were young. At least the young can move around to keep warm unlike the old and infirm.