Cost of living crisis ( sorry greed crisis)

How is everyone getting on with the pure greed crisis. Whether its energy, fuel, shops or banks (i may have missed one or two) all of em are fuckin us sideways.

Like most me and the wife work full time jobs and i used to be able to go abroad once in a while. The while is a wedge of 4 years now. The tories were **** and labour will be just as ****.

I used to look forward to a holiday, now i just hate the country the way its gone. I just dont care about much anymore. I care less about my job . Ive had a week off and go back tomorrow. Cant be arsed one bit.

Ppl call now saying u owe us this or that. I just tell em to **** off .

 

Came back to the UK two and a half years ago. Couldn't believe how expensive it had become, and more significantly, how little you got for your money.

The last couple of years have been a struggle at times, mostly because my main job was contract work so I didn't get any paid time off. I recently started a new job earning what is objectively a "good" salary, which will finally give us some breathing space. However, I still need to do quite a lot of freelance work on the side in order to feel vaguely comfortable. And it is only vaguely. Eating out, especially if alcoholic drinks are involved, is certainly far more of a luxury than a regular thing

Things I started doing to save money, and will continue to do:

Showering at the gym whenever possible - this more than covers the membership fee in savings on heating the water up, and encourages me to go most days.

Working in winter in my bedroom with the door closed, as I can heat it with the electric towel rail from the ensuite toilet for a fraction of the cost of putting the heating on.

Doing a significant amount of my shopping at a local discount store which sells off food close to its use-by date. It's actually a great thing as it massively cuts down on food waste.

Using the slow cooker whenever possible.

I'm sure there are others, and objectively these are just common sense things to be doing. But the fact that I've had to think about such things in modern Britain is a sobering thought. As is the fact that as a well-qualified professional, I still need a second income on the side in order to have what I consider to be an "acceptable" standard of living in this country.

I'm not complaining by the way - I know that I'm in a better position than many, and it's fully my own choice to do a lot of extra work - on average ten hours a week over and above my main job. But I'd far rather my main income allowed me to have the small luxuries that make life actually worth living, so I could spend that time on hobbies or with my family. As an experienced, bilingual university graduate in my 40's, I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation.

 

I think after the budget in October (if I’ve got my dates right) a lot of folk - myself included - will be looking at living overseas as an option.

It amazes me how countries with bigger land mass to maintain and less people paying into the equivalent as council tax, get charged a fraction of what we do - Spains council tax is around 10/20% of what we pay here - that gap will be bigger come the next budget as that’s likely to go up - and no doubt the wheelie bin collection will be every 3 weeks.

 

Brexit hasn't done us any favours. On a plus point maybe things are beginning to come down, my car insurance for eg.

Your post comes across as maybe you're a bit depressed. Might be worth a visit to yout GP?

 

The way council tax is calculated is completely inequitable, and surely needs a complete overhaul.

That's a great shout Helen. However, getting a GP appointment can be extremely exercising, depending on your locality. Not remotely good for anyone's mental health. But certainly seeking some sort of support even it's just taking to friends and family would be a great start.

@BarnsleyBomber if you are feeling under pressure and your mental health is suffering because of it, I hope you know you've got plenty of potential support on this brilliant forum of ours. We might bitch at each other about football matters and other things, but when push comes to shove the vast majority of people on here have got each other's backs. Don't be afraid to ask for support if you need it!

 

I get the anger and frustration but this really isn't a good idea. I expect most companies will work with you to structure some form of payment plan if you explain, but if you tell them to **** off you risk heading for CCJs and bailiffs etc.

 

You’re right regarding holidays. I’m a teacher and at the moment, we won’t be touching anything abroad unless it’s planned a year in advance or the day before. £4500 for a week somewhere decent at an average hotel isn’t my cup of tea. I’ll wait until I retire in 30 years and go for 75% cheaper.

Unfortunately we live in a country that’s ****** but like many others around the world.

Companies around the country will be outpricing people which will lead to them going under. I honestly can’t see how pubs and restaurants can continue to charge their prices and not go under. I only ever see a pub on a Saturday now and paid £5.70 for a pint in Lincoln on Saturday. Surely the after work pint and paying those prices are a thing of the past?

 

We used to eat out on Thursday night with friends, don't do that anymore.

We're in Ireland at the moment and stuff is only slightly cheaper here; a pint and a glass of wine being about 11 Euros, it was £11 in Northern Ireland.

 

Why do you think this, out of interest? I can't see that there will be a mass exodus.

 

Brexit which caused a lot of our financial pressures will stop you doing that anywhere in Europe.

 

Well I must have found a decent way to find Europe.
In the camper van, sites often half price than prices in UK.
Cheap diesel, paid £1-25 a litre to fill up in Poland.
Found Slovakia a bargain,beautifull places lovely sunshine, 6 pints sat in the shade cost us £10.25 aaaah much.
Bavaria as nice as always ,slightly cheaper than the UK for food.
I consider myself very lucky to be able to find these places.

 

Wearing work shirts two days in a row if they don't smell. Buying deodorant. Showering once a day. Having one cooked meal a day. 18 hour fasting. Wearing socks more than once. Wash days. Washing kitchen utensils after use. Buying washing up liquid even if you have a dishwasher.

 

Just a thought, and you may have already considered this as an option but if you really do want to get away try looking at booking your own flights and accommodation. Obviously appreciate if you have school age children or work in a school you will be limited but as an example we are flying out to Rome in mid September for £47 return per person and have found a campsite 5 miles outside the city with pods (not tents), pool bar etc. Total cost for 2 adults and a 16 yo is £600 for 4 nights including travel to Stansted (that;s the down side)

I’m a big advocate of Booking.com and getting flights direct from the airlines.

Also take a look at Malta for some autumn sun. Reasonable flights and accommodation is cheap.

Hope you alll get something sorted

 

And isn't it funny that yesterday it was announced that gas and electricity prices will go up in a few months, just in time for winter.
Happens every year.
Poorer people once again getting nadgered by those in control. It's like they plan for it. Deliberately.

 

There's no great conspiracy, just incompetence. We haven't invested our own money in infrastructure for decades so cash for pay rises/upgrade works/shareholder dividends will always be passed on to the end consumer.

I earn a decent wage and still get miserable at the monthly outgoings. It's absolutely beyond me how the younger generation can afford to go out/go on holiday/buy food - they've been shafted.

 

I’m not sure where they will move to as the 90 days in 180 will rule out most of Europe for people. Countries that were outside the Schengen Zone are now looking to join that group, narrowing down the potential places to settle. There is also the financial requirement to relocate to another country, this would make it out of reach of ordinary people. Another Brexit benefit

 

Going to get harder for ten million pensioners with Labour scrapping the winter fuel payment knowing a 9% energy bill rise was coming in October.

 

Supermarkets, banks, oil/energy companies and plenty more recording record profits.

Go figure....

 

Went to Spain at the beginning of the holidays and I noticed things were cheaper there - certain items seemed a little more expensive but overall things seemed cheaper and better value for money. We are royally ripped off in this country

 

I get things are tight for lots. But coming out with labour being the culprits. Ffs. Let's get the tories back into power and look after the haves. Hard decisions will be made. But to make out for example 10M pensioners will be hard hit. Is pushing it a bit. Lots will have private pensions and are not in the least going to be put into poverty brackets and willingly would prefer it to go to those most in need. And I just don't mean pensioners.

Independent Age, a charity that helps the elderly, has said previously that 20 per cent of single pensioners and 13 per cent of all pensioners relied solely on the state pension and benefits. As 12.6m collect the state pension, this could suggest that 1.63 million rely solely on state pension and benefits.28 May 2024.

Those on benefits will be looked after. not have the allowance removed ad hoc. Those on the margin will be means tested
800,000 pensioners are not claiming benefits they are entitled to. Be it ignorance of the system or pride I don't know.

I hope labour take This advice from Martin lewis.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2024/07/eligibility-changes-winter-fuel-payment/

I will wait and see b4 jumping on the labour being the same bandwagon. Not 2 months into power.