To ask when is the cost of living going to go down?

Are people not seeing any costs going down? Yes it’s shit and everything is expensive- it’s depressing even going to supermarket. But I’ve renewed both my car and home insurance in the last 6 weeks and I was offered lower premiums than last year on both. Also my energy bills are less than when the price cap was higher last year. And I am looking forward to (hopefully) getting off my high 2 year fix mortgage I needed to take out in 2023 next year to a rate that doesn’t start with a 5.

We are experiencing a cost of living crisis as a results of the Tory party fucking things up for the last god-knows-how-long.

For the CoL to become more affordable for all you'd need to reduce the gap between the top and bottom.

But given that the UK is a "me first" society, and vehemently opposed to any sort of wealth redistribution policies, we just have to accept wealth will continue to accumulate into fewer and fewer hands, with the rest of us fighting over the scraps.

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Anything here OP https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/find-a-free-level-3-qualification/list-of-colleges-and-training-providers-able-to-offer-free-places-for-level-3-qualifications

British root vegetables have struggled this year as the rain has rotted all the veg. So it is going to be a double whammy

@scotpancakes If you mean literally go down, with the price of things falling month on month, then be careful what you wish for. Deflation is a horrible thing to happen to an economy because people put off everything they can, as it will be cheaper tomorrow (read up on what happened to Japan over the last three decades). For a small taste of that, look what happens when there is a rumour that the government is going to cut VAT or stamp duty. A small, "Goldilocks" level of inflation is a key component of a healthy economy. Obviously not 10% on RPI, of course.

What I assume you mean is, when will your household income catch up with recent increases in the prices of stuff you buy, and that's as much about the sector you work in and your individual employer as anything else — plus interest rates, if you have a mortgage. The cost of living is your little window into the entire economy. It isn't some dial that the government can magically turn back and isn't doing so just to make people suffer.

I think Jacob Rees-Mogg said we'd start seeing the benefits of Brexit in 50 years time so 20-50 years after that maybe.

Yes it really is mean. I think it’s supposedly to reduce sugar content but conveniently they are still the same price. I mean you can mess with a lot of things and I am being very light hearted here but to mess with a girls chocolate is too far.

I honestly think this post is so accurate. We really need mechanisms to allow people to change career direction in midlife and the training should be online to allow people to access it.

I retrained for a new career but it cost around £12,000 but I had no choice due to disability - I'm no longer able to work in my former career. My training course demanded in-person attendance and it made life most difficult for parents (especially single parents) and disabled / chronically ill people. There are much better ways of using technology to increase accessibility.

OP I just want to say - things are really hard at the minute financially for so many people. Don't beat yourself up for finding it hard. It IS hard.

That’s nice to see but huge swathes of industry will stop investing particularly in staff - food retail has tiny margins and won’t be able to absorb the extra costs.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/financial-market-worries-uk-budget-ease-115402289

I think labour budget has screwed the economy on all counts - inflation will continue to rise unfortunately

Very random OP but are you half decent at taking pictures?

A friend of my seemed good using iPhone Portrait mode, and got herself a professional camera. She is no pro but does take lovely photos and is good with kids - She charged £180 for a 30 minute family shoot! £250 for a newborn shoot. £550 for a 3 hour 'Outdoors' shoot

She's been going a year. And it's helped her massively. The initial cost was her £300 camera. Happy to link you to the one I'm talking about via Amazon etc

It's really hard. Especially without a partner. You're paying childcare costs, providing a home for them and paying for all bills and outgoings on one salary, without financial assistance

This means you either need to be able to work to something higher up quickly (hardly going to get the rewards for it if it's taking years and years), or change professions. But again, this isn't always practical.

In addition to that, I wish posters would understand you can't just take a DC and run off somewhere further away The courts can order the child to be close by, within x amount of miles. And that's without considering them implementing other measures such as more legally enforced time with the dad. It's all very complex

Of course, as a single parent you also need your family and friends. You cannot just be expected to uproot like that. How ridiculous.

It's really sad OP. The COL is only going up. It's just how quickly it happens that's the question. it sounds like you're trying really hard.

Is there a sideways move you could make in your industry that would allow you to progress in another side-industry that would allow you faster promotions? Media is very badly paid in some areas - not all though.

Would more qualifications help? It's horrible feeling trapped. I hope you can find something to bring in extra money.

This.

If people who are working are very very lucky, eventually wages will rise to bridge the gap a little.

Everyone else, let's tighten our belts.

It’s not condescending at all- im just asking you to put some meat on the bones to make it a practical suggestion that OP could use!

she could become a teacher- but it takes years and crap pay (good pension though) probs won’t help her buy a house, probs won’t pay more than the media.

she could become a hairdresser- seems unlikely that this would be better paid than her media role

she could be an accountant-and yes she probably WILL EARN MORE! But £10k+ to qualify and takes years.

so basically what we’re saying is OP- there are other jobs out there pick one and work towards it?!?

Interested to know where you think the latitude for growing food would be?

I've watched Spain get soaked this week and the tragedy unfold. It's too hot for much of the summer, in drought and then very suddenly too wet there. France looks OK but it's hard it's fair share of drought and then sudden flooding too.

If the AMOC switches off we're all screwed aren't we?

There seems to be no clear hedge anywhere against what's coming. It's all very unpredictable.

Too much rain in northern Europe, too little rain in Southern Europe and then floods in all areas, large swings in temperature as well. Is there a goldilocks zone? and how long would it last anyway?

Another work side hustle that I have received is " refer a friend"

I recommended people for interview for vacancies. If they joined the company, I was given 3 large bonus payments over a year.

I also joined the work pension (contributions matched by employer)

I also joined the work share save scheme & sold my shares at a large profit (only what was paid in was guaranteed, profit was not guaranteed)

Also the monarchy can pay for their own security. We need not pay for their keep because we “want” them, how outdated. I suspect the monarchy won’t go on much beyond William +/- George to be honest.

But Megan and Harry are no longer part of the working royal family? They contribute nothing.

This is no good as a single parent.

Not vile at all. If we, the British public, want a royal family (and apparently we do) then we need to pick up the tab for keeping them safe.