To have cried in asda

[Littlemissdan]

Is it just me that the whole cost of living thing is getting too much for? I actually had a (very small and no one watching!) cry in asda when I saw some reduced bakery goods because I didn’t know if I could afford them alongside my entire smartprice shop. £30 I had for a 2 week shop including nappies, and it just broke me that I actually had to wonder if I could afford a 55p treat for my kids. I can’t believe we’re living like this, 3 years ago we were comfortable and now I’m relying on the free school meals half term vouchers.
Not really looking for advice or budgeting advice here, just a bit of solidarity really :(

@Interviewdisaster

I'm honestly intrigued as to what jobs these posters do where a commute of £10 per day is considered expensive. Or how do they afford to live so close to their work?

We don’t want to live in a small flat in the city

Well there’s your answer! Plenty of people are happy to live in smaller properties in cities, with the benefit of being able to walk / cycle / take public transport to work. They’ve not been gifted some extra magical good fortune, they just have different priorities / have made different choices.

Well considering a small flat in my city costs over 300k, I don't really think its that viable for most. Are you really unaware that most people simply cannot afford to live in city centres? How privileged are you? Did your parents GIVE you a deposit or something? Are you imagining that I live in some moorland wilderness or something?

8 miles is not far from a city centre, its in a busy suburb which has massively expanded due to new house building and it STILL doesn't have viable public transport options into the city that do not take hours. The UK government and local authorities simply do not build adequate infrastructure.

I did used to live in The Netherlands however where it is perfectly possible to cycle safely to work, or get a train or a tram or a bus which gets you there reliably and efficiently. You can do things like parking your bike safely at the station without getting it stolen. You can deduct your commuting to work expenses up to a daily distance of 120km from your personal tax bill.

Rather than berating people for not wanting to live in some highly expensive city centre, perhaps consider berating the government for not allowing things that other countries do as standard?

@mogsrus

We don’t have sky,netF or anything else. Free view provides enough for our needs. Why do people say Netflix is cheap when you still need to factor in tv licence to watch it

You don't need a TV licence for Netflix

@mogsrus

We don’t have sky,netF or anything else. Free view provides enough for our needs. Why do people say Netflix is cheap when you still need to factor in tv licence to watch it

Errrr no you dont

Thanks Lizzie, I hope so too!

A lot of people won’t believe you don’t need a tv license if you don’t watch live tv no matter how many times I’ve told my mum and showed her the proof she doesn’t believe it 😂

Well the TV licence people dont seem to believe that some people don't watch live TV so im not surprised people don't realise you don't need one

@SucculentChalice here here . A flat in the city is way above what some people can afford, most of the younger people I know have all moved further out to be able to afford a property. Which used to be doable until now because of the cost of commuting.

A flat in my closest city costs close to double the amount my house in the suburbs cost.

@mogsrus

We don’t have sky,netF or anything else. Free view provides enough for our needs. Why do people say Netflix is cheap when you still need to factor in tv licence to watch it

Except you don't need a licence for Netflix. Freebies does need one so is double the yearly cost in comparison

More than double that should say

@Vapeyvapevape

I'm also wondering how anyone spends £10 a DAY on fuel to get to work unless they are doing a VERY long trip

It costs my dd's bf £10 a day in fuel to get to work- there is no option to take public transport.

I live in an outer London borough, and my commute into central London for work is capped at £14.50 a day ... transport costs a lot! (We don't have the tube here, that's buses and trains, which were cut to a couple an hour during lockdown and never reinstated).

I have been thinking along similar lines to @LunaTheCat above. I can force a situation where communities need to work together more, sharing food in a common heated hall rather than everyone acting alone. The situation is terrible and really shocking when others own multiple homes, and even multiple yachts and a few prats are indulging themselves by flying to the moon. However, I wonder if one good thing that might come of it is a better community in terms of people looking out for each other and sharing in a way that has become very unusual now. This 'every man for himself' missive is one thing I dislike about today's society

I've been thinking similarly. I'm very fortunate not to be choosing heating or eating but I think some people locally definitely will be (very mixed area and a good sense of community). It'd be great if communities could get together, pool funds and all planning, cook and eat together 2/3 times a week. It would be great for spirit and morale as well as cutting costs. I know I'd be up for helping by cooking now and again. Things like soups/ vegetarian stews/ curries or pasta/ rice dishes would be economical, filling and healthy.

I work and don't have time to organise the whole shebang, but I'd definitely be able to help. We need to do something.

I'm honestly intrigued as to what jobs these posters do where a commute of £10 per day is considered expensive. Or how do they afford to live so close to their work?

My commute is probably around £3/4 in petrol but I also have to pay £5 per day for 45 mins of breakfast club, thankfully I only have one there now but have another 3 and a bit years of that to go

I am amazed anyone would spend £10 on fuel per day to get to work, id be looking for another job !!

DH’s commute is £18 per day (but then train), but luckily can work from home a couple of days a week.

velvet24

I am amazed anyone would spend £10 on fuel per day to get to work, id be looking for another job !“

That’s not a lot, now. I put £30 a week in mine (hybrid) which buys me just under 1/3 tank.

@LunaTheCat

I sometimes wonder about 2or 3 families getting together and buying in bulk - only one person would use car to do big shop and everyone could share the produce - I am thinking season veges, frozen veges, beans, tinned tomatoes.... My heart is out to all of you - you are teaching your children a lot, you are very very resourceful. Be proud. This shouldn’t be happening. It is not your fault. 💐

I do that with my sister, every month ish we will go out shopping together so we can make make the best of bigger packs, buy one get one free offers and whatever.

@mogsrus

We don’t have sky, netFlix or anything else. Free view provides enough for our needs. Why do people say Netflix is cheap when you still need to factor in tv licence to watch it.

I can't believe ANYONE thinks you need a TV licence to watch Netflix and Sky TV! WTF? Do you think we all need a TV licence to use the internet too?!

id be looking for another job

Some people don't work in the type of jobs that they can change for an easier/cheaper commute. Think a hospital for example,

I thought you needed a TV license for Sky as it includes live TV?
Maybe I’m just unbelievably stupid, @MurmuratingStarling

Oh honey, I feel you.

I'm had to make the swap to Lidl for our weekly food shop, after years of shopping at Tesco and Waitrose. I hate it. Don't get me wrong, the food is absolutely fine, and as good as Tesco. But I just hate the experience, and can't always get what I want.

Nope !!!

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/tv-licence-netflix-iplayer-prime-14247040.amp

Oh, maybe I’m not so unbelievably stupid after all.
If you can watch or record live TV, you need a license. That includes Sky TV.

@Mondaymanic

It's so hard not to get angry at the 'cancel TV and netflix and just be happy with a book' or 'just don't ever use your heating and put on another layer' comments. Sorry but living in a rich country I think EVERYONE should be able to afford, food, heating, electricity, the occasional small treat etc. Why do people think others should accept this standard of living and just shut up about it, especially when there is such disproportionate wealth in the country. I despair I really do... On one news article on social media where a mum was saying she was struggling to feed her kids, some of the comments were that she has nail polish on her nails so what is she complaining about, she clearly has a few pounds spare. Like Wtf. Makes me mad. Sorry for the rant

I understand your perspectives and frustrations, and but to clarify my tv comment, from Google "

How much is Sky TV a month?
Go big or go home with the ultimate Sky TV bundle, filling your boots with great TV series, movies and sporting action, all for £76 a month right now,

Now I understand not everyone will be on that level of package, but it adds up, and yes I understand about this day and age we are in a rich country, but at the same time it's companies and capitalism that are my guess as to why not everyone is wealthy. (I'll admit I need more research to confirm that)
But the reality is, it's one thing to think x y and z, but another to pay x for x item if it's not essential when people are struggling to cover the essentials ?

You also need a tv license to watch iplayer, even if it’s not live