How is everybody else coping with the new increases?

[cavewoman2026]

Hiya,

single mum here, working full time but barely surviving. Got two young children. I shop for food via Lidl, clothes are from Vinted, make the most of parks and libraries but I’ve been getting the feeling lately if not being able to carry on. Everything is so expensive and I don’t even have a car or go on holiday. I’m so tired. I get help towards housing but that’s about it. I look around me and everyone seems to be going on skiing holidays, have massive houses etc (Happy for them of course)

How is everybody else coping? How do you feel with the increases in energy and food prices? Council tax is going up too. It’s all so depressing.

taking walks in nature and releasing everything is man made and temporary makes me feel better for a short while.

We’ve cancelled streaming subscriptions. Cancelled national trust membership. I space out my hair appointments a few weeks longer. It looks shit but it’s not really a choice. We only eat and drink out on birthdays. No holidays for the foreseeable. Reduced takeaways by half. Down branded on regular shopping. It does feel depressing and limiting.

I swear every time I put my veggies through the self check out the price has jumped again. Broccoli was a pound last week 😞 Carrots and onions still cheap but anything green and peppers are super expensive now.

If the OP wants support and advice then posting income and expenditure would be a good place to start. How can anyone advise without any information.
There are only two options: increase income or reduce expenditure and you probably need to do both. How can anyone advise without knowing more about the OP’s financial circumstances?
moaning that everyone else has a massive house or is going on holiday achieves nothing.

I'm not even sure its comparing to other people, I could compare to myself a couple of years ago, I don't need any external reference. It's tough. I don't know what the answer is, but you're not the only one feeling a bit bleak going into winter.

Badly. I’m self employed and my income has plummeted just as costs have gone up. I’m coping but the margins are now very tight and our mortgage will go up massively this time next year. I need for my work situation to turn around by then.

I’m quite glad I don’t have a massive house as the energy bills must be huge. However lots of people won’t even notice the increases.

I’ve been watching the cost of my electric double on my smart meter this week. I already want the cold season to be over.

I find bulk buying and freezing certain foods helpful. There are lots of food bank esk initiatives where I live but open to absolutely everyone so there is no stigma attached and they are always left with tonnes of free food so they really want people to take it off their hands. That helps.

As much as I love staying indoors for winter I do try to do free activities so we are not always in. I make sure we have a packed lunch.

It is difficult. Something has to give eventually.

Why does one have to post their own outgoings for their post to have a point? Why post at all then?

prices have increased drastically so I wanted to enquire in an offhand, curious way as to how everyone is managing? Surely not everyone is on 100k a year or relying on the bank of mum and dad.

I’ve cut subscriptions, shop only via Vinted or Lidl for food. Skip meals. Host at mine to avoid going out. Do my own nails. Get only two haircuts a year. Things like that. It’s still so hard. And I know prices will just keep going up and up.

I’ve figured it out.

the people around me either have properties passed on by family and are landlord so they have an extra income alongside their regular jobs.

or married rich.

or some similar reasons.

Everything is super expensive and food shopping is so depressing now! Everyone I know is feeling it, even those on high incomes as bills tend to be higher there. It’s shit and we need actual support rather than telling people not to play music on buses

What support do you want?

It's always been the case that some people are richer or by circumstances have more funds for life's luxuries and pleasures. Personally no one in my circle has been on a ski trip so maybe you need to find a new crowd

It was just a general comment, it’s not always skiing trips, it could be something else.

The only other things I do OP are buy in bulk where I can (old school but often better), reduce snacks we buy (make our own for lunchboxes), freeze everything, save a little bit, even the roundups.- it makes me feel better. How old are your children? Only other suggestion is thing ahead. Xmas jumpers on Vinted tend to get more expensive after Halloween x

I have just got a part time job due to partner losing their employment 2 weeks ago, I am also an unpaid carer so I have had to find one that is evening time due to still having to undertake caring responsibilities during the day. Luckily my 2 youngest are in full time school so I can do the caring side during the day after the school run. I can only do up to 16 hours due to claiming carers as well, but UC have included my partners September wage into this months assessment and obviously his wage from last month went to last months bills, so this month is going to be tight as I had to work a week in hand also as I only started a few days ago, but as long as we have the rent paid everything else can wait, and we will play catch up when we can.

I'm visiting England on holiday this week and picked up Marmite for a friend yesterday. I went to Iceland, and it was still over 3 quid. I don't know if that's normal, but I was surprised. Spent almost 9 quid in Costa after. That one was a mistake. Really not worth it.

Pretty sure she is asking how other people are coping with increases. It’s a general question and her income/outgoings is irrelevant.

And it’s the same answer: increase your income or reduce expenses. No mystery, no magic- those are the only options.
I do both.

Where is the kids Dad in all of this? What is he contributing?

Never been on a skiing holiday. Most families around here have never been.
So life just goes on.

I’m not a single mum op but the price increases are really worrying me. The worst thing you can do is compare yourself with others it’s the thief of joy , they might be up to there ears is debt !
Watch frugal you tube . Sensible frugal living and frugal queen In france are my go to.
i don’t know what you do already I only shop in Lidl, i sell and buy on vinted . I cook from scratch and bulk cook as well . I does get you down at times especially in the winter when it’s damp and cold outside

The only person I know who goes on a skiing holiday every year is a single person living in a HMO earning a good wage but spends no more than £15 a week on food, eats vegetarian because it’s cheaper than eating meat, doesn’t go to the hairdressers or get her nails done etc, buys everything she needs second hand or picks it up on free cycle and doesn’t own a car. Lives near work so no commuting costs. Basically lives a life of total frugality in order to fund her holidays (also takes multiple other holidays throughout the year). I couldn’t live like that but I take my hat off to her, it seems like a miserable way to live most of the year to have those small pockets of job but we just have different priorities in life, each to their own.
OP the only way to feel ‘better off’ is to increase your income or reduce your outgoings, there’s no short cuts really. And stop comparing yourself to others, it’s really unhelpful.

I agree - it’s a straightforward answer.

Essentially it’s about living within your means.

Are you on olio? Lots of people near me use it, if you have the space it's worth investing in a cheap freezer as loads of the stuff here comes up from supermarkets because it's on its last day of use - then you can freeze and use for batch cooking etc.