To be absolutely sick of hearing about the cost of living crisis

[Katypp]

I surely can't be the only person sick to death of hearing about the cost of living crisis?
I am tired of reporters interviewing middle-class (usually) mothers inside paid activities such as soft play and hearing them moan about how they are struggling to make ends meet.
Have we completely lost the ability to cut our cloth according to our means or does 'struggling' now mean carrying on spending as usual then complaining when there's no money left?
There have never been as many massive new cars on the road, towns are full of hairdressers, nail bars, brow bars, tanning salons, soft play, play cafes, coffee shops, ice cream parlours, dog groomers, most of which didn't exist 25 years ago and are probably the recipients of the money of the families who say they can't keep up with spiralling costs.
Yes, some families will have been hard up before prices started to go up and will have nothing else to cut back on. They have my sympathy.
But i am utterly fed up of hearing how hard households ars being hit by the cost of living crisis when all that's needed is a few minor cutbacks which they don't want to make.

Threads like these are just elderly vs young (for the most part - of course there are many elderly posters who have more imagination, empathy and wisdom than the OP, and younger posters who have none of these qualities).

When you realise that, it’s easier to just tune out the ridiculous posters who have no skin in the game and, honestly, no idea what life is actually like these days.

Family of 4 and we are going to Italy for a week for less £ than 5 days in Center Parcs!

Soft play did exist 25 years ago and certainly not what I would call a luxury. It usually only cost a couple of pounds. In fact all those things existed 25 years ago. Were you living under a rock?

@DavesGirl90 there is so much resentment though, I don’t understand it. I want my dc & gc to have a good life with opportunity.

@Somethingbland If you ever look at 'Country Living', the difference between the people who are in that magazine and the rest of society (including the many people who also live in the countryside) is so stark.

So many people seem to exist in a soft bubble, whereby buying a substantial house with a big garden and decorating it in their late 20s or early 30s, or starting a basketry business, bakery, or goat's milk cosmetics company seems to be completely normal and just something one does when they've tired of the London rat race.

Meanwhile, here's me, an older Millennial having a led a frugal, sensible life all my life not being able to afford anywhere decent to buy.

And if there is really no money left, they 'stick it on the credit card'.

And this mentality is what has caused a lot of entitled behaviour.

Some people don't want to save up for things nowadays. They want everything instantly and feel that just because they work hard, they deserve it. What was once considered a treat or a luxury is now the expected norm.

I teach my kids that they have to choose between a and b. Even though I may be able to afford both, I want them to realise you can't just have everything you fancy there and then.

I know what you mean. The ‘cost of living crisis’ has been going on for at least 5 years now. Probably longer. It’s not a ‘crisis’, it’s the new normal.

Correct. They can interview me at McDonald's on the one time I go a month with my DD to buy her a happy meal. 5 quid a month I'm such a spender.

What do you think about the possible car buyers being ask about how much car prices have raise in the last years when they are looking for a new one OP?

When I was in my 20s, I worked a 42 hours job, which was the norm. I couldn't afford my own place, so shared. I couldn't afford a car either so walked most places or took the bus.

I did what many did, spent above my means for a whilst...so I took a weekend job for two years to repay my debts (in care). I then started to be more careful and accepted I couldn't afford much above essentials. That motivates me to focus on getting a promotion and applying for new roles paying more. After the children, I was back to being poor and having to watch every pound. Then my youngest stopped childcare as he started secondary and for the first time in life, I was able to properly save and afford luxuries. I was early 40s.

Now people in their 20s expect a level of luxuries that are beyond what the average 25yo could have afforded 50 years ago.

Just come back from a city break to Spain

Manchester airport packed
All bars in airport packed
Been in Manchester recently again packed
Food Hall m&s packed

Cost of living crisis

My arse

That was my take too. It's the usual Boomer v Millennial/Gen Z thing. (No idea where Gen X, which I am, fits into this).

No idea what a cistern of living is...but you do realise that Manchester Airport is not a microcosm for the whole of the UK? The people there are by definition people who can afford to go on holiday.

it has been my observation over 42 years of marriage and bringing up children that every time we have a pay rise and start thinking life should be getting a little easier that supermarket prices take a leap.

We're, aptly perhaps, the "forgotten generation" 😆

If you are on £80 000 with a mortgage, uni fees to pay back, child care costs and paying full council tax etc compared to someone on £30 000 who might have low council rent, benefits, and possibly council tax discount you would understand.

Speak for yourself. I could afford more luxuries in my 20s than in my 50s. I also bought a house in my late 20s and had a car.

Gen X

Is that you Gemma?

Your post is drivel; just wanted to point out (if it's not been said already) that using the term " Rachel from Accounts" is misogynistic. Other than that, no point addressing any of the Daily Express word vom.

Now people in their 20s expect a level of luxuries that are beyond what the average 25yo could have afforded 50 years ago

My parents bought their first home in their 20s & it was a house not a flat in London on one salary. I definitely couldn’t do that at 25 with my boyfriend despite us both working & my dc won’t be able to do either.

I’m a Geriatric Millennial apparently.😂

Hospitality and personal services are disproportionately industries which employ staff at low wages, zero hours and needing tax credits to live. A smaller but better paid, less subsidised sector may well be an economic benefit to the country as a whole. Tax credits were meant to help bridge the gap into work but have become a means to enable low, insecure pay in many businesses and an economic brake.

I agree with PP talking about “squeeze” rather than “crisis” for the majority. Buying coffee rather than making it/taking a flask, paid soft play and entertainment as regular activities rather than birthday treats, expensive food choices etc are all luxuries not essentials.
Having grown up poor and struggled I roll my eyes a bit when the media finds interviewees complaining about a crisis because Nigel’s soft play plus cafe coffee has gone up this week. This messaging totally undermines the sizeable group struggling to heat their homes and buy healthy food - those are the people in crisis, not people taking flasks of coffee into work.

I’d be interested to know where this Waitrose for Dogs is. I’ve never seen an animal charity of any type on the list for the Waitroses I occasionally visit. The most popular charities are always child related (especially SEND) along with the foodbanks. Elderly poor or mental health tend to be less popular. Each branch’s charities are locally based (national policy).

Yep! Won't inherit anything, didn't massively benefit from the housing boom (unless we had generous parents who helped get us 'on the ladder' - I didn't), jobs market not great although not as bad as it is now. No grants for uni like our parents got but at least we didn't have to pay fees.

I've gone through my whole life thinking I'm flying by the seat of my pants financially, despite never being out of work and being highly qualified and experienced in my field. The ongoing cost of living crisis has opened my eyes to the fact that I will either never retire, or will be poor and it will be grim.

It's not really a crisis is it? A crisis is a short term catastrophe. This is forever. They'd more accurately describe it as post-brexit UK or something.

Yeah - cost-of-living decline is probably more accurate.