Has cost of living affected you?

Sherliarty

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Head into? Feels like we're pretty much in one already to me.
Agreed I really hope some of the neighbourly goodwill developed during lockdown will mean we look out for each other in the difficult times to come.....
 
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nicki

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Well the cost of living is screwing up mine and my sons life plans. He moved into student accommodation in the centre of the city during covid so he wouldn't bring it home to me as I'm classes as clinically vulnerable. Then all his flat mates ended up stuck at their homes so he was on his own a lot and ended up backwards and forwards between there and home. So when that tenancy was up he decided to move out closer to home to a smaller and cheaper place with his friend, but that tenancy ends at the end of June and he graduates in July. He had planned to move into his own place in the city centre to cut down his expenses of having to commute to his job (only a fast food place but better than nothing!) but we crunched the numbers and it turned out he'd have to work 40 hours a week every week just to cover bills and groceries when his current contract is for 4 hours (Its changing once he's graduated). So after 2 years of me basically being an empty nester, he's moving back in. He's going to be contributing to the household bills as my benefits which have been keeping a roof over my head (no food on the table though!) will be cut, so he'll cover that short fall and pay extra to cover energy cost increases, plus decent groceries (I've been living on lots of pasta, potatoes, onions and milk based things, hardly any veg or meat as it's been too expensive) and making some home improvements he thinks we need. Then he's going to start saving as much of wages as possible to buy things like a bike for commuting, taking driving lessons so we can have someone who drives in our family apart from my dad (who's nearly 70 so I hate calling on that daddy's taxi) and my sister (who's busy with her own things and 2 kids!), then saving up an emergency fund so that they can in theory eventually move out.
 
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Frugalgal

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I expect that the recent Government announcements to help during the cost of living crisis is not really going to help much for many people who were already struggling?....the so called £400 grant to help with fuel costs won't even be noticed since bills are going to be twice that much for many?! If inflation is 9%, this means people need a 9% pay rise to just keep up with the cost of living which I don't know of anyone getting that sort of payrise?...and so things still looking grim. However....went to Skegness this weekend and have to say, going on the roaring trade that seemed to be going on at the holiday park venues there....the bars were packed and business seemed very boyant?...however....sea side resort profits are only seasonal and rely on holiday period income. I think people need to consider what they "need" over what things they "want".
 

Zerorush

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I expect that the recent Government announcements to help during the cost of living crisis is not really going to help much for many people who were already struggling?....the so called £400 grant to help with fuel costs won't even be noticed since bills are going to be twice that much for many?! If inflation is 9%, this means people need a 9% pay rise to just keep up with the cost of living which I don't know of anyone getting that sort of payrise?...and so things still looking grim. However....went to Skegness this weekend and have to say, going on the roaring trade that seemed to be going on at the holiday park venues there....the bars were packed and business seemed very boyant?...however....sea side resort profits are only seasonal and rely on holiday period income. I think people need to consider what they "need" over what things they "want".
Yep it's just there to shut people up for a bit methinks, like the council tax rebate, the minimum wage increase, the little extra on universal credit. It's just nothing. According to ONS, the mean family income has increased £3k in the last 20 years (roughly £33k to £36k). In the same period, a loaf of bread, the average house, and MP's salaries have doubled. We have tough times ahead if productivity remains stagnant. I couldn't tell you where people are getting the money to go on holiday - unless they're all putting it on the credit card... :oops::oops::oops::oops::oops::oops::oops:
 
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jungkook

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Paid £2.02 earlier for fuel!! Ready for my daily 50 mile round trip commute... Thankfully, I start my new job in 2 weeks which is 3 miles from my house!
 
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Frugalgal

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Paid £2.02 earlier for fuel!! Ready for my daily 50 mile round trip commute... Thankfully, I start my new job in 2 weeks which is 3 miles from my house!
It is absolutely ridiculous, and surely not sustainable for our economy?.....I am lucky enough to still be working from home mainly, and feel resentful that I have to go into work for a meeting this afternoon and therefore use petrol. The rise in fuel prices will not encourage the return to offices and commuting and employers need to recognise this. I think it is good for the environment though.
 
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Sherliarty

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I think transport policy in this country is a bit of a mess. It is used far too often as a political football but what we need is something coherent that works for everyone whether you drive, bike, walk or use public transport.
 

Sherliarty

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Well the cost of living is screwing up mine and my sons life plans. He moved into student accommodation in the centre of the city during covid so he wouldn't bring it home to me as I'm classes as clinically vulnerable. Then all his flat mates ended up stuck at their homes so he was on his own a lot and ended up backwards and forwards between there and home. So when that tenancy was up he decided to move out closer to home to a smaller and cheaper place with his friend, but that tenancy ends at the end of June and he graduates in July. He had planned to move into his own place in the city centre to cut down his expenses of having to commute to his job (only a fast food place but better than nothing!) but we crunched the numbers and it turned out he'd have to work 40 hours a week every week just to cover bills and groceries when his current contract is for 4 hours (Its changing once he's graduated). So after 2 years of me basically being an empty nester, he's moving back in. He's going to be contributing to the household bills as my benefits which have been keeping a roof over my head (no food on the table though!) will be cut, so he'll cover that short fall and pay extra to cover energy cost increases, plus decent groceries (I've been living on lots of pasta, potatoes, onions and milk based things, hardly any veg or meat as it's been too expensive) and making some home improvements he thinks we need. Then he's going to start saving as much of wages as possible to buy things like a bike for commuting, taking driving lessons so we can have someone who drives in our family apart from my dad (who's nearly 70 so I hate calling on that daddy's taxi) and my sister (who's busy with her own things and 2 kids!), then saving up an emergency fund so that they can in theory eventually move out.
I'm sorry to hear this but can I credit you on raising such a responsible and mature son.
 

Frugalgal

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Things continue to look grim. It is a world wide problem, although I think our country has made some pretty awful mistakes that will make things all the more painful for many. Today, I have taken advantage of Amazon Prime Day to take advantage of free postage for a month, and saved money on my daughter's haircut by going to a local cheaper hairdresser, where she just had a dry cut which saved money. I also plan my journeys in the car to try and make sure that I try to make most efficient use of my petrol, so I do things I need to do within one journey in the same direction if possible. I am also working from home as much as possible to save money on petrol to the office.
 

Sherliarty

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If martin lewis is correct then the usual cost-saving tips are not going to make much of a difference against the increases in energy prices coming our way. I find his concern/alarm rather worrying as often he is such an optimistic person.
 
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