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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What cost of living crisis?

333 replies

pagopago · 31/08/2022 21:51

Beauty salons mega busy and some with waiting lists of a month or two.

People piling trollies high in supermarkets, carrying bags of shopping in shopping centres

Airports and flights busier than ever.

Tradesmen e.g. plumbers, painters/decorators, carpet fitters booked well into next year.

Is this people burying their heads in the sand? Or making the most of things while they can still afford to?

Right now it doesn't really feel like there is a shitstorm approaching.

OP posts:
ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 31/08/2022 23:39

I'll just turn off the heating and pile all six cats on the bed.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 31/08/2022 23:39

I’m self employed and very scared about this winter. I’ve just suspended my daily contact lenses for 3 months. Will save me £90.

Spent £70 on logs, wont be able to afford to put the heating on. Will spend the other £20 on coal. Good luck everyone.

mondaytosunday · 31/08/2022 23:42

I live in an affluent neighbourhood and as many takeaways and Ocado deliveries as usual, but that's not to say down the road in a poorer area people are experiencing the same.

MibsXX · 31/08/2022 23:44

Nsky62 · 31/08/2022 23:06

I always to go family abroad for hols, save up for plane ticket/ spending money, hardly mega money to Spain

Maybe not for you, but despite us not frittering money away day to day, my son and I have never once in his 15 years had a holiday...the shitty jobs that I had to to keep us fed and housed insisted that I was always working every bank holiday, all through school holidays and almost every weekend, and all through covid untill I had the temerity to catch it and got fired for being off sick.. I honestly don't think I will be here for a lot longer and now regret not just getting into debt and spending at least some of his childhood having some fun together instead of always being stressed about simply existing and never having the energy to do anything after work. I may as well have done, we'd be in the same boat now but with nicer memories

WhiteFire · 31/08/2022 23:44

TortolaParadise · 31/08/2022 23:17

I am seeing increasingly more brand new 22 plate electric cars !!!
Good for all those who can afford it!

A colleague has recently had a new car through a work scheme. It will cost less in payments then the cost of petrol to fill the old car.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 31/08/2022 23:45

In terms of supermarkets I think some people are stocking up a bit (if they can) before the big bills hit and prices rise further. I don’t mean stockpiling, but we’ve been buying things like dishwasher tablets, cat food, laundry capsules and so on in every big shop rather than just while we are running low as we usually would. I’ve bought some skincare/makeup bits which I won’t run out of for a while, but they are now “old money” like the household items.

We do have a decent household income so I realise we are very lucky to be able to do this.

LBFseBrom · 31/08/2022 23:55

girlfriend44 · 31/08/2022 21:55

Tend to agree deliveroo is still busy all the time delivering all those takeaways.

Yes, I often use them. I'm on my own and if I fancy something, I order it. Their prices haven't gone up. I haven't noticed things going up in price generally but I know people are worried about gas and electricity, and petrol/diesel for cars. I don't drive a car.

It's easier for a retired, single person like me. I feel for those with young families.

Augustasunny · 31/08/2022 23:57

My neighbours seem to have their hot tub on constantly.

Mumwithsons · 31/08/2022 23:58

I think it’s widening inequalities.

NowThatsWhatICall22 · 31/08/2022 23:59

tttigress · 31/08/2022 22:29

The media won't shut up with their doom and gloom.

Like Covid lockdowns it feels like they are talking us into a bad situation.

This. Not denying or ignoring these are tough times for so many, but there’s such a narrative from the media that many are buying into. There’s no specific date in Nov/Dec when things are going to suddenly get difficult for people. I find the media irresponsible in their current reporting, specifically, the Daily Fail with lots of clickbait stories around energy bills.

Letitmow · 01/09/2022 00:02

Afterfire · 31/08/2022 23:01

If anyone is doubting there is a crisis please come and read the posts here -

www.facebook.com/groups/966754150512356/?ref=sharewww.facebook.com/groups/966754150512356/?ref=share&exp=9594

People aren't denying it, but pointing out that despite that the media is saying there are people who will be absolutely fine, it'll just mean a bit less into the savings pot every month.

AboutDamnThyme · 01/09/2022 00:02

I went on a weeks UK holiday last month and am taking my DD away for her 18th next month.

We will have a wonderful time, but I budget carefully for food, work from home so few commuting costs, and haven't bought new clothes or had a proper night out for the best part of a year.

You have no idea what's going on behind the scenes.

Liebig · 01/09/2022 00:06

NowThatsWhatICall22 · 31/08/2022 23:59

This. Not denying or ignoring these are tough times for so many, but there’s such a narrative from the media that many are buying into. There’s no specific date in Nov/Dec when things are going to suddenly get difficult for people. I find the media irresponsible in their current reporting, specifically, the Daily Fail with lots of clickbait stories around energy bills.

Show quote history

You mean the media shouldn’t cover that most people will be paying more per month for energy alone than the discretionary income of most middle earners? And this is before the projected increases next year.

Okay. And then when businesses close en masse mysteriously, and the lights flicker in the evening, people will just not wonder about this.

How about when the redundancies start? Should we have maybe a segment on page eight then, or is that a bit too doomer still?

Limpshade · 01/09/2022 00:08

I live in NZ and a bunch of black grapes set me back $22.58 this morning Confused So, yeah.

Liebig · 01/09/2022 00:10

Letitmow · 01/09/2022 00:02

People aren't denying it, but pointing out that despite that the media is saying there are people who will be absolutely fine, it'll just mean a bit less into the savings pot every month.

Show quote history

Yes, we know about the Tory party members picking their new leader. But we’re talking about the millions who aren’t landed gentry or business millionaires.

You know, the people who are wondering now how they pay for bills today, not even looking to the 20% inflation days ahead.

But great for those people that won’t be saving so much, I guess. As if saving is a thing for the vast majority of people on this island.

freckles20 · 01/09/2022 00:12

Liebig · 01/09/2022 00:02

I was furious when my credit card company wrote to me to say they suggested upping my limit from 5k to 17k!!!!

I hadn't requested anything of the sort but I had very recently stopped paying off my CC balance in full and moved to paying a small amount off each month.

My overall balance is 2k, I haven't used the card since I decided to change he way I'm paying it off.

It feels so irresponsible of the card company to see signs that my cash flow is reducing and offer me a hefty increase in the amount I can load onto the card, no questions asked.

Can't wait to get that balance today zero and cut it up!

Letitmow · 01/09/2022 00:13

Liebig · 01/09/2022 00:10

Yes, we know about the Tory party members picking their new leader. But we’re talking about the millions who aren’t landed gentry or business millionaires.

You know, the people who are wondering now how they pay for bills today, not even looking to the 20% inflation days ahead.

But great for those people that won’t be saving so much, I guess. As if saving is a thing for the vast majority of people on this island.

Show quote history

But it's not that uncommon, people just don't talk about it I guess.

Alysskea · 01/09/2022 00:14

YABU. People have to ‘pile their trolleys’ in supermarkets so they can… eat? Just because some have the means to go on holiday etc doesn’t take away from the millions who are facing hunger and homelessness

NowThatsWhatICall22 · 01/09/2022 00:15

I’m saying hysteria- as we experienced in peak covid times too, from the media- does not help ordinary families. Those who have always had to count the pennies and not lead a frivolous lifestyle. It’s just the media- certain parts- and social media seems to have suddenly realised there’s a monetising opportunity in publishing so-called poverty stories. They’re literally making money -through clickbait stories, out of a cost of living crisis which has yet to be any different from life for those who haven’t had any decent income in recent times. We need to be able to see through the headlines, just like during lockdown when it seemed like life would never be the same again, according to the media.

Goldencarp · 01/09/2022 00:19

I’m paying less for gas/electric now than I was before April because we became very mindful of how much we were using that we didn’t “need”to. Heated bathroom floors went off. Spare fridge/freezer went off, shorter showers etc and of course it’s summer so no heating. However we can’t cut back anymore so come October it’ll be a nightmare! At for fuel I never used much anyway. So at the moment we’re fine. I imagine many others are the same.

freckles20 · 01/09/2022 00:20

Ugh. I despair at the amount of people who can't accept that there are increasing numbers of people who are struggling desperately to afford the basics and are likely to have to make some awful choices over the winter.

My MIL declared over dinner that her friends daughter was a Deliveroo driver and was delivering multiple times each day to "council houses" .

I couldn't face a discussion but did ask how her friends daughter knew which houses were "council houses" and what point was she making anyway.

FIL then chipped in to say that no one with a mobile phone should dare say they are short of money.

FFS.

Mummapenguin20 · 01/09/2022 00:24

Life is about to get a bit rough for lots of people why can’t they enjoy what they have now? Personally I listened to someone old and close to me who said this was coming, Christmas shopping (except fresh food) done that’s my family and my friends over the road if she needs it fed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Childrens present brought and my cupboards full. Blankets and hot water bottles for everyone winter clothes ready I started a few months ago getting bits in sales on offers ect every time I shopped added extra £3 of tins or extra bits for the freezers so getting to my point if I wanted to I could afford hairdressers. I could afford takeaway not because it’s not tough but because I am prepared

FrecklesMalone · 01/09/2022 00:26

NowThatsWhatICall22 · 01/09/2022 00:15

I’m saying hysteria- as we experienced in peak covid times too, from the media- does not help ordinary families. Those who have always had to count the pennies and not lead a frivolous lifestyle. It’s just the media- certain parts- and social media seems to have suddenly realised there’s a monetising opportunity in publishing so-called poverty stories. They’re literally making money -through clickbait stories, out of a cost of living crisis which has yet to be any different from life for those who haven’t had any decent income in recent times. We need to be able to see through the headlines, just like during lockdown when it seemed like life would never be the same again, according to the media.

Come back to this message this time next year.

FrecklesMalone · 01/09/2022 00:27

I hope to fuck it isn't as bad as the predicted rises will be.