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?

I do have a friend who is struggling, she is single and lives in a house the same size as mine so that’s a lot of house to run alone. We are fine, just saving less per month. Another friend of mine has just bought a house outright for her daughter.

I agree. Also restaurants, cafes, the cinema, bowling etc.

We have a high income and aren't struggling. We've committed ourselves to much more in regular expenses in the past year (school fees, new house, new baby) so being a bit more hesitant with discretionary spending. But tbh I've barely had time for nights out/fun shopping trips thanks to the new baby. Not really related to the current state of the economy. Most families we know are those we've met through dd's private school/nursery/baby classes so in a similar income bracket (many of them far wealthier than us as we only have one earner).

I know one person who has struggled for many years , but I feel this might change in a few years time for them, I hope so
Most people i know seem to be doing ok, they have had inherited money through , or boomer types etc. I live in a mixed bag area , but a few are clearly well off.
It's hard to know ,plus many just live on credit and wing it too I think

I don't think super rich people are struggling and I doubt those on high incomes but not mega rich are having to do any massive cutting back but for the average person who has to budget and prioritise where their money goes, yes, I think we're all feeling it.

Grocery shopping is a big one for me. We've had to make significant changes. Petrol obviously. Energy bills again, obviously.

But there are lots of people who don't appear to be making any changes at all. That will be because they've lots of money and the rising costs are nothing to them, or lots of credit cards or they are all right right now and are not planning for the future being as and then more expensive so aren't changing their habits yet.

Thankfully we’re not struggling but we did cancel some of our
services etc, and managed to save over £100 pcm, which now goes towards our utility bills. Sky was the biggest saving, we bought a freesat box and get virtually the same channels but at no monthly cost to us.

I think everyone is affected in some way but no, there are plenty of people who aren't struggling. Some people will be as time goes on and some people will be fine.

I'm not struggling yet so am very fortunate. But we are keeping a close eye on things. Trying to be watchful on energy and save where we can to make sure we are on top of things.

We have a high income, but also high fixed costs ( school fees and mortgage, luckily 3 years left on the fixed term). We are definitely noticing the increased cost of living. We aren’t struggling, are warm, still eat well, are still investing money and will enjoy a nice holiday next year.

However, I’ve become much more aware of not frittering away money on day to day costs. We’ve stopped some of the unnecessary spending like lunches out at the gym, too ups at Waitrose, buying new clothes just because they are nice and buying stuff for the house. No Black Friday big spends for us.

I am aware also that my choice to save, not spend my spare cash has an impact on our local economy and if many of us do this, small businesses will die.

No of course everybody is not struggling. I am aware that some people are finding times difficult but I personally have not noticed anything. Even my energy bills are same as they always were.

My Uk family are fine, booking holidays having building work done.

I know quite a few people who are struggling. I don't live in the MN bubble though.

Even my energy bills are same as they always were Unless you are generating all your own energy via PV cells etc., the facts are that unit price has increased - the government support is masking the rise for many households at present and many people are using less, but energy prices have risen.

Not everyone is struggling though. We are all on the same stormy sea but some of us - like Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt who are both hugely wealthy - have much bigger boats.

All food businesses I know are struggling.
Shops look busy simply because it is busy time.
People swapped things for other. Eg. Takeaways are incredibly quiet.

I’m in SE suburbs. Nothing seems any different here, tbh. Shops, restaurants, hairdressers, beauty salons all packed and everyone still driving round in new leased cars. Might start to bite in the NY when everyone has to start remortgaging etc.

It’s not going to affect everyone though.

Everybody isn't. The Chief Exec of our company and directors in our business area on high salaries will certainly not be. If they are, they've made some pretty ridiculous choices and brought it on themselves.

My retired parents aren't either. They made good choices and have very good pensions, so nothing has changed for them.

I'm not.

I'm a single parent, one teenager. Wages from my full time job £1300pm, Universal Credit £500pm, child maintenance £300pm, total £2100pm. Rent for my 2 bed flat is £470pm (housing association), council tax band A with single person discount £100pm. Water £30pm, TV and internet £80pm, 2 phone bills £60pm. Energy £170pm at the moment but I got the £650 grant as I receive UC plus the discount that we're all getting has basically reduced my bill to £0! So total outgoings at the moment are £740pm ish leaving me with £1360 ish for food, clothes, leisure etc. I have life insurance and contents insurance as well so that's £20pm.

I don't own a car, have no travel costs as my job is walking distance from home and no childcare costs as my DC is older. I have some savings but because I get Universal Credit I'm not allowed to havè more than £6000 in savings so I keep it below that.

I'm not struggling but I'm being more careful anyway.

I didn’t say energy prices have not risen, I made a truthful comment that my energy bills are much the same as ever. Due to government credit or otherwise, there is no notable impact, in fact I would say after my £66 credit, the bills are currently a little bit down. No I don’t generate my own energy and no I haven’t changed my usage pattern.

The 66 makes difference. It covered my gas rise basically.

I also didn't see as big rise in my weekly shop as others. It looks like it depends a lot on what people buy. Diesel tho. Pffff

Yes, that is the point of the £66, to mask it for a bit longer. I am not looking forward to next winter though when bills will be even higher than now and there will be no government help!

And my point is that it is being effectively masked and whether the energy is cheaper or the government masks it, makes no difference to my pocket. And OP has asked if everybody is struggling at the moment, not next year. 🙄

I'm not struggling but I'm being more careful anyway.

There will be a lot of this - people slightly reducing their spending.

Our local Christmas market is absolutely packed... but that does not mean people are spending as much as previously.

Same with restaurants - people will go, but their bill will be a little lower, they may skip dessert or order a cheaper drink - these small changes all add up. Plus the cost of supplies for businesses as their prices rise means profits are lower, so businesses close.

Seeing a busy place does not = the economy is doing fine.

I'm okay, not really any difference here. No one I know has said they're struggling but it doesn't mean they aren't and just don't want to say. Went out for dinner last week and it was jam packed in the restaurants around the area.

We are not struggling. The extra costs mean that we will soon be saving a bit less, but we are not struggling day to day. A lot of people are, but not everyone no.