Has cost of living affected you?

Zerorush

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Been noticing how things are getting dearer, even small things in Tesco's, which is not as cheap as it used to be. Stuff like bread, meat, veg, toiletries etc. keeps going up. Rents everywhere keep going up, had to migrate to a town with not many jobs just to get a fairer deal. Apparently prices and bills are set to boom again in 2022. I'm thinking of going back to school but am apprehensive about this trend, is anyone else worried??
 

Frugalgal

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Financial analysts have noted how the world is undergoing huge inflation due to Covid and supply chain difficulties. UK and USA have huge debt due to Covid and businesses not operating. You may have noticed how fuel and gas has rocketed and these increases are being passed onto consumers. Now is the time to use all your resources to tighten your belt and save money, or earn extra income. My tips would be:

1. Invest in Crypto as an investment hedge against inflation if you can
2. Make full use of freebies
3. Make full use of cheap supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi and use their loyalty cards on every shop
4. Make use of any new referral offers you can
5. Make use of price comparison sites you can
6. Make use of charity shops and second hand websites

You can save money during this time, but it may take some effort and a bit of research.
 
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Zerorush

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Financial analysts have noted how the world is undergoing huge inflation due to Covid and supply chain difficulties. UK and USA have huge debt due to Covid and businesses not operating. You may have noticed how fuel and gas has rocketed and these increases are being passed onto consumers. Now is the time to use all your resources to tighten your belt and save money, or earn extra income. My tips would be:

1. Invest in Crypto as an investment hedge against inflation if you can
2. Make full use of freebies
3. Make full use of cheap supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi and use their loyalty cards on every shop
4. Make use of any new referral offers you can
5. Make use of price comparison sites you can
6. Make use of charity shops and second hand websites

You can save money during this time, but it may take some effort and a bit of research.
Thanks for your comment frugalgal. Not trying to sound rude but I am getting a bit fed up of scrimping by and tightening my belt.. Up to recently that's been life! Tesco cards and nectar save a few pennies, my credit card does cashback, and I make a little money from investments, though crypto took a dive last month and lost me hundreds, waiting to see if that goes back up..

I don't have any large purchases planned but one day it would be nice to, and seeing little things like a can of beans or a pack of spinach go up in price over the last few years really gets me down. House prices in particular are just stupid and has really affected me.. When are things ever going to start becoming more affordable??
 

Jon

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Yeah over the last year I would say it's been worse than ever.

Just filling up my little 1.2l car yesterday took me to about £45-£50 for unleaded!

I don't think we've ever spent so much money on food for our weekly shop as well.

Less said about fuel costs the better.

Are wages going up in line with this stuff? I spent 11 years in my last job working in the public sector so have no idea lol but are private sector wages moving north to help cover these crazy costs?

One other thing that has SKYROCKETED is the price of Rent. Around here (North Leeds) you can see what was a £600 a month 3 bedroom house now costing £780-£800 a month!
 

Zerorush

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Yeah over the last year I would say it's been worse than ever.

Just filling up my little 1.2l car yesterday took me to about £45-£50 for unleaded!

I don't think we've ever spent so much money on food for our weekly shop as well.

Less said about fuel costs the better.

Are wages going up in line with this stuff? I spent 11 years in my last job working in the public sector so have no idea lol but are private sector wages moving north to help cover these crazy costs?

One other thing that has SKYROCKETED is the price of Rent. Around here (North Leeds) you can see what was a £600 a month 3 bedroom house now costing £780-£800 a month!
Hi Jon.
Glad to see it's not just me. Isn't it a nightmare, makes me dread shopping sometimes.
You used to be able to fill a carrier bag on a fiver in tesco if you really tried. That wasn't too long ago. That's impossible now.
Once you see something going up you've had it. Things don't go down in price!
Private sector is not keeping up. National minimum wage is getting an increase in april,it is way overdue. Wages are going up but not by a lot and they make you work harder these days I find, with less job security on top.
£800 for a 3 bedroom? I lived in Bath/Bristol way up until recently and often lived in rooms. In 2010 a good rate was 250 to 300. Now it's 600-700. This is not for a house. That's for a shared room in a house!
Flats have got silly. Even on the outskirts. And you need a car there to be fair.
I hope we get a handle on things sooner rather than later. If you're on the bottom you really feel it
 

Sherliarty

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I definitely think food shopping is more expensive, and certainly, things like cinema/theatre tickets have shot up. I agree on house prices, all this talk about people leaving the cities and moving to the county so I expected house prices here to start going down, but nope, it all seems to be more expensive. I really think it's time our Government limited how many homes can be sold to overseas investors or corporations. I'm also bracing myself for this year's utility bills, we've just been put on a water meter, the whole area has been, no choice which I suspect will not result in cheaper bills.
 

Jon

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I definitely think food shopping is more expensive, and certainly, things like cinema/theatre tickets have shot up. I agree on house prices, all this talk about people leaving the cities and moving to the county so I expected house prices here to start going down, but nope, it all seems to be more expensive. I really think it's time our Government limited how many homes can be sold to overseas investors or corporations. I'm also bracing myself for this year's utility bills, we've just been put on a water meter, the whole area has been, no choice which I suspect will not result in cheaper bills.
Ah man we went on a water meter about 2 years ago (by choice!) as we thought it would be cheaper than paying a flat rate. To say it wasn’t was putting it mildly so we went back to fixed rate!
 

Sherliarty

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Ah man we went on a water meter about 2 years ago (by choice!) as we thought it would be cheaper than paying a flat rate. To say it wasn’t was putting it mildly so we went back to fixed rate!
I wish we had the option! The whole area is considered a water shortage area so eventually, every household has to be on one. Will be interesting to see what their profits will look like and whether all the leaking pipes will be fixed.....
 

Frugalgal

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I do agree with the doom and gloom and I understand that any pay rises last year will be cancelled out by inflation. The economy is in a mess so don't expect much help from the Government soon. I do believe in being resourceful and people looking for alternative ways to make money go further. I think survival is a lot about mindset as much as luck.
 

homie

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Try buying a second hand car. Decent ones have actually gone up in price over the last year, for the first time ever.

As I've said before, one big problem we've got is the online earning opportunities don't keep pace with inflation at best of times. When was the last time Pinecone or Populous put their pay up? Same with the likes of Roamler. And a £10 free bet from matched betting 5 years ago is still a £10 free bet now. It's not like it will go up 5% each year in line with inflation. I guess at least if you're selling something or offering a service you can dictate your own price, but the constant competition online often acts to keep prices low.

I did buy a pair of trainers yesterday from Primark for £5 and some jogging bottoms for £4.50 so there are still bargains out there if you are willing to look around and don't always need to be the height of fashion.

I've just had solar panels installed which will hopefully help to offset the rising energy costs, plus paying for it over 5 years interest free, which helps.
 
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cofito

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Ah man we went on a water meter about 2 years ago (by choice!) as we thought it would be cheaper than paying a flat rate. To say it wasn’t was putting it mildly so we went back to fixed rate!
This is Interesting, my circumstances have just changed and now rent a 2 bed house with just me living in it. My first water bill was £119 for 3 months. My last bill in my previous house 4 bed with 4 people living in it was £157 for 3 months. I have asked for a water meter as that is crazy to be paying not much less..... hope it does work out.
 

Jon

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This is Interesting, my circumstances have just changed and now rent a 2 bed house with just me living in it. My first water bill was £119 for 3 months. My last bill in my previous house 4 bed with 4 people living in it was £157 for 3 months. I have asked for a water meter as that is crazy to be paying not much less..... hope it does work out.
Double check with your supplier but when we went over to a meter they said within the first year if we are not happy we can scrap it and go back to fixed price
 

Zerorush

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Sorry for the extra moan lol, just been changed over from PFP Energy to British Gas and my bill has gone from £38 to £72 per month, an 89% increase. The competitors on comparethemarket and gocompare are even more expensive. Does anyone have two sticks I can borrow to rub together?
 

Jon

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Sorry for the extra moan lol, just been changed over from PFP Energy to British Gas and my bill has gone from £38 to £72 per month, an 89% increase. The competitors on comparethemarket and gocompare are even more expensive. Does anyone have two sticks I can borrow to rub together?
yeah i'm DREADING our increase in April

But I mean what you can do, the competition has gone out of the market now that loads of the smaller companies have gone bust
 

snoo

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To be honest I am crapping it for what happens in April. I am on Octopus, not sure if staying or moving actually would be any better.
 

Jon

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To be honest I am crapping it for what happens in April. I am on Octopus, not sure if staying or moving actually would be any better.
I think the advice 'at the moment' is to stay where you are and not come off fixed price
 

Karonher

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I can't imagine that things will change until people do. If we stop shopping at more expensive supermarkets they will have to drop their prices. If we stop going to the cinema/theater they will have to drop prices to entice people back. Using public transport may lead t reduced petrol/car prices.

The risk is that the supermarkets or cinemas go under and the now cheaper supermarkets use lack of competition as a reason to increase their prices.

We are likely going to have to become less of a throw-away society and go back to a more basic way of life. Trading cost for convenience and dispensing with unnecessary spending.
 

Frugalgal

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We are on Octopus too and are sticking as per advice. It sounds like the Government are under pressure to consider ways of helping people out with the forthcoming gas price increase in April so watch this space. Certainly, those people having to heat large houses may well be shouting the loudest.

Life is going to continue to be hard for people unfortunately, and I think people just need to try and prepare for some lean times and hardship. It may mean less waste, and maybe the world will see benefits from being less of a consumer throw away society. I have heard older generations say that things were better when everyone in the community was poor, and there was not such a rich and poor divide, people were happier and people looked out for each other. Few people like change, and no one wants to think of being worse off. Market forces may well see the retail winners as those who offer products at lower prices.

Hopefully the community on here will be able to offer support to those who are struggling financially.
 

MIch21

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I was unlucky with my gas and electric as my cheap fix rate finished just before Christmas and I have seen a rise in prices by about £20 a month if not more.

My water bill when I first moved into my house 2 years ago was meant to be £60 a month which I thought was stupid high for a three bed house in Crewe So asked for a water meter, they came out and they basically said a water meter could not be fitted for some reason and basically said my bill would be reduced (which I was really happy about) . Still pay about £40 a month but its better than before and def better off than a meter ( I have a greenhouse/garden that guzzles water in the summer even with a water butt to help save water)

Im dreading the annual increase of council tax.

Ive quickly realised that looking on outlet stores etc and buying quality etc which lasts longer is a good way of saving money - brought some dr Martens outlet for less than half price and hopefully will last a few years.
 

Jon

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saw a warning today that if your direct debit goes up a huge amount in April with one of these energy firms you are currently shit out of luck basically!!
 

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