Cost of living crisis: are you feeling it yet?

[whatthejuice]

Posting here for traffic...
Have you felt the cost of living crisis yet? Has your disposable income taken a nose dive?
I've noticed a massive increase in our food bills so that's the main difference at the moment and we probably have £150-£200 less disposable income per month as a result. I'm trying to save a separate money pot for help towards the heating bills this winter - but worried it won't be anywhere near enough to eat up the increase.
It all feels a bit terrifying at the moment, especially after I read the German government in local towns are bringing in energy saving measures already like switching lights off etc....

Every last penny? No, I’m happy to pay in my fair share, but am getting a bit tired of others who’ve chosen to have families that they can’t afford expecting everyone else to pay for them.

I already work from January to mid-June for the general good, how about we wait until you do the same before criticizing others?

You say that you are happy to pay more tax, but that’s not true, is it? How much extra have you paid than was due in recent years?

Ah 2008, that wonderful year when a (shhhhhh) labour government to ok action against preposterous fuel rises. We didn't know we had it so good then.

Ah, well, I disagree. I love Britain, I do want to invest in the country I love and so I think those who can afford to pay more tax should. I think paying tax is a patriotic thing to do so I am happy to do it (more) in order to secure a better future the country.

Anyone who doesn't like it can of course move to another lower tax country, if they are that bothered. Phil Collins always threatened to leave if Labour got in. He was lying.

Very sorry to hear. Really hope you are able to find something suitable soon.

So you didn’t mean the bit about a levy on foreign ownership of property?

Why write it then?

@bollygu i agree with that. Average salary here (SW England) is £18k - £23k for a degree educated person.

Rent for 2 bed here: £1000pcm at least

not much left for saving, or for saving for a deposit 😭

(plenty of family homes just have one elderly occupant in, are Air BnBs or a vacant holiday home)

anyway, back to the thread! x

You make some funny (as in weird, not humourous) assertions and you come across as trying hard to be offensive. Do you express this unappealing nature so openly in real life, or is it an online persona?

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

The Tories do not care about you! They don't care about the poor, the middle class, or the workers. They don't even care about their voters really.

They care only about themselves, feathering their nests, networking and ensuring they have lucrative jobs to go do once they leave politics.

The dire situation we find ourselves in may have been accelerated by global events outwith any one's control but make no mistake the root of the issues we face are due to years of tory mismanagement, under investment in infrastructure, and deliberate sabotage of public services.

OK. How much extra have you chosen to pay in recent years? I’m going to bet you’ve only paid what was due, and that the voluntary extra amount that you have paid is zero.

Happy to be corrected though if you’ve really sent chèques to HMRC.

@MsFrenchie are you ok?

You are calling for money to be taken from me to reduce your cost of living.

Why are you talking about my cost of living? Why are you making numerous assumptions? The measures I'm talking about would hit me but still I don't think NI is proportionate do you? I also have benefited hugely from rising house prices that the young won't see, but you can disagree of course.

I’m saying that I don’t support that, what’s hard to understand about it?

Nothing wrong with having a different opinion. I don't understand why you are making assumptions about my life & who I am because of my opinions though...what are you not understanding?

I particularly liked your suggestion that I should pay more because I have the temerity to be foreign but to own a house here.

Where did I say that? I said higher levies which is not the same thing & of course someone working here & paying tax is different to someone not here holding their cash in property but again you can disagree. How do you think my dc have European passports?

So no, rather than that, let’s not. I’ll look after my family, and you need to sort out how to look after yours.

A fairer more equal society is better for my family. J'en ai mare!!!

Not yet, still doing ok here.

No, I’m happy to pay in my fair share, but am getting a bit tired of others who’ve chosen to have families that they can’t afford expecting everyone else to pay for them.

🙄

Absolutely. I've just seen Amber Rudd is a non exec director on the Centrica board, who posted recording breaking profits recently

Definitely food. I spent £120 in Lidl yesterday! I didn't even think that was possible. Normally I have a full trolley and have spent about £70. I bought a bag of dishwasher tablets and a pack of beer that added £15ish onto the total, but it's still a huge hike from what I was expecting.

So you didn’t mean the bit about a levy on foreign ownership of property?

Yes I did, after all I can afford it. If you can't then you need to work harder & support your own family instead of expecting to me pick the tab...

Dishwasher tablets are extortionate now!

Tbh we're not feeling it. Since last year I've had my lovely bf move in and it's so nice to have someone to share the bills with. I've also had a new job with a big pay rise. So I guess it depends on your situation but we know we're v lucky.

I still think we're gna be cold in the winter though... I'm going to buy some heated blankets I think. Any recommendations?

@Rustydress well exactly, the situation is ridiculous for them.

Ah, you’re one of those; you want people to pay more than you based on my nationality?

I’m able to afford things just fine thanks, the homes here and the one back in my “home” country. Unlike you though I’m not someone trying to make foreigners the scapegoat.

I can also recommend oodie style hoodies from Amazon. Ours were £20 each and we were so warm wearing them at Christmas we had to turn the heating down

You said you don't want to pay more tax (future), to which I said I am happy to pay more tax (future).

Definitely feeling it. all subscriptions are as low as possible (contract so would cost more to quit mid way through)
I'm already skipping breakfast & nibbling a slice or 2 or bread for lunch. Trying not to let on too much to pre teens they dont need these worries but come winter they may notice they are sitting in the dark freezing. I cant work more due to receiving carers allowance so every penny is taken off. I'm scared. If I cant provide for my children are they then going to be taken off me?

@MsFrenchie again what are you going on about. I'm not English, nor is dh....

I'm noticing it, but not feeling it too hard yet.

We're fortunate- decent incomes, small mortgage fixed. No childcare or uni costs and a bit of a buffer in savings. But I wasn't brought up with anywhere near this level of comfort, and my heart goes out to anyone struggling at the moment.

I have paid my student loan off recently and got promoted which combined is equivalent to a £400 increase after tax monthly - it is all swallowed up in the price increases, I am gutted as I was really looking forward to being well off for once, had worked my arse off.