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Original poster

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

257 replies

Southerngal5 · 09/02/2022 10:39

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...

OP posts:
onlychildhamster · 11/02/2022 16:56

@Orangesandlemons77 there is an article in the guardian about draughty 1930s interwar housing. It's not my experience at all even though my flat was built at the same time. The houses featured in the article were 1930s semis which were built after slum clearance.

Orangesandlemons77 · 11/02/2022 17:16

I was just reading that article! Ours is really old- Georgian-in the old servants quarters at the top of the building.

onlychildhamster · 11/02/2022 17:25

@Orangesandlemons77 so it's a conversion? Interesting how it is still warm, that really improves my impression of period conversions!

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Cost of living
Nsky · 11/02/2022 17:34

It’s a mess, worrying that more will need food banks, tho the question is, not an unlimited amount of money for those giving.
I give a set amount, I can, recently early retirement ( bit complex), always use Aldi and Lidl, just cat and I, no housing costs luckily.
I feel for those with no give, and yet the government allows it, while Bo boasts big profits

woodhill · 11/02/2022 17:45

Can the government not do anything about the fuel rises?

They could take the VAT off the bills, do a windfall tax on BP, scrap the green energy surcharges etc and the higher NI in April

It does feel like a stitch up

onlychildhamster · 11/02/2022 17:56

@woodhill France is forcing EDF to take the hit rather than ordinary french citizens. We only get a dodgy klarna style loan that many of us neither want or need; and that a lot of us might struggle to repay. Oh and a £150 council tax rebate.

woodhill · 11/02/2022 18:00

Yes it's disgusting

SussexSussex · 13/02/2022 07:57

I have to agree entirely with OP and the kickback they’ve received is entirely unfair. We’re in a similar boat, whilst inflation on the day to day essentials will be absorbed by our budget. Price increases and stagnant wages will mean that either (a) less is saved or (b) which is more likely, less discretionary spending will happen. So that goes the self employed gardeners £40 a fortnight, the fish and chips from the local chippie, grandparents might do an additional day childcare for DS so less goes to the day care business down the road employing 5 people. It’s a vicious circle.

So stop knocking those who are more fortunate for complaining. Because it’s just the same as those people belittling those less fortunate by suggesting they “just put another jumper on”

Lightning020 · 13/02/2022 08:29

I wish I could do my own gardening to save money but I get hay fever and also have a weak back.

vickyc90 · 13/02/2022 09:09

It will be made worse by the Bank of England calling for wage restraint to keep the costs to government of their stupid COVID borrowing low.

Once again it will be the squeezed middle who not only see wages stagnate, but also asked for increased contributions to keep those on benefits 😡

We will be able to weather the storm but if everything is increasing in cost by say 5% I would rather see that in my pay!

Original poster
Southerngal5 · 13/02/2022 10:25

It absolutely is the squeezed middle, we basically keep the country afloat... This weekend is valentines, DH & I love an occasion... 2 years ago pre pandemic I went & got my nails done, went for a nice bouncy blowdry, new dress & heels, posh meal out with DH in town with wine & cocktails, spent what we wanted without thinking... 2 years on & tonight DH is cooking dinner at home, got steaks in Lidl, a couple of bottles of pinot grigio, I'm doing my own nails & hair & will probably just wear my fluffy pjs to keep warm... We'll be watching the Tinder Swindler on Netflix & I can't wait for our cosy night.. We could still afford our pre pandemic night out but it seems wasteful for us given all the uncertainty.. 2 years ago we always supported local hairdressers, beauty salons, bars & restaurants but at the moment unfortunately we need to keep our cash in our own pockets...

OP posts:
Canaloha · 13/02/2022 10:27

Yes exactly, without people who normally would being able to spend money in these businesses, they close which isn't great for their staff.

Original poster
Southerngal5 · 13/02/2022 10:33

I can't understand why people don't see that, the country survives because the people in the middle pay their taxes & can afford to spend on non essential services. Now if like us they decide to stop spending on non essential services or to DIY like nails, hair colouring etc those businesses cannot survive & will close & possibly need benefits putting a strain on the govt.. Our hair salon is very quiet & instead of offers to intice customers in they have put up their prices in line with the new energy bills!!!

OP posts:
CrimbleCrumble1 · 13/02/2022 10:38

I’m fortunate not to be impacted by recent price rises and always try and spend my money at local businesses. A year or so ago a tapas place opened locally and I often go or buy a takeaway drink when I walk by, the owners are so lovely. It would be heartbreaking if it close after all their hard work.

CharSiu · 13/02/2022 10:58

We are certainly comfortable but your post though some have immediately have said in bad taste is spot on.

I bought an item related to my hobby last year, it was expensive from a small one man specialist business situated in London, it was absolutely a non essential. Non essential purchases for many will stop and the knock on effect will be dire for many businesses.

Original poster
Southerngal5 · 13/02/2022 11:25

My friend had a personal trainer up until last week & has now decided he isn't essential anymore... She's the fourth client he's lost since Jan, not through the quality of his service, my friend looks super & loves their sessions, she's just simply looking at what non essentials she can cut out...she's keeping her gym membership & will do youtube yoga & Jo wicks vids for free... That man is now losing weekly clients he would have been relying on...

OP posts:
emuloc · 13/02/2022 11:26

@Southerngal5

I can't understand why people don't see that, the country survives because the people in the middle pay their taxes & can afford to spend on non essential services. Now if like us they decide to stop spending on non essential services or to DIY like nails, hair colouring etc those businesses cannot survive & will close & possibly need benefits putting a strain on the govt.. Our hair salon is very quiet & instead of offers to intice customers in they have put up their prices in line with the new energy bills!!!
lots of people do see what you are saying tough. But what are people supposed to do, when they have to think about what is likely to be coming. I am not going to be spending on non essentials, when my gas and electric bills go up, regardless of the knock on effect. I have to think about keeping my household afloat.
Original poster
Southerngal5 · 13/02/2022 11:37

Absolutely I totally agree, we're the exact same, I'm doing my own hair & nails.etc, we've cut everything out except dc's activities, it's the govt who have caused this mess & will be the cause of hundreds of thousands of hospitality, leisure & beauty staff to lose their jobs & businesses to close simply because the customers who could afford their goods & services no longer can as their money needs to be spent on their households instead..

OP posts:
MidnightMeltdown · 13/02/2022 11:41

What I do find a bit strange is the fact that everywhere is still so busy. I live near a major city (not London), and have been out the last two weekends. There are hundreds of restaurants on every street, yet trying to get a table in any of them without a booking is virtually impossible. Everywhere is extremely busy and fully booked. You certainly wouldn't think that there was a cost of living crisis going on.

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 13/02/2022 11:43

@MidnightMeltdown I think a lot of people are in denial or using credit cards. There's still the novelty of eating out post covid restrictions too.

Original poster
Southerngal5 · 13/02/2022 11:44

I noticed that too! We have been out for dinner in the past month but only to use gift vouchers we recieved at Christmas

OP posts:
CrimbleCrumble1 · 13/02/2022 11:48

MidnightMeltdown I agree, I’ve been trying to book hotels and they are fully booked, restaurants are the same and shops are really busy.

DoubleGauze · 13/02/2022 11:53

I'm scared. We don't use our heating as we live in a warm high rise flat , and I've worked out that we'll have to find an extra £70pm for that energy bill. We've already cut back as much as we can in all other areas to accommodate the rising cost of food. We're completely screwed as we cannot increase our income as there is a disability/carer situation in our home. I guess we're borrowing from family to survive from now on. We're just one unexpected outgoing away from totally fucked if I'm honest.

But yes , we're all feeling it. If those better off stop their hotel stays and manicures etc then people on mw will lose their jobs. It's so bloody gloomy.

emuloc · 13/02/2022 11:53

Maybe some of those people who were able to save a bit of money during the covid lockdown are now out and about, now restrictions are easing, as a pp said.

woodhill · 13/02/2022 11:54

Yes, definitely cutting back as you don't know what is the next thing they will try to get more money it of us