Cost of living....struggles....rubbish!

[IwishIcouldconfess]

Been into Manchester today.

I'll be honest, shops full, restaurants full, pub's standing room only.

I thought as a country we were in a cost of living crisis, not in Manchester, the amount of cocktails, bottles of wine i saw being knocked back today made me wonder, ate things really as bad as as the narrative we're being sold?

I'm struggling, and aware others are too, but you're right lots appear to be fine. I think the country is just more populated than ever before, so everywhere is busier than it used to be regardless of cost of living crisis.

people always buy their alcohol and drugs first ...this is why there is cost of living crisis. People out of work, bad health, rising benefits, less amount in taxes for the budget

I don’t think you can use one of the busiest cities in the UK as a benchmark. I was in London recently for a day out. I shopped, I drank, I ate in a restaurant. It was one day of my life which I had carefully budgeted for. Doesn’t mean I don’t struggle the rest of the time.

Tale as old as time. There will always be people who can afford things and people who can’t.
Lots of struggling but lots aren’t.

also, what is a COL? Are we talking people are skipping days from eating? Here, in the UK? I mean, are there properly starving people.....of course things are expensive for many people, this has always been the case throughout history

It's pay day weekend!

I live in London. Went to the pub on the Thursday before Xmas, second to last working day of the year. Big community pub, good food and booze, outside space with fires and blankets for this time of year - and it was absolutely empty by 10pm. This would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.

Everyone has just been paid. This is their one day out per month.

COL mean that more people can’t afford to go out , not that no one can go out.

it can mean that people have to make more choices about how they spend and save, not that they can’t spend or save

it’s the people and choices you can see who are struggling the most

The people who aren’t struggling are out eating and drinking. The ones who are struggling aren’t out eating and drinking. Hope that helps.

I think there is a huge divide now more than ever with those who have disposable income still and those who are skipping meals

It’s the inequality that’s crap. Always was.

When housing costs went up significantly post-Brexit for some reason, it became starker.

when I was in my ex communist country, in an office job, I was being paid 3 times less than my manager. She had foreign travels, car, eating out, concerts, etc....I was just from work to home and walking daily in the park, my pleasure was a coffee and a pizza by the slice twice a month and my holiday which I had only once as an adult in my 20s was a makeshift bungalo which was a tin can with a bed in it and you just go in and close the door and this is it, no chair, no wardrobe, no bathroom - communal toilets at the end of the long parkland.

Do you not think times have changed, in respect, people go out earlier, and home earlier.

OP do you think a cost of living crisis means that no one has disposable income?

It’s bleeding obvious really isn’t it.

what COL? I have here now a property, half paid, 3 times holiday per year in decent cottages, a family car, savings and even so, we still are on the NMW with my husband ...he is not, but he is so part time, that this is what he earns

No I don't.

But everyone is go out for coffee, or for lunch, places are full.

Obviously not everyone is, though.

I think for many there's an assumption that because Manchester is in the North it must be very poor, all Coronation Street types of places. The reality is that there are some very expensive places around Manchester, some of the most expensive property in the country is around there! Like all cities, there are also some very poor areas whose residents won't be living it up in the city centre.

Apologies.
Every time, I go out.

Everyone is out? Really? Everyone?

it’s just I have a friend in Manchester and she wasn’t out today - so that’s at least one person less than everyone

yes, this is what COL should mean. No income for pleasure, just once you pay bills and food, you cannot do anything anymore until paycheck

Every time you go out places seem busy - well that’s good it means capacity and demand are well matched

if there was less COL issues maybes things would be overrun , or there would be more venues

Ok my bad.

Not everyone

But the place was heaving

Have you not ever heard of a credit card or gambling and drinking your (financial or personal) worries away, OP? Or do you live under a bloody rock? 😂