Things have changed so much , so quickly?!

[doodlywoodlydingdong]

I just had my grown up kids around for dinner, not unusual but it got me thinking how much things have changed in the last 3 years. We are a very typical family. I'm 45 , 4 kids aged 13-25. Between me and my DH we have an income of around £34k but very soon it's going to drop by £4k annually.

Three years ago I would go food shopping and buy pretty much whatever I wanted. If I fancied it, it went into the trolley. Full English breakfast every Saturday, big fat roast dinner with a nice joint every Sunday. Two v cheap foreign holidays a year. I enjoyed making our money stretch as far as it possibly could with holiday bargains etc. Christmas was always glorious with loads of food and some nice gifts. Lots of entertaining. fast forward 3 years.

Today I was stood in the kitchen picking the meat off 6 chicken thighs to feed seven adults and a baby. The roast dinner was totally packed out with veg and spuds. Barely any chicken compared to what I would have served 3-4 years ago. I can't stretch to a joint of pork anymore, a whole chicken is a rare treat. So thighs it is. My kids are eating more and more pasta /noodles based dishes with hot dogs as protein. I have to think twice about what is the most efficient method to cook whatever meal it is to save money on the electric. My dogs are now on the cheapest possible kibble I can find. I was actually relieved when my lovely old cat suddenly died (?!) as I wouldn't have to find the extra money for vets fees as she was knocking on a bit. Thats now £ 18 a month I'm saving on litter and food and I feel like a monster for even typing that.

I use the l local food waste project wherever I can, save every penny I can, but ultimately I'm going to have to give up my mobility car as the money would be much better in my pocket . The trade off is that I will then be house bound and that "freed up " money will be going straight to EON from October .

AIBU to have a feeling of almost grief over all of this? It's been very slow and gradual trickling of price increases etc but suddenly it's taken 6 chicken thighs to push me over the edge and be ridiculously angry and upset about how our money can purchase so much less these days?

For a 2 bedroom house, where you don’t use heating or hot water and only boil a kettle once a day and sit in the dark?

I wasn't saying she shouldn't. I don't get how you can be too immunosuppressed to work, but not too immunosuppressed to travel abroad. Good on them for making ends meet on their family joint income til now. Some of us were suggesting ways of increasing household income but i guess the OP wasn't asking for that.

I'm sorry you're in this situation. The advice about benefits seems incorrect though. I'd get in touch with Turn2Us or have a benefits check via the CAB. I've never heard of people being turned down for benefits because they haven't paid enough tax.

Tbh we have a similar slightly higher income and have never managed 2 foreign holidays! We do a good shop but have had maybe 3 or 4 holiday's in the last 5 or 6 years not all abroad! You are managing well.maybe something like spag bo or chilli will go further. Maybe look at downsize if you can

I think maybe she means NI contributions rather than tax. But she should still look at Universal credit as a couple on a low income. They would get help if renting.

She probably has to pay out rather more than 97 quid a week in rent or mortgage for a start!

Yes exactly . Someone I know ( lone parent ) pays £1800 private rent in the south east ! People who have never had to pay these kind of rental prices don't have a clue !

"Bloody hate men being in charge sometimes. We need fewer boys dreaming of being Mr Big and instead more managers. In fact no one should be allowed to stand for public office unless they’ve excelled at a basic manager job."
Wait until Liz Truss becomes PM, as she certainly will. Then having a woman in charge will be even worse than the previous man!

OP cannot work. I am sure she would much rather be working than have the chronic health conditions she has! I am sorry OP, people are just so rude.

Our current circumstances are not exaggerated-- dear lord I wish they were .. but this is exactly our life at present. As for my energy bills.. we have moved from a flat to this house and due to the move our energy supplier( Scottish Power) ended the fixed tariff contract at our previous property and started a new account for this house.. the standing charges alone per month are £290 per month Before fuel costs are added- tied in for the next 12 months.

Look I don’t read every post but I do at least read the OP’s. And if you had you’d know she can’t downsize or work.

Yes she can downsize

I know there are very high rents. Where my family live there are houses for rent at £3000 a month. But these are lovely middle-class family homes. No one ordinary is renting these houses. People I know are paying up to £1400 a month in the South East.

Sorry but this cannot be accurate. Standing costs for gas and electric are not 290 a month. You have misunderstood something somewhere

Ok boom done ✅
Just like that you worked it all out 🙄

Deluded. There are many many places in the SE where 1400 will get you a one or two bed flat not a family house

Fully adapted for disability? Ok

some places are advertised at 1400 but then let at 1700 it’s awful actually

You have misunderstood my post

She can downsize via the council

do you think she should stay in a 5 bed for another 20/40 years? Just her, her husband and the dogs

Agreed. All my family members have had to move out of the village they were born in and move to cheaper places.

There is an incredible shortage of adapted houses with enough bedrooms for her dependent children.
Adapted council places tend to assume you have no children.

Don’t be arse!

This ^ Does nobody take any personal responsibility anymore!

@TheFormidableMrsC new style job seekers/JSA is now dependent on how much NI you've paid the previous year or two.