Page 10 | It’s not looking good is it?

User15384 · 2022-09-28T20:37:13+00:00

Cost of living crisis Choice between heating v eating Pound dramatically falling Higher interest rates NHS on brink of collapse And now the warning of a flu-covid “twindemic” this Winter It’s all quite overwhelming and sad and seems to be never ending 😞

Wallaw · 29/09/2022 12:59

Bearsan · 29/09/2022 11:00

Gymgo
Tut Tut.... you aren't ever allowed on MN to suggest that people should be responsible for their own finances. When they can blame everyone else - parents, landlords, people who have worked their way up to decent jobs or saved and invested their spare money, rich people and so on.

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We are personally unaffected, but I'm appalled and horrified by what a shit show this is already is, and is going to continue to be, for so many people. Do you really feel this way about those who are struggling?

Anon778833 · 29/09/2022 13:01

Wallaw · 29/09/2022 12:59

We are personally unaffected, but I'm appalled and horrified by what a shit show this is already is, and is going to continue to be, for so many people. Do you really feel this way about those who are struggling?

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Some people really don’t give a shit about others. Unfortunately, having a government who encourages this attitude does not help either.

theDudesmummy · 29/09/2022 13:02

I really have lived through worse times, I grew up in apartheid South Africa, and during the Cold War. But this is bad (and the UK specifically bad enough for me to have left).

Those who say they don't want to know about the "news" need to have a good think about exactly what that means. If I had not read the "news" (and obviously wider social commentary) in South Africa I would not have heard of Nelson Mandela and the freedom struggle until I was an adult. I might well have just thought that everything around me was just as it was "supposed" to be, because everyone around me just accepted that it was (or pretended to, out of fear). I would not have known that in other countries people of different skin tones actually were allowed to socialise in public and go to school together, and that there was something wrong going on where I lived. I would not have realised there were people opposed to what was going on, and doing something about it. Read the "news", people! (Not just your Twitter/Facebook bubble or a single media outlet). It really is vital.

Wallaw · 29/09/2022 13:03

TooBigForMyBoots · 29/09/2022 10:57

The pay freezes imposed by the Tory government as part of their Austerity policy meant that as the years went by, people's wages fell in real terms. So they weren't able to pay more on their mortgages.

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@TooBigForMyBoots

Ed Conway from Sky had an enlightening (and horrifying) thread on the 'real feel' of rising interest rates and why they're different than the sky high rates in 1980.

twitter.com/EdConwaySky/status/1572975530722627584?s=20&t=RLUv9I4wWNqNNUMEEoqj3g

verdantverdure · 29/09/2022 13:03

StarcourtMall · 29/09/2022 12:58

Just anecdotal but a few weeks ago a friend who works in tech was telling me that big clients were pulling contracts and they were considering cost cutting (redundancies?) and my DH’s company is making a couple of redundancies - these are companies that survived well through Covid and we’re doing well 12 months ago. My own employer has just redrafted budgets for next year with a reduction on expected income. All of these have nothing to do with this weeks news, but it won’t be helping!

Well yeah, that's why the £ crashed and will probably fall further. Nobody has any confidence in the people running our country. When I was a child you got two dollars to a pound. Soon we'll be lucky to get a whole dollar for a pound. Sterling is even dropping in comparison to Putin's Rouble!

Wallaw · 29/09/2022 13:04

Anon778833 · 29/09/2022 13:01

Some people really don’t give a shit about others. Unfortunately, having a government who encourages this attitude does not help either.

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@MondaysChild7

True. Although some people not giving a shit about others probably also factors heavily into why we have the government we do. A depressing cycle.

Meili04 · 29/09/2022 13:05

Goosygandy · 29/09/2022 12:53

What about the years the Government ran down public services before the pandemic? It's not just about Covid. It's about a general mismanagement of the economy and public services.

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That hasn't helped either. People can't expect government to pay healthy people to sit at home. Pay for restaurant meals , no stamp duty and bail out energy bills. Money isn't free it will have to be paid back. I fear there will be a mighty crash because the government have intervened too much. If they minimally intervened it might have bounced back quicker. Short termism has completely fucked this country, our economy will need to stop relying on QE.

RosalindsAFuckingNightmare · 29/09/2022 13:06

Believeitornot · 28/09/2022 22:08

I’m not meh, I’m angry. I’ve got two young kids and I just think great. Another generation fucked by the Tories (I grew up under Thatcher/Major)

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Exactly. My parents lost their home under Thatcher and tbh if I don't lose mine in the coming months I'd be surprised.

Doingprettywellthanks · 29/09/2022 13:10

Givenuptotally · 29/09/2022 12:02

Get an evening job, if you have any free time Already got one.

extend mortgage term not currently possible without paying out thousands I don't have to change the deal

heat only rooms using wont' be heating any rooms if I can help it.

cook basic winter meals hearty soups, stews, curry,s one pot stuff that can be reheated already doing this

Buy some fluffy throws and hot water bottles for all to snuggle under you assume I have spare money for this?

Ive just saved myself £30 per month, got rid of my i phone bought a basic Samsung, does all it needs to do, gone on Tesco mobile network unlimited calls ect £7.50 per month Already got a cheaper deal than this

Stopped having my nails done, saved £20 per month I don't have my nails done, or any other beauty treatments either in salon or at home. Hair is cut about twice a year.

Have stopped all takeaways and coffees to go. ( i only had 1 a month but its saved me another £20+) not had a takeaway or coffee in years

Have 3 lamps in lounge now just use 1 My lights are off when sitting.

Have cut back on using washing machine how? clothes need washing.

Stopped using my dishwasher You're doing a full time job plus an evening job and who knows what else but don't use the dishwasher? You think those of us doing more than one job should also do the washing up?!

Open oven door when finished cooking let the heat out to warm the room Ha! Using an airfryer. Never put the oven on.

Gas heating will only go on for an hour in the morning, perhaps an hour at night Lucky you can afford that. I can't.
.
I will not use my tumble drier, ive bought a clothes airer and will hang washing on it in the warmest room when i can't put it outside No tumble dryer. I do use an electric clothes airer as not at home during the day to put out/take in to avoid needing re-washing and re-drying.

Do you not understand that many people are at rock bottom already?

Do you have children?

Doingprettywellthanks · 29/09/2022 13:11

Wallaw · 29/09/2022 12:59

We are personally unaffected, but I'm appalled and horrified by what a shit show this is already is, and is going to continue to be, for so many people. Do you really feel this way about those who are struggling?

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@Wallaw

so you don’t have children? Anyone receiving treatment for an illness? Aged parents?

Notonthestairs · 29/09/2022 13:12

"our economy will need to stop relying on QE."

Which is exactly what the BoE plan was - right up until last Friday. They've forced the Bank to continue QE to continue for at least 2 more weeks.

It was that or see pension funds go under.

lannistunut · 29/09/2022 13:19

Meili04 · 29/09/2022 13:05

That hasn't helped either. People can't expect government to pay healthy people to sit at home. Pay for restaurant meals , no stamp duty and bail out energy bills. Money isn't free it will have to be paid back. I fear there will be a mighty crash because the government have intervened too much. If they minimally intervened it might have bounced back quicker. Short termism has completely fucked this country, our economy will need to stop relying on QE.

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Every country piled funds in, only the UK government has fucked it up this way.

What Truss and Kwarteng did last Friday has nothing to do with the pandemic.

Wallaw · 29/09/2022 13:31

Doingprettywellthanks · 29/09/2022 13:11

@Wallaw

so you don’t have children? Anyone receiving treatment for an illness? Aged parents?

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@Doingprettywellthanks

I do have children, and I do have ageing parents (who are in another country), we have good private healthcare, which has (so far) not collapsed, and are mortgage free. I'm not saying we're so well-insulated we're untouchable, but things would have to get really significantly worse before we couldn't weather things without feeling any personal pain.

I do believe, however, that we are absolutely among the most fortunate people out there and that when a society suffers, it's to the detriment of all. I do a lot of volunteer work with people who are very genuinely already in terrible straits and I'm horrified by the thought that things could possibly get any worse for them, although it's been clear for a long time that we are governed by people who really do not give a shit.

I'm not sure what else to say?

Doingprettywellthanks · 29/09/2022 13:33

Wallaw · 29/09/2022 13:31

@Doingprettywellthanks

I do have children, and I do have ageing parents (who are in another country), we have good private healthcare, which has (so far) not collapsed, and are mortgage free. I'm not saying we're so well-insulated we're untouchable, but things would have to get really significantly worse before we couldn't weather things without feeling any personal pain.

I do believe, however, that we are absolutely among the most fortunate people out there and that when a society suffers, it's to the detriment of all. I do a lot of volunteer work with people who are very genuinely already in terrible straits and I'm horrified by the thought that things could possibly get any worse for them, although it's been clear for a long time that we are governed by people who really do not give a shit.

I'm not sure what else to say?

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Very curious about what country you live in!

Meili04 · 29/09/2022 13:34

lannistunut · 29/09/2022 13:19

Every country piled funds in, only the UK government has fucked it up this way.

What Truss and Kwarteng did last Friday has nothing to do with the pandemic.

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Not as bad no but USA is struggling with inflation their stock market has fallen massively houses are dropping there and in Australia. Truss has fucked it up even more but the western economy is struggling.

Wallaw · 29/09/2022 13:42

Doingprettywellthanks · 29/09/2022 13:33

Very curious about what country you live in!

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@Doingprettywellthanks

We live in the UK, but our parents are in the US.

Doingprettywellthanks · 29/09/2022 13:56

So your children attend school here?

you use the NHS?

just for starters

even if you are not personally affected by it as you say… only a matter of time you will (in fact I’m surprised not now (do you buy groceries?!)!)

Doingprettywellthanks · 29/09/2022 13:57

Private healthcare…. Just as in covid will be called upon to assist the NHS.

impacts speed that private health care kicks in

whether private or state - you will be affected

vivainsomnia · 29/09/2022 14:16

Do you not understand that many people are at rock bottom already?
I genuinely don't understand how a person working FT (I assume if 2 jobs), get to the point that they can't afford to heat any room, never have a take away, can't use a dryer, and even afford a hit bottle water.

With a FT job, and benefits if rent is high, there are children and or disability, everyone should get at a minimum £1500 to over £2k a month. So where does all the money go?

I genuinely would like to know.

Bearsan · 29/09/2022 14:25

MultiTulip · 29/09/2022 12:37

Are you just repeating ‘there’s no such thing as society’ over and over in your head? Because you might think it doesn’t affect you because you don’t have a mortgage and you don’t want to go abroad and you can afford a 20% rise in the cost of food and you don’t mind your energy bills rising. But when your relative dies because the NHS and social care are so underfunded or you have to keep fixing your car because of all the potholes or you get burgled and the police don’t have the staff to come out or your kids have to take blankets into school because there’s no money to put the heating on? Those things are happening because this is real and pretending it isn’t doesn’t make it go away.

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Multitulip
Well what are you personally doing about all of that? Apart from shrieking and wailing. That's not my style so it may be uncomfortable for you to grasp but until it personally affect us I'm not going to feel the same. Why should I ? We got ourselves out of a jam years ago, no fucker helped us . We've been sensible over a long time and sometimes gone without/ missed out on things that we couldn't afford. Now we can we're treating ourselves.
What do you think we should do? Give you some of our hard earned/saved/invested money as suggested on another thread? Lol. If we need to help our dc we will but they're about to receive an inheritance so probably not. We have been abroad four times this year so you don't know what you are talking about.

Wallaw · 29/09/2022 14:45

Doingprettywellthanks · 29/09/2022 13:57

Private healthcare…. Just as in covid will be called upon to assist the NHS.

impacts speed that private health care kicks in

whether private or state - you will be affected

So your children attend school here?

you use the NHS?

just for starters

even if you are not personally affected by it as you say… only a matter of time you will (in fact I’m surprised not now (do you buy groceries?!)!)

2 children in university, 1 in private school.

We have used the NHS twice in the nearly 20 years we've been here, and then for Covid vaccines, and I've done quite a bit of volunteer work for them. It has been fabulous both times we've had need of it. It's an institution we've been extremely happy to pay into regardless of whether or not we use it, as are state schools, because everyone deserves education and healthcare along with food and secure housing and we all benefit when people have those things.

Yes, I do buy groceries, but in all honesty, I don't notice how much they cost.

And to your point about private healthcare, yes, I do understand that. I've not said we will remain unaffected. I have said that to this point we have been unaffected and that things would have to get much worse before we are. I have also said, or tried to, that I'm very concerned, regardless of whether we personally end up affected or not.

Is there something wrong or hard to believe about what I'm saying?

Doingprettywellthanks · 29/09/2022 15:21

Nothing wrong

as you say - you are not saying you will “remain” unaffected, which was my point.

thankfully I have private health are cand children in private school but to say I am not already affected would be - false. Because if I or my children need an ambulance - private health isn’t going to be much help if there is no capacity because others are too cold or had treatment - delayed. Things like that.

Difference between being “tangibly” affected and affected

Wallaw · 29/09/2022 17:31

Doingprettywellthanks · 29/09/2022 15:21

Nothing wrong

as you say - you are not saying you will “remain” unaffected, which was my point.

thankfully I have private health are cand children in private school but to say I am not already affected would be - false. Because if I or my children need an ambulance - private health isn’t going to be much help if there is no capacity because others are too cold or had treatment - delayed. Things like that.

Difference between being “tangibly” affected and affected

@Doingprettywellthanks

Actually, I would see that as the difference between 'potentially' affected and affected.

But either way, my original point was in response to an 'I'm all right' PP, that even if we don't feel the effects ourselves, we should care about those who do. Not sure why that seems to have spawned irritation.

Doingprettywellthanks · 29/09/2022 18:19

Not at all… no need to be so defensive.

we are in a similar boat and I was just probing, discussing, chatting, chewing the fat. Tis a chat forum afterall!

Rosscameasdoody · 29/09/2022 18:26

SarahSissions · 29/09/2022 10:24

@antelopevalley the IMF have been criticised over being overly political and overstepping their remit on this. They are an incredibly partisan organisation.

But pretty much the first thing this ‘government’ did was to sack the head of the treasury and sidestep the OBR’s oversight of the budget. This isn't economic incompetence it’s a deliberate act of vandalism. How many people received advance notice of the plans to be able to short the pound and make a killing ? That’s insider trading. How on earth they can claim it’s in everyone’s interests to make the rich richer is beyond me - if the BoE hadn’t stepped in pension funds would have gone bust and now the government is saying they can’t guarantee the benefits uprating that was promised. It’s always the same with the Tories - the gap between rich and poor gets wider by design and we fall for it every time.

It’s not looking good is it?

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