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?

We aren't struggling but I'm noticing how much we are now spending in Tesco and I'm thinking about switching back to Aldi.

It's got to be over £200 a week whereas it was closer to £100.

A few years ago, we would have been absolutely screwed and I'm so thankful this didn't happen in 2018.

No, we're not struggling. Good private pensions, state pensions, and disability benefits. Luckily, I'd fixed good 2 year tariffs for fuel, before all this kicked off.

We rent (HA), and don't claim any means tested benefits.

We're now in a fortunate positions, with good savings. But, I remember the recessions of the 70's and 80's, which I did struggle with. As did mortgage payers when interest rates shot up to 15%. There were a lot of repossessions.

Our life hasn't changed this much this time, we do and live as we did - although I do notice the difference in food costs, week on week.

We're not fit enough to travel, so holidays are out, and we can't be bothered to go out for many meals etc.

But, some people are definitely struggling, if our local food bank is anything to go by.

One day, it'll pass, I expect, as all previous recessions have.

No, not everyone is struggling.

I think most people, except the extremely wealthy, are noticing it. This is not the same as struggling.

My Fiancé and I are feeling it. At the moment this looks like we have had to reduce the amount we put into savings. We aren’t struggling because we can still save, still pay all our bills and still continue to have a social life. We have made some adjustments eg. This year for NYE we will
have a pot luck games night at ours rather than go out because two weekends about we spent £60 on 4 drinks each (not in a city, or even in a nice pub)😵‍💫

I was ok until STBEXH walked out unexpectedly so now trying to remortgage and cover all bills on my own. Not entitled to any benefits - no child benefit and CMS is meagre and I have twins in full time childcare whose bill goes up 10% from January. Luckily gas/electric fixed for another 12 months but expecting it to double after that which is when things will certainly change for the worse for me and I'll have to make more savings somewhere

I have neighbours who I think are struggling, but I barely know them and they don’t integrate much past an occasional hello.

there was a communal cost and they told the neighbour in charge they had reallu over stretched themselves on the mortgage so couldn’t afford the minor sum, I didn’t think much of it to be fair, but this was before the interest rise increases, and I also know they commented to me last winter they couldn’t afford to heat it. So it was in my mind things were tight for them and I assumed they’d over estimated the cost of running a house that size. Clearly costs have escalated since then, and substantially/

i have now noticed the lights are off. It’s a dark house, and During the day when it gets to that time in the afternoon, I can see them moving about in the dark, the house is always in darkness now, so I suspect it’s financial.

They are late 40s, not vulnerable health wise, but 3 kids at home . What do you do. You can’t front up and ask them, pride alone would have them tell you to fuck off,but I do think they over stretched and maybe in trouble now .

you have asked - Are you Struggling?

im truly grateful to say that we are not.

I’ve noticed that our petrol spend has gone up about £20/£30 a week. We fill it up every week and instead of being £50-£60 a week it’s now £80-£90 a week.

im finding myself sounding more and more like my Aunt Alice in Sainsbury’s these days moaning and grumbling about the prices, and yes sometimes I say it out loud too.

This Christmas, we are not doing roast Turkey etc, Mr McDs favourite is beef stew, we are having that, I’ll do a chicken curry, chicken soup, and a few “special fried rices”.

The electric has gone up quite a bit, but it’s made us buy the 5watt light bulbs from Poundland which are extremely bright.

The heating is on, haven’t got a clue how much that is, but I don’t want mould in the house and on our clothes.

I know it’s sounds mean, but I made a chick pea curry last night for about £1 (excluding rice) there’s a good ten servings.

As im getting older, I find it easier being tight, and MrMcD isn’t unhappy with that.

Of course not everyone is struggling, what a weird suggestion. Plenty of people have pots and pots of money.

I'm not one of them, but I'm not struggling. Everything costs more but my salary went up as well. I'm not rich or anything, but I can pay all my bills and have money for fun stuff too, so doing fine.
Most people I know are in much the same situation.

You don't need to tell everybody your income to make a point.

No, not everybody is struggling, and I don't know why you'd think that.

Yes have to admit I read this and it played on my mind for a day or two that there are people among us with incomes that high. I thought I was doing ok til I read that and then other posters say they know people who afford £5k on a dress and £10k on a week away! Seriously the problem is wealth distribution. It’s ok to ‘struggle’ when you think everyone is. But it’s tough to just get by when people close by have money to bloody burn.

Not yet, but having just been told I'm being redundant, I may well struggle in the new year. We shall see what happens. I live alone so it's only me I can rely to keep a roof over my head. Worst case scenario I will sell and relocate somewhere cheaper.

I am being creative about saving money. Switching lights off, putting food in oven as soon as warm, buying bulk load frozen veg and freezing large reduced trays of meats. Freezing bread. Tidying house up and using what we have first.
No luxuries like gym membership or any pay for TV or anything like that. No takeaways now.
Life style changes can really help.

Anything I earn that's spare is going into an emergency fund pot! God knows what's around the corner these days.

Some a lot more than others OP.

Everybody is most certainly not struggling. I saw shit loads of houses with christmas lights on the outside this evening. It's November. Every penny certainly doesn't matter to them so everyone is definitely not struggling.

Yes many are struggling but many aren’t. I’m in a fortunate position that the only impact of rising prices has had is a bit less to put away in savings.

Yes I know many people who are going without food so that their children can eat. And who cannot afford bus fares to get to work. You are lucky if you don’t know anyone like this

I'm struggling and know things will get much worse. The crime is on the rise in London ( robberies, burglaries, etc) due to cost of living. It's posted daily on Nextdoor