To think everybody is struggling financially at the minute

[Haguey90]

I’ve noticed a big difference, DH and I earn ok but our money isn’t lasting, is anybody else feeling like this?

Lots of people are struggling, but quite a few are still just doing just dandy.

We aren’t at all, but many friends who are just getting by.
I know people who spend £££ on first class flights long haul for Christmas, people who spend £5k on a dress, people who spend £10k on a weeks holiday for half term…
Then, some of my other friends, who can barely afford rent, or have their heating on, or can’t afford the train pass to get to work.

I suspect the population is a mix between the two extremes. Some people are doing just as well as ever, and some aren’t. Similar to how Covid and lockdown affected different people. Some had a bloody great time, others didn’t.

Our bills have gone up but we're not struggling.

This must be the hundredth thread on this and the answer- is the same each time- some people are and some people aren't. It depends on how much disposable income you have. I'm still fine and have less disposable income than I did last year but I've still plenty to do everything I want and need to.

Thing with a lot of people is that for the last 10 years it’s been relatively easy. Obviously not so much now but for many it’s just that they can save less rather than struggle. Struggling for me is people that can’t pay bills, can’t feed themselves properly etc and I’m sure there are many of them. Certainly most young adults who still live at home with parents are not struggling. They are getting wages that leave them with loads of income spare and paying their parents next to nothing to live at home. The bars, restaurants and clubs are packed at the weekend in Manchester. Busier than I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t feel like the 1980’s.

Our money definitely isn't going as far, we are absorbing it for now, but I am anxious that of costs continue to rise we will be struggling.

I've been feeling that for years but honestly I've realised I buy way too much crap I don't need. The amount of Black Friday and cyber Monday emails I have ignored is astounding

No not everyone is struggling. I don't know why anyone thinks that.

We're not struggling and I don't know anyone in my family/ friendship group who is. Everyone still doing lots of Xmas events, flying off to Lapland, Disney etc.

Not struggling, but work as a consultant. Part of my role involves dealing with many small business owners. Recent events have been the final nail in the coffin for many small business outlets, especially those dependent on retail trade. Weekly I am hearing about insolvency and wind-up, closing cafes and working all hours to keep pubs afloat. The price of food, the energy bills etc all make an impact. Once we are out of the present financial abyss, I do ponder what will happen to all those High streets up and down the land. There will be so many small business that have closed as they do not command sufficient customers to stay open. It is very very sad, and has a major impact on some communities through loss of social networks, loss of jobs and diminishing local amenities. Some of my clients are devastated that their life long dream of running a business has crashed, and many have enormous debts arising from this.

I’m not struggling but have cut back on unnecessary expenditure
I don’t have expensive phone packages or sky or Netflix etc anyway and am not a fan of takeaways due to allergies and dieting
I think we have all got used to a higher standard of leisure and general spending than was normal when interest rates etc were higher
As a young newly married person in the days of high interest rates we went on U.K. camping holidays, made home brew and entertained friends with home cooked food and games nights at home
weddings were low budget and often involved a village hall and self catering
I spent far less on myself before the days of tanning places, nail parlours, beauty salons, and aesthetics
Still live and love the yellow stickers, charity shops and outlet stores

I haven’t been struggling perhaps but as I only had a v small amount of savings this time last year (a few hundred pounds) and this has been taken up with normal life shiz like unexpected car bill and the dog needing regular meds that aren’t covered by her insurance, I have been doubly worried about the impact of something going wrong. This worry was eating away at me and making me have sleepless nights.

So I got another job. I work in a professional full time office role already 9-5 Mon-Fri but also now clean my local pub 5am-7am 6 days a week. Brings in nearly £400 extra a month and it has completely lifted all the money worries which means I sleep better even if I do have to get up earlier! It’s also unexpectedly so much more satisfying than my normal job. I really love it and will be genuinely sad if I have to give it up (which I think I will need to do once I’ve got a little buffer behind me, the early starts are killing me because I keep doing stupid shit like mning until just gone 11 at night when I should be asleep 😴🙂)

It reminds me of those threads asking how can people afford stuff. I honestly think some people think everyone earns the same, or large swathes of rhe population earn the same.

. It’s like they don’t understand people earn all different amounts, have different outgoings, different savings, like they don’t see everything from 1 bed newbuilds to massive 6 bed detached mansions , and undeestand you need different financial situions to be able to afford them, they can’t understand people have different levels of disposable income.

They actually think pretty much everyone is the same. So thus everyone os struggling. Everyone being the average person. Because that’s all there is. The average person and the rich.

so everyone is impacted. No one likes it. Is everyone finding their money doesn’t last are financially struggling. Not even remotely

I cannot say we are struggling but we have no children or mortgage, that makes a difference I think.

We are struggling. Our energy bills have doubled to £400. Shopping has gone up by £20 a week or so. Everything is just more expensive. We're having to try and find ways to cut down. We are cold.

YABU. A record amount was spent on black Friday so No, everyone is not struggling.

I think many on minimum wage are struggling, and we are all seeing a reduction in standard of living, which was inevitable after covid, but that's not the same thing at all

have stopped buying a few luxury cakes but really never bought much items anyway...vegeterian and cook at home etc....know a wealthy couple who still spend most evenings in local pub for long dinners and booze...they still blow over 150 quid a night...3 courses plus lots of cocktails and cabs home !

Have also noted that the local fluffy gift shop is booming....all the young yuppy couples buying candles at 30 quid a go....gloves at 70...socks at 90...there is money around !

We're not struggling and going by how busy the shops and restaurants are, there are still plenty of people that are not.

Personally we aren't but we have very low outgoings compared to income. We both drive non fancy cars and live in a very modest house. We were debating whether to upsize during the pandemic and whether I should get a new car . We decided against it and playing it safe seems to have been a good thing. I was annoyed at the time as everyone else seemed to be living the high life on similar incomes huge house and fancy cars. It will come we will just have to wait.

I'm not struggling, but I'm being more careful for sure. Must of my friends are middle aged and have good jobs and kids went to private school, so can't pretend they are feeling the pinch as much.

Well there's your answer op, a resounding NO!!

There are 4 threads like this Every. Single. Day...

my family aren’t struggling. We are very grateful of course. None in my circle of friends or family are struggling aswell.

A lot of people will always live beyond their means, get into credit card debt, be skint until payday, no matter how much they earn or how expensive things are. I have always tried to save whenever possible, not spent money on frivolous things like holidays, new cars and unnecessary gadgets. It annoys me when I see people I know have spent money like sailors on shore leave now complaining about not being to able to afford to heat their house or buy food etc. Or people that couldn't even afford the kids they had choosing to have even more kids just because they wanted them. And now they are crying poverty. People need to take responsibility for their own lives and realise that actions have repercussions down the line.

Money isn't going as far as it used to, you're right about that.

'Twas ever thus, so I don't think everyone is struggling, though a lot of people are finding life more financially difficult than they have been, which is slightly different.

I can't think of one person I know personally who I could describe as struggling, though obviously I do know their jobs, which are usually dual income, 6 figures each/combined.

Any struggles in those scenarios would most likely be self-inflicted/choice-based e.g. getting luxury cars in finance, can no longer afford high payments, £10k holidays abroad for a family of 4 people, 5 bed house in desirable postcode etc etc