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 think the PP was using it as an analogy but very clearly said there's no comparison in terms of severity.

If you don't see something happening, whatever the severity, it can be hard to know if it's real. But we know these things are real. Because we know people who say they're struggling.

I mean, I don't know anyone who is struggling and I'm hardly wealthy. I think a lot of this is planted by the media in order to create disorder and also to sell papers.

You also think that because you can afford things, they aren't luxuries to anyone, so I'm not sure you have the best view on this.

There are many in that group though too,

We can't afford to go out as much - but I was out on Friday. Went to a place which was offering 3 cocktails and a meal for £30 a head as a January offer, that and my taxi was all I spent. £42 total. It was my first night out of the year and I don't have another planned until the end of March. However - compared to the Fridays I used to go out the place was ok, a few in but not packed, and they called last orders at 11 rather than 12 which used to be the case. I got a taxi instantly without having to wait 20/30 mins too.

Dual income household but with 2 primary age kids and mortgaged for the next 25 years, still having holidays but these are UK based camping/a week in the lakes compared to having an additional 10 days aboard previously.

It’s an analogy, not a direct comparison, which I stated. I’m not sure what OFFS means.

Here’s what I’m saying: something can exist, but not exist everywhere or affect everyone. Doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

It's a bit like the lipstick effect - during covid and during financial downturns when money gets tight, people treat themselves with the little things. Can't afford that big holiday? Go for a meal instead. Can't afford to go for a big fancy meal? Go for a bottomless brunch. And so on.

You're also only seeing the people with money to spend or using credit to pay it back some day. Plenty of other people not out and about. You'll also have been in a busy bit of Manchester. In Cardiff there are newer more bustling shopping and eating areas while the Capitol Centre sits sad and empty with some cheapy tatty shops instead of the major brands, cinema and high footfall it used to have.

Why are you following me from thread to thread? How obsessive. Do you have a problem with people being able to afford things?

It's this kind of thing exactly.

We used to go on two holidays a year (out of school holidays, that's going to be impossible when DD starts school in September). We don't anymore, we do one and then a "staycation" where we take some time off work and have some nice days out (usually using the National Trust cards), some good dog walks, some quiet at home days where we just play what DD wants, or video games, or Lego etc. and one "big" day out (such as the zoo or a theme park). We'll probably also go out for a meal or two then too.

People are spreading out their money to get the maximum enjoyment they can. So it might look like there's loads of people out, but those same people are doing less OTHER things.

You really do have main character syndrome.

Recognising you isn't following you. Happy to clarify. But you have had an entire thread filled up with people telling you that your view on these things is skewed, so maybe think about that.

Maybe you should think about your obsessive need to tell people how privileged we are. Just a thought.

I really do miss the laugh emoji

Oh for fucks sake.

10 miles ish out of manchester is my home town. It’s dead. All retail parks and high street is rubbish. Theres very few lively pubs left in the town centre. Most pubs that do well serve food. But they’ll be quiet by 8pm. Anyone that can afford it probably heads on the bus or train to manchester for a better night.

I can’t believe people on this thread claim poverty isn’t happening. My colleagues visit houses with no heating, furniture, toys and so on… it’s not hard to understand that those families are not out with everyone (apparently) enjoying themselves on expensive food and drink. I see children in clothes that don’t fit, we sign post families help.

Im a non child duel income household. So we aren’t struggling. Low mortgage. One car. But if we had Kids that excess cash we have for a meal every couple weeks would be eaten up and we wouldn’t afford it or our holidays.

Minimum wage is edging closer and closer to my NHS wage. yet bills are increasing by far more than any pay rises: eg water going up 12% and our council tax max amount 4.99%

There are still families that live exactly how you describe…( plenty of people can tell you that from their professional experiences) but they aren’t the ones seen shopping and eating out are they.

Couldn’t agree more. I work in a school in a deprived area of Manchester and the poverty I come across with my pupils is heartbreaking. It blows my mind that people on this thread imply they don’t believe poverty exists, just because other people can afford to go out on a Friday night.

Haha, thanks. Obvious really now you say it!

I'm shocked too. The cost of everything has gone up so much - food, rent/mortgage, bills etc - there are going to be people who are struggling. If you were just about managing before the price rises, you aren't managing now.

Manchester is busy as it's sucking in people from a very wide area, whilst the towns centres around it are struggling. Plus it's payday weekend.

My parents live near a small town. In the 90s there were dozens of bars, restaurants and clubs. There were queues every Friday and Saturday to even get in, and it would take 15 mins to get a drink at the bar. It was rammed to fire code limits every weekend. Now, only about 15% of venues are still operating. There is never a queue to get in or order a drink. They close 2-3 hours earlier than they used to. They are a quarter full at best. There are no clothes shops if you exclude charity shops. No book shops. Nowhere to buy a birthday card. So what happens is that people who used to shop every Saturday and go out Friday and Saturday every week now save up and go to Manchester / Birmingham / London etc. once every 4-6 weeks, and shop / go out for meals. City centres are a poor indication of COL issues - look at small towns, village pubs, etc.

Well, I'm definitely struggling. Just because you don't know me, it doesn't mean I don't exist.

Did you go into town yesterday OP? I was there tea time ish for a couple of hours, it was quite busy but not rammed.

Tuesday tea time in February has never been a popular time for people to go into town has it?

I'm surprised it could be described as busy.

Why are you surprised?

When I worked there, every weeknight there was a post work crowd out around teatime. So I'd disagree it's never been popular. However this is going back a while.

Last night it was getting busier towards the end (I was out about 530 to 730) which makes me think it may not have been a primarily work crowd.

I did was in Mackie Mayor's at 1 till 2
No one upstairs, downstairs i would say 80% full.

Apparently Jason Momoa was also in the area this weekend!

https://www.manchestersfinest.com/interviews/jason-momoa-eats-and-drinks-his-way-around-manchester/