AIBU to be totally confused (cost of living crisis)

[LittleBitHeiressLittleBitIris]

AIBU to not be able to understand/ grasp the scale of impending disaster that is building over the increased cost of living?

I genuinely don't see how millions of people with outgoings that are about to be actually higher than income is going to play out.

I'm not trying to be goady and obviously realise no-one has a crystal ball but am I missing something? Has this ever happened before in other recent times/ other cultures and what was the result. I can't even imagine what could happen.

I feel really clueless! Any ideas/ opinions/ further reading much appreciated 👍

Short termism makes sense if your only concern is making money for rich people

[quote Parpophone]@Blossomtoes

Care to elaborate? That’s a pretty bizarre contribution to this thread

That is a very, very famous quote. Not bizarre at all.

Google it.[/quote]
It’s bizarre in this context. I don’t need to Google it, it’s been part of my mental landscape for decades, but thank you for your patronising contribution.

Tell me you don't know how the national grid works without telling me you don't know how the national grid works...
Patronising, irrelevant to the point I was making.

Probably more accurate to say that until recently, gas generated electricity was significantly cheaper per KWH than nuclear, and so there was limited appetite for nuclear.

No, once the Tories decided that everything had to be done by the "free" (what a laugh) market, that led to city investors running away from Nuclear - because it has very long return times and is unpredictable in terms of the cleanup/storage obligations.
You can let the world's spivs run your energy market if you want - but as we've found, that can lead to misery for ordinary consumers - the kind of misery they aren't suffering in some other countries where everything hasn't been sold to spivs.

@SweetPeaGirl one if the big factors in France for example, is that their energy generation and supply is nationalised. The French government have invested in in energy generation, because they own the nuclear power plants. France can mandate an increase in energy bills of no more than 4%, without an energy company going bust, because the French government are the energy company. Their nationalised energy company won't wind up its operations when the shareholders no longer make a profit. But when we've had in the UK, for decades (starting with Thatcher's Tories), is a sell off of all assets, with zero investment back into energy production by the private buyers of those assets. If energy production and distribution had never been privatised, we'd be able to build new power plants when it made sense for us to, and we'd be able to impose a reasonable price cap too. No point complaining about the consequences of a privatised system now, that ship has sailed. We were warned that the private companies involved would fail to stump up the necessary investment, and that it would lead to higher prices, but the public voted for it.

The so-called free market keeps on letting us down again and again. Railways, children's homes, care homes, energy supplies. And yet it still keeps getting pushed as the only solution for everything.

Yep, it gets pushed because it makes a very small minority very very wealthy. And despite warnings the public vote for it, like Turkeys voting for Christmas.

And the utility company infrastructure was sold off very cheaply. Infrastructure that taxpayers had paid for.

I remember the 80’s bro g quite tough, especially in the North. High unemployment, high interest rates, negative equity and loads of repossessions of houses (I worked in that department) and at least 1/10 people were in arrears on their mortgage then.

Hopefully it’s short term but who knows. It’s hard for those on minimum wages.

@alltheapples

The so-called free market keeps on letting us down again and again. Railways, children's homes, care homes, energy supplies. And yet it still keeps getting pushed as the only solution for everything.

I agree - and it's mostly not even a free market in the UK. It's the ideal rigged system - communism when things go wrong (i.e. we all end up paying for it), Capitalism when there's a fast buck to be made. They even managed to set up pretend "regulators" to give more of their rich mates well paid jobs appearing on TV to explain why they can't actually regulate anything. They can't stop private companies chucking raw sewage into rivers or stop people spoofing phone numbers to make scam calls - all too difficult.

@hattie43

I think people can dig in for a tough time / short time knowing they'll be an end to it but it's the long term poverty that is totally grinding .

People are saying it's a result of the war and pandemic causing price increases now but for many they've not lived well at all since forever.

Imo though it's not down to the government to ensure people have good lives .

Maybe... but they're not supposed to wilfully shove people off the precipice into abject poverty either.

I personally don't understand all of it . Know the gas and electricity are going up. I'm a bit worried as I'm in prepayment meters. The electricity would be quite hard to cut back on. So worried about that. The gas I don't use loads. I have has my heating on for less than 7 days for the whole winter . It gets used for hot water and gas hob when I cook.

I have heard food is going up. At the moment I buy the shops own brand. The middle range not the cheapest one . So with this I'm thinking I will switch to supermarket value brands . Same with non food items.

I don't drive. Smoke or drink . Don't go in holidays. Ect .

Don't know if little cut backs like that will help.

@MCLQC

I remember the 80’s bro g quite tough, especially in the North. High unemployment, high interest rates, negative equity and loads of repossessions of houses (I worked in that department) and at least 1/10 people were in arrears on their mortgage then.

Hopefully it’s short term but who knows. It’s hard for those on minimum wages.

The 80s were tough in some areas of the country, and in some areas there was a real boom with lots of spending on luxury items. It feels like that again although not so geographically stark. But yes the rich getting richer and everyone else getting poorer.

@Keepitonthedownlow

I was reading that it's a once in 50 year occurrence or something. I'm really worried!

Can I ask where you are reading this? I'm interested to see how history repeats itself.

@daimbarsatemydogsbone totally agree with you.

Judging by posts so far, it sounds very grim and depressing in UK now. I left some years ago and am so glad I did. Even back then there was an air of gloom about the place, shopping streets were (maybe still are) full of charity shops and cheap £ shops, begging, grey grim and depressing with everyone no matter who they were always looking for the cheapest this and that, a constant search. I know there is nothing wrong with that but it just got to me after a while.

Where I am now is no utopia, but has an optimistic population and a Government that is trying hard to look out for its citizens. Not perfect but not the class ridden and largely individualistic society Britain has become now.

Protests will happen even if they are banned. They can't arrest everyone and a message has to be sent to those who do not experience hard times that they do in fact exist for an enormous number of people.

I’m terrified.

We have nothing to cut back on. Only outgoings are mortgage and bills (not a huge mortgage either, we moved to a vastly cheaper area and our mortgage is far cheaper than renting here, rents have risen so much now that we wouldn’t have been able to continue renting the place we were before we bought this a year ago when PIL thankfully gave dh a deposit).

The only extra money we have is £150 a month. We save that for when it’s time for birthdays, school uniforms, children need clothes and haircuts.

So no one gets clothes, days out, takeaways, tv packages, holidays, anything at all. We shop at aldi and eveything is cooked from scratch.

If our bills go up, we are fucked.

@Inerve where are you now, out of interest? (If you have a Government that is trying hard to look out for its citizens, then yes, it's a massive improvement in our current situation!)

and it's mostly not even a free market in the UK. It's the ideal rigged system - communism when things go wrong (i.e. we all end up paying for it), Capitalism when there's a fast buck to be made.
They even managed to set up pretend "regulators" to give more of their rich mates well paid jobs appearing on TV to explain why they can't actually regulate anything. They can't stop private companies chucking raw sewage into rivers or stop people spoofing phone numbers to make scam calls - all too difficult.

Very true and i'm glad people are noticing this. I said to my OH that this isn't a cost of lining crisis, it's "The Great Robbery". We pay for people's gambling mishaps when the shit hits the fan.

@Inerve

Judging by posts so far, it sounds very grim and depressing in UK now. I left some years ago and am so glad I did. Even back then there was an air of gloom about the place, shopping streets were (maybe still are) full of charity shops and cheap £ shops, begging, grey grim and depressing with everyone no matter who they were always looking for the cheapest this and that, a constant search. I know there is nothing wrong with that but it just got to me after a while.

Where I am now is no utopia, but has an optimistic population and a Government that is trying hard to look out for its citizens. Not perfect but not the class ridden and largely individualistic society Britain has become now.

Protests will happen even if they are banned. They can't arrest everyone and a message has to be sent to those who do not experience hard times that they do in fact exist for an enormous number of people.

Where did you move to? Or are you another poster who won't say where they emigrated to in case the reality doesn't meet the narrative?

I feel bad for the familys already relying on food banks. Running out of gas /electric. It will be awful for them people. I just hope there is some help out there.

@fallfallfall

what did people do in the 20's; well simple meals, extra clothing and nothing new. homes were tiny and furniture sparce. people used their time making and selling. no tv, no "nail art", no phones in most homes, people added things to meat to stretch it out (oatmeal in ground beef, eggs and breadcrumbs). oil filled lamps for a couple hours after sunset and in bed by 8-9. awake with the sun. they used scraps of material to make rugs in the winter. but everyone was in the same situation (although some were very wealthy).

I'm so glad our quality of life is soon to resemble 100 years ago. Sounds like a promising future for my kids

It is not 1920, and I don't think anyone wants it to be. I'm starting to think you might be Jacob Rees-Mogg.

@Bringsexyback

I’m sick to death of listening to people whingeing about how they can’t change their loss in life you can’t it’s about your choices we all make them

Honestly, I think a lot of people are sick of your ridiculous posts and compete and utter lack of comprehension and understanding. I suspect your large pay rises are entirely made up judging by your posts and the fact that they are pretty much constant throughout the day.

[quote JesusInTheCabbageVan]@Inerve where are you now, out of interest? (If you have a Government that is trying hard to look out for its citizens, then yes, it's a massive improvement in our current situation!)[/quote]
I am in Ireland on the East Coast near the sea, but still within striking distance of Dublin.

Housing (like UK) is a big issue and is costly. Healthcare is not like the NHS and many have private health cover, but the public system, once you are in it is very good. I am a recipient of care under both systems.

Cost of living is high, mainly due to housing costs.

However....
Ireland is still in EU and I am very happy about that TBH
Utilities (like everywhere) are creeping up in cost, but Gov will be giving every household in the country a €200 credit against their electric at the next billing period. I suspect similar next Winter if prices continue to rise.
Gov giving €100 per truck per week to hauliers to offset diesel costs, in order to keep goods and exports/imports moving and food costs down. Essential on an island!
Social supports are very generous I think, and most people are happy to see that and pay for it.
Education is highly revered here, and the teaching profession is well paid and respected.
Ireland waived visa requirements for Ukrainian refugees and did it from day one. There will be problems housing them, but that is not being seen as insurmountable. Very generous and welcoming country in the main towards those escaping war.

I am not saying for a minute that Ireland is perfect and Britain in awful, not at all as most people are very kind and friendly in Britain too, it is just an overall feeling of gloom I get when I go back, I can't help but notice it.

Well said @rainingsnoring.

Whose job right now with the biggest global crisis of lack of workers in every conceivable industry sectory is under the threat of redundancy ?

Mine. And the jobs of a lot of people I know in the voluntary sector.

And there's no chance of a pay rise. I've been asking for the last 18 months.