To think the cost of living crisis isn't really a "crisis" for most people?

[buzzheath]

Not meant to be inflammatory at all. I'm well aware of the hardships that some people and families will face. But for the majority of people in the UK, will it really be a "crisis"? Isn't around half of the population middle class?

I am sick of the inequality and gross monopoly of wealth and resources too. Mick Lynch has been the only voice in the public sphere that cheered me up lately. Bloody wish he could lead the Labour party, personally.

The big problem will be when business foreclose or cut back on staff due to increasing costs. Increased unemployment, house repossessions, people getting into debt and unable to pay their contracts on phones, tv etc. Going to be a shitstorm.

Maybe not inflammatory but definitely naive. I am deemed by the government to be middle class but after I pay my second mortgage AKA my £350 a month council tax plus all my bills, childcare etc my disposable income is very low. Now because I don't get benefits, I am clearly not poor enough to be able to get any government help. I don't know how much longer I can hold on at this rate. The mansion the government think I live in will definitely not be getting heated this winter.

Prices have been steadily climbing since last September.... right now we're only eating 3 meals a week....and still not able to pay all the bills on time, and council tax is becoming a nightmare..... I am absolutely dreading the next price hike, we will be sunk for sure, and I know we're not the only working family in this situation

I think it's time to concede that our economy doesn't work anymore.🤷‍♀️ I blame the government.

That’s a horribly selfish attitude. Just because you aren’t directly affected by something doesn’t mean it’s not a crisis.

I do think this feels like the calm before the storm financially. We have just been informed by our energy supplier that our fixed rate is coming to an end and we can choose to fix it again, if we are willing to increase our monthly payments by £180, we currently pay £120 and are not in any debt to them !

Transl: "I voted for Boris"

It's a cost of living crisis for a significant number of people, not everyone. But frankly, if the bottom 10% are worse off, then that's still a crisis for them and a crisis for us as a country. How many people are eating from foodbanks now, and how many was it 5 years ago ? How many people can't afford to cook their food and are asking foodbanks for stuff that does not require heating?

Given how many people are prepared to spend hours upon hours stuck in their cars on the way to Dover for a ferry or a train or queueing for hours at airports for that "vital holiday" I would say it's a matter of "Crisis? What Crisis?" Apologies to Supertramp

My DH has a successful joinery business. It's been doing great thus far. But the price of timber went super high during the pandemic and leapt again with the Ukraine war, as so much comes from Siberia.

With the massive utilities increase as well we're really anticipating a rapid decrease in clients. It's so sad as he's done so well until now, but he's actually considering being a delivery driver if it all goes tits up.

We're going on a lovely holiday in Catalonia with our DCs in August; have done for the last five years, but this may be the last time for a long time.

That's hard. I really feel for you.

It's going to be a bit like the pandemic again... we'll all be in a storm but some people will be on a yacht and some people will be clinging on to a piece of drift wood...

In the extraordinarily unlikely event that we can constructively collaborate, what can those feeling little or no pain do to help those struggling?
I suggested in other forums during lockdown that if the Labour Party had 500,000 members and the TUC represented unions with 6 million members, they could have organised help for those vulnerable folks who were squeezed out of necessities by panic-buyers or missed by institutions (Sheila Seleoane for example) - the overwhelming response was that the opposition had no need to remedy government failings.
Should we adopt a pauper, do more for the food bank, get churches, mosques, temples etc to do outreach? I'm well-aware that some are too proud to accept charity and a startling number of our most vulnerable are functionally or literally illiterate.

I suppose the £400 over 6 months, enforced loan will help a little bit in the short term.

I agree although I think middle-class means far more money than most people think. I don't think half the population are middle-class.

We know from our experiences over the eight and a half years since we opened that almost anyone can find themselves in food poverty. With inflation, especially of essentials, leaving wages and welfare trailing in its wake we know that more and more people - from a widening range of backgrounds - are going to find themselves at foodbanks.

Great point.

I have spent the last four years struggling to do a degree with two small children on my husbands average wage, I’ve been so excited to graduate to earn more than I did in a role I’ve been so keen to do but now the money that I’ll earn that was above my student loan will be sucked up by increased bills plus more is to come. We were barely managing when i
was a student and now after accruing all this debt I’m terrified as things are going to be even worse with the predicted price increases and we are in no way the worst off so my heart breajs
for those in less favourable situations. It is hard for so many and so frightening, I’m losing sleep and I’m sure others are, this post-despite your reasoning-boils my blood as it (whether intentionally or not) minimises the struggles people are going through. Things really need to change or people will literally have nothing left to lose and then what?

Have you lived through as recession OP? Many people on good salaries suddenly lose their jobs. There is a downturn in the economy and jobs become scarce. Suddenly people go from 2 incomes to one and can't pay their mortgages or rents. Not everyone has loads of savings. I will be fine because I get my private pension now and DH gets his in 20 months and we only have 16 months left on our mortgage and enough David GS to pay it off. However I am worried for my 2 adult children with mortgages. My dd has 2 DC and a high mortgage. I worry if either she or sil lost their job and could not get another how they could pay mortgage. I would have to try to help them but I also have a son who is single but has a mortgage and worry what if he lost his job. Unless you have lived through a recession you possibly dont understand. It is not just people who don't work and claim benefits who will be affected it will be most people.

Yes if gas and electricity go up again - which that are /will

i used to pay 80. Went to 120. Then 160. Now 275 a month

petrol was £60/70 to fill my car. Now over £100

food all going up. 20p here and there adds another £30/40 to bill

im lucky and paid my mortgage off but if I had a mortgage as well. Would struggle lots as will Many friends and family

This crisis is hitting the hard working people of this country very hard. Even if they were paid better, companies could be less greedy but it is all about the bottom line these days, they would still be struggling.
Sadly those already in poverty - unable to work more hours/full time due to childcare, unable to work due to ill health/disability, single parent families with no financial support from absent parent - are being hit astronomically harder & they were already in financial crisis before the pandemic hit.

If you aren’t struggling you should consider yourself lucky but you are in the minority!
I’m in the unable to work due to ill health & disability section of society but as my LG’s dad is a high earner we have extra support coming into the household. It is the only reason we are managing but it is a tight financial rope I walk each month!

In the last week a local fish and chip shop that was popular and been trading for 86 years has closed due to financial difficulties. Apparently fish has gone up a lot plus electricity and less people can now afford to buy fish and chips and are eating at home instead. In a recession this is what happens. Less people can afford services so do things themselves or go without. Tradespeople are often affected quite early on as people just put off jobs they would really like doing.

Exactly.
In one of the richest countries in the world NO-ONE should be struggling to pay for the basics!
The basics have changed since the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s & even the 2000’s but they are necessary in a modern society for people to be on an equal playing field.
No-one should be unable to pay their power, housing, phone, transport or food bills.

Buzzheath come back 12 months from now and let us know if you still think there isn't a crisis. I am bloody lucky that i don't have a mortgage/ rent to pay, that my supermarket bill is never anymore than £20 a week for both of us and that my heating is mainly driftwood or logs from fallen trees. There are so many people that even though they have a good wage will struggle, my Son and Daughter in law are really panicking as they will have to start paying childcare fees come February. Too many children in this country will go cold and hungry.