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?

But Eudaimona11 the point of the thread is you went out and spent an x amount of money, no matter how little it is, it cost you an x amount to get there, £4 for coffee.
shops still need footfall even if it’s just too look around.

I haven't read all of the replies as there are too many.

OP I understand where you are coming from and I think the issue is the media tend to hype things up. But what you are personally witnessing with your own eyes does not match what the media are telling us

Also with something like the cost of living crisis you are always going to get the bandwagon jumpers who play on it

I know someone who is living without a working boiler but has a Rolex watch and a new Samsung phone and tablet.

I know someone who pays £80 a month for a gym membership they don't use.

My neighbour has a £50k car sitting on their drive but won't replace missing fence panels that are their responsibility because they are waiting for me to do it for them, so they can carry on driving their £50k car and using restaurants that offer fine dining. While my garden looks unsightly.

Another neighbour has endless Amazon and Uber eats deliveries but blown double glazing.

I have an elderly relative who has no wife or children but blows all of his money in very expensive food shops and expensive clothing. His sofa is broken and he has no money at all saved for his funeral and it will probably end up being a public health one. But if you worked in one of the shops he uses you would think he had a lot of money.

The reality is unless you have an in-depth look at peoples bank accounts and spending habits then it's impossible to say if they waste money on crap or are genuinely struggling.

Agree very much about some younger people living at home having disposable income. My DS is moving out soon and will be 25, he earns 40k PA. He gives me £50 PW. He has saved but also enjoys lots of disposable income. He went out to dinner last night and is off out again today. DH and I moved out at 18.

I am also North though not Manchester when DH and I return home down South everything costs more. Petrol costs for instance are around 5p per litre more. A nice carvery at my local pub is £12 at the pub near his Mum it’s £22.50.

Is that legal?

The BBC I think coined the phrase cost of living crisis. What is it ? Very poor, on benefits ? I am not sure what it really means.
I get the OP in that if you go to any airport and see the budget airlines or any airline and they are full up.
So visually, it doesn’t marry up with the idea that everyone is struggling. And I suppose it means that not everyone is. Some are, but not all.

Exactly this.

Minimum wage has risen a fair bit. Its the next few levels above that have stagnate as employers can't afford to give those guys a pay ride.
Always seem to find money for CEOs bonuses, mind .

Manchester is booming. I thought this was common knowledge.

There will be people who used to go out that no longer can.
There will also be people who used to go out to more expensive places that go somewhere less expensive, so moving down a gear if you see what I mean.
Also Manchester will always be busy at weekends as people from elsewhere are visiting for events so a lot of these people aren’t the people you’ll see week in week out.
Add to that, not every single person is struggling. Many are, many aren’t.

Probably not but he would have stopped their money if I’d pursued it. When I complained to him he said take it out of their money. This is a man who probably takes home at least £10k a month. They are adult now so it’s in the past but he’s caused me a lot of financial stress over the years. Every purchase that’s not life or death is a luxury to me. My biggest luxury is in fact not having to see him anymore.

I understand that it is a vicious circle, especially on small business, unfortunately the government doesn’t care about small business sustainability, my food shopping has double, electricity, heating, it really is a mess.

Most people on minimum wage in a two parent family is doable. I don’t feel poor, I don’t know how single parents are surviving. Tradesmen etc are thriving.

Poverty these days is very different from the 80’s, benefits and wages are higher alongside the standard of living and wealth is mixed.

I know a lot of people who have money who fly budget airlines. It isn’t all minimum wages people using budget airlines, but average

No offers on where I went
Bloody rammed standing room only

I drive a 24 year old car and I’m amazed everyone can afford to finance these newer cars. God knows what I’ll do when it finally dies!

Some people are struggling but many aren't.and sadly it has always been that way
But I think there is a very negative narrative in the country and has been for a while. It's made much worse by both mainstream media and social media. Which makes everyone think evening is broken. But it isn't . And actually I think things are getting much better.
The negative narrative helps certain groups.

Acc to the bbc retail sales grew each of the last four months of 2025, fuelled by strong sales of tech and jewellery. Doesn’t sound like a country on its knees.

I agree with this. Research has shown that since the pandemic people tend to go out earlier and fewer people are willing to go out in the evening. It's not because of cost it's because we are not as keen as we were in going out at night time. I am the same especially during the long dark nights. I'd rather go out during the day.

No it doesn't I'm afraid. I'm in the lucky situation of being retired and we have outsourced lunch. We eat out every day, from Greg's to a decent pub. We also eat out at night about once a week.

In all of those venues, we would normally see a drop in trade in January, a drastic drop when the Christmas credit card bill hits, and expect to be sent offer after offer of discounts.

This year I've had only one offer, from a pub that is very hit and miss on food and service that we don't go to and obviously others feel the same way. And there has been no discernible drop in trade. Nothing accounts for this other than that people appear to be spending on meals out just as much as they ever were.

It's actually baffling. It will be interesting to see the trade figures when they come out in a few months time.

From a low base, I’m sure they are still below pre pandemic levels.

I could have easily been one of those people in a pub this weekend (my friend is working though)i would have gone out for a couple and then gone home.

No one knows what others are spending when out in a pub or bar. They could be having one drink and then off home or like me their one lunch out in months.

But to say there is no COL crisis when shops, pubs and restaurants are shutting across the high street, and several chains in the past couple of weeks, is just being ignorant.

Acc To the ONS we are spending more on retail since Oct 2019 but getting less in volume.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/chartimage?uri=/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry/bulletins/retailsales/october2023/e211c15e

Because people are thinking more about what and where they spend. So one quality thing that maybe costs £100 but lasts longer rather than three cheaper things at £35 each that need replacing in a years time.

Or one good meal out that they savour/enjoy each month for £150 rather than a weekly takeaway at £30+.

I don't know why you are confused - or are you just trying to get a rise out of people?

You seem wilfully to be ignoring the fact that in a country of 70 million there will be haves and have nots. Heaving bars and restaurants doesn't mean that there aren't a lot of people struggling.

With your banking background you are surely aware that real wage growth hasn't increased in the past 15 years.

Not everyone, OP, a lot of people may be, but not everyone. Even for those going out, you're not seeing the full picture of what's going on; they are there at that moment, drinking/eating, etc but do you know how long they've been there, how long they're staying, Whose paying, how they're paying, are they in debt?

You're seeing a snapshot, OP. It means nothing.

@Hellohelga

sales volume data matters because quantity reflects market demand & business health & it’s below the pandemic still.

I'm not struggling at all but I don't eat out etc., perhaps that's part of the reason I'm not struggling!