Is everyone going to be affected by the cost of living?

[Southerngal5]

Ie all sectors of society not just the ones who are barely getting by currently & will now pushed into poverty...
The squeezed middle will be affected & will likely have to do without luxuries they once took for granted... I'm finding it quite scary to be honest.. I know I shouldn't as we're quite comfortable & can afford our mortgage & bills but we won't have many of the "nice" things we had planned for the dc... Please don't flame me as I know there are millions worse off but I can't see prices coming down in the foreseeable future...

I'm more mindful about where I buy stuff, as I can afford to I try and buy locally or from small businesses (no shade to those that don't but as I am fortunate enough to be able to I like to). I'm a saver anyway so will continue on that way. I suppose it all depends how close to the wind households were previously, many won't be pushed into struggle territory.

@Fairyliz

I don’t know. I read posts like this on MN all of the time and get worried. Then I walk around my very ordinary Midlands town and have to dodge the numerous vans re-laying drives, fitting kitchens and bathrooms etc. I try to book a reasonable restaurant and have to make sure I have booked three weeks in advance. If I want tickets for the local theatre to get a decent seat I have to book six months in advance. This is not a wealthy area, average wage must be about £30k. So the things I see don’t seem to correspond with the things I read.

I think people are spending by because of lockdown. Either monies been saved or inherited and people have had enough of being at home, not seeing people, doing anything (think roaring 20’s) However come September I think things are going to come home to roost, and people won’t have the money (think 1930’s depression).

Those who worked throughout the pandemic wont have lost any money. The local newsagents actually had an increase in earnings. Builders electricians etc and property market still booming. I think it is more luxury end that may suffer more. Non essential goods and services. Plus those on one lowish income per household.

I’m unlikely to be particularly affected, so long as I remain employed. It’s extremely unlikely that I or DH would lose our jobs, or that I couldn’t find another fairly swiftly (given what I do), so I’m very lucky.

The only impact is likely to be that I save less, as I already live quite frugally. I grow my own food, forage, pick up furniture from free sites, use the library, etc. I don’t spend. I’m another one with a parent who isn’t good with money, which certainly concentrates the mind from an early age - though I’m not as prepared as 2bazookas.

I do plan to spend more on charity (specifically food banks) since things are going to get worse for a lot of people. Food prices have shot up, so I will do what I can to help.

I think that there will be quite an impact on people who haven’t fixed mortgage rates, have overstretched (school fees are probably going to jump, for example), or have a lot of debt. As well as those who were just about ok until now.

@qualitygirl

As I said electricity is my only household bill I cannot opt out of...I will notice even though we have a high disposable income. It's my highest bill...

@qualitygirl - do you not pay council tax / water rates / oil or gas / insurance? You mentioned a landlord in an earlier post, do you pay rent? How is electricity the only bill you can’t opt out of?

It’s not hit properly yet so difficult to say. If people can get second jobs easily, it won’t be fun but it’s not a crisis.
The worry is the rich/poor divide. This growing ever bigger.
It costs me a fortune to go to work now. Not just fuel but the other stuff I need to do it. I’m public sector.
Husband on the other hand has never been busier, international flights, expenses paid. He works in a glitzy profession.

It's just totally shut created by a monster right wing Tory government who care only for their thickie ideology. We are going to see people dying on the streets, crime will increase beyond our wildest imaginings. The only people who will be safe from this are the rich. I am bloody terrified TBH. Anybody who voted Tory on this site should hang their heads in shame.... you're murderers and have let children starve and be cold. Disgusting.