Is anyone else ‘living life’ while they can?

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Just as the subject says, is anyone else ‘living life’ whilst they can? I have an awful feeling that I’ll look back in the future and think that 2022 was the best that it got before interest rates, inflation, etc, got the best of us. With almost every nice thing DH and I do we ask ‘Will this be the last time?’ It’s hard to know how much to stop spending to future proof ourselves and how much to enjoy life whist we can. Are we being hyperbolic? To add, none of this is done on credit.

We have some savings but I'm still highly anxious. Two kids going to Uni, one in a few weeks and one next year. Loans not enough to cover accommodation which seems extortionate so we will need to help. Eldest ds has a job in a new city but low paid and will need to find rent. At least with 2 kids moving out bills should be lower ! We don't spent much on going out, just the occasional family meal out, very rarely drink in pubs, no fancy holidays just Uk breaks normally on a last minute deal. We wont be stopping these as they are a little stress reliever. I have no need for new clothing. house is shabby, We were going to get a new front door but have decided today to put that off and get the old one painted and porch tiles repaired instead. Non essential home improvements can wait.

Vets fees worry me. I think I'm going to start putting away £100 a month. We have no pet insurance and 2 dogs, one of whom is ageing. recently paid £700 for her to have rotten teeth removed ! I think it would be a horrible situation to not be able to afford care for them when needed.

Can you move credit card debt to loan with lower interest, or balance transfer with no interest (may be a small transfer fee)?

No. At the minute I have my energy bills fixed until October 2023 and my mortgage fixed a few months ago for 5 years at 2%. I am an NHS
Senior nurse so my wage is steady and I have just increased to full time, I also do an extra weekend a month. I am in a fortunate position and don't overspend at all but I'm not worried for myself at the minute.

Oh and aside from my mortgage I have no debt and quite a bit in savings. I realise I am very lucky though.

Know what you mean op.

We are in the position of being semi retired.
We have already been up in the air in the last 12 months. Now even more up in the air.
But we are fortunate in some ways.

A few people have asked me when and how will it end?
I reply I dont know.

Personally I think, for poorer and some middle income people, it could all get quite nasty.

I a bit despair, though despair is not quite the right word, when even the Bank of England appear not to have a handle on things.
Their inflation predictions have been alarmingly way off up to this point.

Some people need to wake up. I'm in my 70s. I remember the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Nothing has seemed as bad as this.

inflation was much higher sometimes, strikes were worse,sometimes, I've seen ward in Europe sometimes. But, high inflation, stagnated wages, NHS falling apart, energy costs through the roof and no functioning government? Never seen such a perfect storm

If you have savings don't worry, you've got a buffer there to protect you.

A bit. I have young kids, it’s the holidays, and I just have moments/days/weeks of “fuck it” - let’s have a takeaway, buy good new clothes, drive instead of bus or walk it, have a treat, travel. I’m normally very frugal.

Nar im not worried. Im old poor lol 😂

@TheWayTheLightFalls

I tend to have that attitude the less money I have. The fuck it mentality comes out in me a lot more.

When I do have more money I become quite tight and frugal 😂.

Had a 'fuck it' summer holiday abroad which was booked last Xmas before all this shite was on the horizon.
Booked a few excursions and trips on the credit card as I don't like to sit by the pool every day, and remember thinking this was a bit of a final hurrah before the storm starts.

We are neither skint nor well off, just middling really can probably see through the price increases of everything if we cut out trips and treats for a while.

We are having our darkest hour now (at least I bloody hope so) and I am going to cash in an asset to get my feet under me again (I’ve tried everything else!). It’s very tempting to splurge a bit, I’ve waited a very long time to be in this position, but I think I ought to save a generous cushion and look at working more hours in a better paid job instead.

Exactly this

OP you do realise that many, many people don't have "a pricey holiday" as a given and manage to live perfectly fulfilled lives?