Cost of living crisis - how are you all doing?

[IrishBlueSince92]

Took on another job about a year ago
Earning an extra £250 a week on top of my main job. Still seem to be skint most of the time, but also don’t know what I’ll do financially if this part time job ever ends

 

[117 M34]

Not done too badly so far but I'm being made redundant in December and mortgage goes up next summer so might start feeling the pinch soon.

 

[Coatigan]

The news today called it a cost of living crisis more people shop lifting stealing make up and other non essentials paired with mothers shoplifting for food by hiding it in the baby’s pram. I don’t know what else we can call it, if we want to try and improve charity giving and government help.

We are focusing on two very different sides of it. I am not for one second arguing the extremity of it, or the scale at that end of the spectrum.

It has been going on nearly 3 years though, and there is no sign of any decreases, and society as a whole continues to pay whatever the increases are. Till that changes, it will run on.

The media can't really call it a cost of living shitshow though, I guess.

 

[Tuearts right boot]

We are focusing on two very different sides of it. I am not for one second arguing the extremity of it, or the scale at that end of the spectrum.

It has been going on nearly 3 years though, and there is no sign of any decreases, and society as a whole continues to pay whatever the increases are. Till that changes, it will run on.

The media can't really call it a cost of living shitshow though, I guess.

There wont be any decreases, we'll just catch up over time....and so on and so forth.

 

[Coatigan]

There wont be any decreases, we'll just catch up over time....and so on and so forth.

That's pretty much what I am saying.

It is misleading, calling it a crisis, at least in the part of that implying it is temporary. Encourages people to treat it like it will just stop, and spend or live like that. And for others to keep increasing the prices, because they can, because people will pay it. Because they expect it to be temporary.

 

[Kompany Car]

I live in a middle class area i guess with a population of about 12,000.demographically its a town with an oldish population.
We have 7 bars/pubs and a weatherspoons. A legion, working mens club a sports club and about 6/7 restaurants. 2/3 cafes

Mon-weds some are closed or pretty quiet but thurs/sun they are busy! The village high street is pretty tight and compact and if you walk down of an eveining thurs onwards there is always people in the bars/restaurants. Its a slightly older clientelle, which tells me they are the ones with spare cash.
The spoons is constantly rammed.

Reading in here that villages and towns are losing pubs, we seem to be gaining them!

Same here we have 7 pubs all of which bar one does food, all very busy on a Wed to Sunday. Pubs in more upmarket areas, tend to do well regardless of economic downturns as it all comes down to disposable income. If you had a few grand a month as disposable income before inflation kicked in, then a few hundred quid extra a month on bills isn’t gonna impact you very much. You also get the effect where people will spend money in the village even though it’s more expensive, the local bakery and butchers are always busy regardless of the fact that most of the customers could drive 10 mins down the road and go to the supermarket and save a decent amount. It does all sound a bit Royston Vasey but it seems to keep the village and community alive, which has sadly been lost from so many villages and small towns.

Like you say, if the pubs are also aimed at the 50 plus age group, many of whom have either a small mortgage or have paid it off but are still on good money, then that’s the most lucrative market at the moment.

 

[Kompany Car]

That's pretty much what I am saying.

It is misleading, calling it a crisis, at least in the part of that implying it is temporary. Encourages people to treat it like it will just stop, and spend or live like that. And for others to keep increasing the prices, because they can, because people will pay it. Because they expect it to be temporary.

I agree that the messaging is wrong and that it’s driving the wrong behaviours, it’s effectively creating a wage-price spiral, albeit that the so called spiral is a bit of a myth as labour costs are only part of the equation. Inflation is baked in and prices will not go back down to what they were a few years ago.

The only things which would drive down costs is a large increase in unemployment and a slowdown in the world economy. Deflation though is the last thing any government or economy wants.

 

[mscenterh750]

I’ve been there too mate, I feel for you, hope everything pans out well for you ..

Thank you mate.

 

[Coatigan]

I agree that the messaging is wrong and that it’s driving the wrong behaviours, it’s effectively creating a wage-price spiral, albeit that the so called spiral is a bit of a myth as labour costs are only part of the equation. Inflation is baked in and prices will not go back down to what they were a few years ago.

The only things which would drive down costs is a large increase in unemployment and a slowdown in the world economy. Deflation though is the last thing any government or economy wants.

To a point. The banks and gov are trying to discourage spending by raising rates and inflation. But we (as a whole) continue to just spend. Because we just accept the cost of living crisis as a narrative. So we go and pay say £23 for something that less than 2 years ago would have cost £14. So in 3 months that becomes £25, because it has continuously risen in price and people have kept paying it. If we don't gradually kerb it, it will all come crashing down and it'll be really tough. Particularly for the poorest.

 

[hampshireblue]

But don't worry, they are predicting the rate of inflation will drop sharply soon as the gas and electricity price rises of 12 months ago drop out of the equation. The rub of course is that this time last year we aere all getting around £65pm to subsidise the bills. That of course no longer is the case, so although we will all be worse off, the CPI headline figure will be a reduction.