Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
Original poster
Southerngal5 · 14/02/2022 09:54

@Invasionofthegutsnatchers

Christmas 2022 will be quite different I think. I'm saving already.
Absolutely agree, we'll be scaling down too
OP posts:
Soffit · 14/02/2022 10:47

I still don't see grabbing a Subway for lunch as a luxury. I actually think it's good value and reasonably nutritious for fast food. Costa, on the other hand, has always felt wrong and overpriced (along with the rest of the coffee shops).

Canaloha · 14/02/2022 11:20

@Southerngal5

Did my weekly shop yesterday & noticed how much things have increased on precious week 10p here, 20p here it really all adds up & it's going to get worse...
Yes I've noticed this the past fortnight. Preciously things seemed to creep up slowly but there's been big jumps lately. Thankfully fruit and veg (aside from berries) seems to still be quite low.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cost of living
Original poster
Southerngal5 · 14/02/2022 11:22

The thing I noticed most were frozen oven chips, always 1.19 gone up to 2.29! That's a big jump!

OP posts:
DoubleGauze · 14/02/2022 12:48

I do a weekly Morrisons shop and 4 months ago it cost me £85 each week. Now the same items cost £100 per week. I really only buy essentials too , everything costs more now.

Original poster
Southerngal5 · 14/02/2022 12:58

15 quid is a big difference & it's only going to get worse unfortunately...

OP posts:
Lightning020 · 14/02/2022 14:37

Yet Specsavers where I live massively busy every time I go in. Twice recently. The staff said they are always busy. She has never known it quiet. We do have a couple of other opticians locally but perhaps they are more popular who knows. Where are the customers finding the money?

SpaghettiArmsMurderer · 14/02/2022 15:02

@Lightning020

Yet Specsavers where I live massively busy every time I go in. Twice recently. The staff said they are always busy. She has never known it quiet. We do have a couple of other opticians locally but perhaps they are more popular who knows. Where are the customers finding the money?
Glasses are an essential though! If you can’t see properly then you can’t work, drive etc. Also if you work on a computer/screen then your employer has to pay for your eye test and towards glasses if you need them to use the screen.
Canaloha · 14/02/2022 15:08

@Lightning020

Yet Specsavers where I live massively busy every time I go in. Twice recently. The staff said they are always busy. She has never known it quiet. We do have a couple of other opticians locally but perhaps they are more popular who knows. Where are the customers finding the money?
Well it's good people are getting their eyes tested, I wouldn't say its something people should cut back on. If on certain benefits it's free, as it is for over 60s (or maybe 65s) and children- for those who have to pay full price it's usually not too much so probably for most people not a huge expenditure, especially as its only recommended every few years; so they're probably finding the money in their accounts or not paying Confused
MaryAndHerNet · 14/02/2022 15:10

@Lightning020

Yet Specsavers where I live massively busy every time I go in. Twice recently. The staff said they are always busy. She has never known it quiet. We do have a couple of other opticians locally but perhaps they are more popular who knows. Where are the customers finding the money?
Is there a prize for stupidest post on Mumsnet today?

This one is contention for the gold.

I just read someone else tell an OP that she obviously isn't doing everything in the house as her OH changed a nappy...

There's Dumdum Juice in the waters..

listsandbudgets · 14/02/2022 15:20

There's going to be a trickle down effect and it won't be nice.

We're very lucky. We have an incredible cleaner. The children have after school activities. We can afford to donate to charity. We can afford to go out for meals... yes we're bloody lucky I know that and I'm sorry if I've offended anyone, I can only imagine who appalling this is for some of you.

BUT if /when we find we've got to make cuts what / who goes first? Do I prioritise our lovely cleaner over children's activities? Do we stop donating to charity or give up going out for meals? Whatever I choose, someone else's income suffers in some way.

In answer to OPs question yes of course most people will be affected but some will be affected worse than others simply because the lucky ones can choose where to make the cuts.. the unlucky ones are just cut. I know that sounds callous but its harsh nasty economic reality unfortunately :(

SpaghettiArmsMurderer · 14/02/2022 15:22

I didn’t mean to imply in my post that visually impaired people can’t work - I just read it back and I’ve phrased it awfully. What I meant was if you need glasses and don’t have them, or you are wearing the wrong prescription, that can affect your work.

Lightning020 · 14/02/2022 15:26

I work for myself so didnt know about employers paying towards glasses. Not receiving benefits and just paid £233. A friend of mine has just paid £700 for two pairs! Mine are varifocal and my friend has a very strong prescription.

So I do not feel I qualify for any stupid post award. How rude.

woodhill · 14/02/2022 17:41

Yes glasses are essential, specsavers have good offers hence them being busy, glasses are expensive and being short sighted with age related long sight is a costly business

Tuliprain · 14/02/2022 17:42

[quote SussexSussex]@Woahthehorsey I completely agree with you it’s the middle that are always relentless squeezed

£50k we start losing our child benefits
£100k we lose our free child care, tax free child care, enter the 60% marginal rate

We are the easy ones to squeeze as for those on minimum wage we are in an unobtainable position of “wealth”. But by the time I’ve paid my PAYE taxes, then another whack in pensions, then lost my child benefits. Someone who is self employed not putting all their income through the books declaring HALF my PAYE income is likely to be sufficiently better off. It is these people who you’ll see out in restaurants and shops etc.

This government sucks. But Corbyn’s labour would have been even worse. They saw anyone earning over £80k as “rich” and fair game for further tax punishments.

This country has gone to the dogs.[/quote]
The self employed can’t afford to only declare half their income. Ours needs to be in the bank and ready to pay the mortgage and bills. Cash in hand doesn’t pay all those things and those are the essentials.

MidnightMeltdown · 14/02/2022 18:52

Wages should at least be going up. I read somewhere that minimum wage is going up 6.6% in April, though I suppose that this too will have a knock on effect on prices.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 14/02/2022 19:08

@MidnightMeltdown

Wages should at least be going up. I read somewhere that minimum wage is going up 6.6% in April, though I suppose that this too will have a knock on effect on prices.
My wages won’t be going up- first time in 10years, usually get an inflation pay rise but with inflation being high and the ni rise my employer said no- fucking fuming!
CurlsandCurves · 14/02/2022 20:27

@MidnightMeltdown

Wages should at least be going up. I read somewhere that minimum wage is going up 6.6% in April, though I suppose that this too will have a knock on effect on prices.
Minimum wage is going up but then so is NI. So it’s given with one hand and taken back by the other.

Since the start of the pandemic I’ve always bought a few items for food banks with my weekly shop. Morrison’s are brilliant, they make up packs, you choose one depending on how much and what you want to donate. Covid made me very aware that at least I can still afford to shop without too much worry, when there are people not able to work, businesses folding etc.

Now, the way prices are increasing, its becoming a squeeze to afford this. But I’m determined to do so for as long as I can.

Woahthehorsey · 14/02/2022 21:40

@MidnightMeltdown

Wages should at least be going up. I read somewhere that minimum wage is going up 6.6% in April, though I suppose that this too will have a knock on effect on prices.
They are in some sectors such as legal and tech. A friend in a tech depart recently got a 30% payrise, gave (told) her reportees they were getting the same. DH is inline for a £20k rise in March.

Unlike public sector me. Who will get a real term pay reduction. Again.

EvilPea · 14/02/2022 21:46

@MidnightMeltdown

Wages should at least be going up. I read somewhere that minimum wage is going up 6.6% in April, though I suppose that this too will have a knock on effect on prices.
Didn’t the Bank of England say don’t put wages up?
woodhill · 15/02/2022 11:04

Yes, public sector wages are meh

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 15/02/2022 11:30

Just read the tfl ticket increases and want to cry, my travel card up from £10.60 a day to £14.40- beyond stressed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lightning020 · 15/02/2022 11:47

How terrible OnlyFools. Such a ridiculous hike. So glad I left London 14 years ago ....

Original poster
Southerngal5 · 15/02/2022 11:51

That's terrible, that's a massive increase.

OP posts:
EvilPea · 15/02/2022 11:53

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Just read the tfl ticket increases and want to cry, my travel card up from £10.60 a day to £14.40- beyond stressed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then they’ll wonder why people aren’t bothered about getting back into the office and moaning the coffee shops are struggling.
Swipe left for the next trending thread