cost of living...

[CKB20]

Is anyone feeling the effects of the increases in costs of living?

In a way specific to ethnicity?

How d’you mean?

@TottersBlankly I suppose so. I was speaking with a friend recently who was telling me about how her council has not been supporting Black families in her area with mould/leakage in their homes and now with the increase in energy prices this is causing some difficulty in managing the problem as individual households.

So yes, in terms of ethnicity but also in general!

Are you saying the council is not helping fix her mould problem BECAUSE she is black?

Surely the council treat everyone the same, they're not picking on black people.

Ah, I get you, OP.

Anything that impacts the most financially insecure is going to impact a relatively higher proportion of black people, yes.

@mugoftea456 @tillytoodles1 I'm just noting her observation, I don't live in that council.

However, I don't think council's treat everyone the same. There's been massive cuts to black services in recent years and tailored community organisations have been pushed out of the areas they're most needed in. Sistah Space's recently struggle for a new site in Hackney is a good example where they managed to find a compromise through community activism and publicity.

Either way, was just wondering if anyone was feeling this effect as a black person in ways that are both racially/ethnically specific and also general, thought it could be a good discussion!

tillytoodles1 A much higher proportion of black people, whether British born or immigrant, is likely to be in a position where they’re at the mercy of council operatives with regard to housing, heating, insulation, etc.

And people who have to wait on the council for help are less likely to be articulate or well connected or in any way likely to be able to put pressure on providers. Some may not have fluent English.

Where there are cut-backs they will be as a class, and therefore individually, disproportionately disadvantaged.

You will get snobbish responses here, some mumsnetters believe they are woke but don’t really care about real problems.

This thread is on the Black Mumsnetters board, Stapleton143.

Why would anyone come here to perform insincere ‘wokeness’?

@tillytoodles1

Surely the council treat everyone the same, they're not picking on black people.

I suppose you think all children are treated the same in the education system too, no doubt.

It's like some people here didn't see the ITN news on that rotting, mouldy and damp block of flats last year. The occupants weren't white.

@CKB20

Is anyone feeling the effects of the increases in costs of living?

I am, it's wiping out my ability to save a bit each month. I'll be dipping into my modest savings to pay my fuel bills. And as I get older, and my health breaks down, I'm thinking of moving nearer to a more diverse community than here. Just in case I become very vulnerable. It concerns me. IYKWIM.

It concerns me in the sense of how I will afford to support elderly parents whilst putting several children through high school/ uni. There are expectations from both theses parties as to what I’ll help with in terms of time( can’t do that if I’m working more) and money.

Given the amount of adverse publicity top level football is getting as a result of criminal/alleged criminal or former illegal activity, it would be a really good idea of a successful (black) player stepped up and offered funding to an appropriate group, like your Hackney Sisters project. Stormzy does it with his scholarship for black youth to university.

The cost of food particularly ingredients for "traditional" dishes, Ackee, saltfish, oxtail I've simply stopped buying them.

The cost of petrol - I should get a bus pass & catch the bus, but the idea of using public transport after a 13hr shift makes me feel ill.

The cost of food particularly ingredients for "traditional" dishes, Ackee, saltfish, oxtail I've simply stopped buying them

I went to our local market today. Been buying fish off the the same stall for years.
The customer in front complained about the prices. The guy who runs the stall was saying it's cheaper to buy British fished cod in France than it is at home.
There was no saltfish to be had, and I haven't been able to get ox tail for a while where I live.

I got a tin of ackee for less than six pounds from Tesco the other day. I eat it once in a while though, so I was not put off by the price. I have noticed certain items creeping up, it is concerning.

@emuloc

I got a tin of ackee for less than six pounds from Tesco the other day. I eat it once in a while though, so I was not put off by the price. I have noticed certain items creeping up, it is concerning.

£6 for a tin of ackee wow!

I noticed this very much- and a significant percentage of BAME groups work in the non senior level roles in the public sector where pay increases are pretty much insignificant . Add this to the cost of everything rising, and helping to financially support extended families - I agree OP it's like we are being forced into debt not for treats or luxuries but basic living costs .

I've been burying head in the sand over increased living costs - it will all catch up with me I'm sure.

I think it helps though that we have reduced our meat consumption. We have a lot of lentils, chick peas, veggie mince, meatless stir fries. Chicken maybe a couple of times a week and very occasionally beef.

@Denzelstowel

I noticed this very much- and a significant percentage of BAME groups work in the non senior level roles in the public sector where pay increases are pretty much insignificant . Add this to the cost of everything rising, and helping to financially support extended families - I agree OP it's like we are being forced into debt not for treats or luxuries but basic living costs .

I’m “middle management” and the paltry pay rise offered by my govt/ local council funded job doesn’t even touch the sides. I used to be able to pick up private/ contract/ consultancy type work to top up/ fund holidays and treats etc but that has greatly reduced since Covid. People just don’t have the disposable income.

@Maggiethecat

I've been burying head in the sand over increased living costs - it will all catch up with me I'm sure.

I think it helps though that we have reduced our meat consumption. We have a lot of lentils, chick peas, veggie mince, meatless stir fries. Chicken maybe a couple of times a week and very occasionally beef.

We very rarely eat meat - we used to eat a lot of fish but that has also increased. Chicken wings and smoked mackerel and spinach this week. 🤣🤣 honestly.

@Denzelstowel - Dh and I love fish but dc don’t. Having it more as a treat these days.

Chicken wings are a good example of how we incorporate meat sometimes - baked wings sort of on the side with salads etc but not the star of the show iyswim.

I’m also making meat work harder eg 2 packs of chicken thighs - about 16 pieces. Baked 12 pieces which will do for a few meals, sliced thin strips off the other 4 pieces to freeze for later use for fajitas or stir fry and froze the bones/residual meat for soup/stock.

We’ve always been conscious of avoiding food waste but acutely so now!

@RedWingBoots

It's like some people here didn't see the ITN news on that rotting, mouldy and damp block of flats last year. The occupants weren't white.

I saw that. It was heartbreaking and disgusting. And yes, not surprising the people were black

Yes, the cost of living is certainly creeping up especially! The official inflation figures are intentionally lower than reality and it won't get much better without a dynamic change in politics. Most politicians are motivated solely by winning elections not really the interest of the country. So they're amenable to half truths and manipulating data. The promise all sorts, spend and print money which devalues the currency reducing purchasing power.
The fact that we are aware and looking for strategies to thrive inspite of it is encouraging and I wanted to commend you ladies for keeping the thread on point!