[Closed] anyone else worried about the rising cost of things?

trust me, you are not alone.

Yep, no holiday for us this year for just that reason. Pay freeze at work and everything else is going up. We've always been careful with what we spend so there's not really anywhere to trim the fat.

i think that is has slowly been building for me and i'm starting to look for new / intresting ways of saving money looking at a wind turbine or a solar panel for the house

bike is pretty much falling to bits but i cant afford to get forks serviced or replace the full drivetrain so keeping it alive with odds and sods from ebay / classifieds

La la la la la la la la la la la la la la LA LA LALALALALALALALA....

Yep, I'm with Woppit on this. WGAS? Not a lot I can do about the prices.....

Or is there?
Shop around. Don't drive as much (Cycle) and when you do, learn how to use less fuel. Turn the heating down/off & put a jumper on. Don't buy stuff on credit... etc..... 🙂

Shop around. Don't drive as much (Cycle) and when you do, learn how to use less fuel. Turn the heating down/off & put a jumper on. Don't buy stuff on credit... etc..

Rubbish, just log on to the internet, pick a random forum and have a whinge.
There, that feels better, doesn't it?

just wait for interest rates to start going up, which they will do at some point. that's when real problems will start...

Its insufferable isn't it? Some of the domestics have been agitating for a wage increase. As I am a generous and considerate master, I have moderately upped their gruel ration. Dependent on a marked increase in productivity, obviously

Doesn't seem to be affecting me much at the moment. Mortgage is basically paid off and our monthly costs are well within affordable limits.

As for petrol costs, I've not witnessed a reduction in overall traffic speeds to a more cost-efficient level so I can only assume they aren't having much impact on the driving population as a whole.

I noticed that my car insurance is a lot more than last year. I'm poorer than I was but still have some slack.

The price of champagne in Waitrose is climbing too.

I'm down to two bottles a night.

in the last 6 months ive seen my petrol bill sky rocket, my monthly train ticket is up, my gas and leccy bill are about to go up again and my food bill every week is rising almost on a weekly basis

Petrol, its been 130something since Febuary, the yearly tax/insurance/service/mot ruitual still costs me more than 10,000miles of fuel.

Food, I've not noticed it going up since 2008/09? Steak is still £10/kilo, tin of tomatoes is still 33p. I could feed myself for £20/week at uni, there was a menu plan in MensHealth last month that cost £26/week for lots of protein and a lot more interesting stuff than I ate at uni!

Trains, well they use fuel too.

Gas/lecy, no idea, missus deals with those.

lidl and aldi

Actualy, I found them more expensive on the basic stuff(and often just not stocking a lot of less basic stuff like spices, herbs etc), so unless you're after luxuarys stuff like chocolate cheep then ASDA/Tesco/Morrsons was cheeper and better choice.

Should have known better enduro, this place is heavily populated by middle class, well off folk who like to take the piss!! Now where did I put that new Audi brochure??

I'm down to two bottles a night.

Doesn't work for me, I find their caviar too salty to be able drink any less.

just wait for interest rates to start going up, which they will do at some point. that's when real problems will start...

This is it for me - I'm ok at the moment but mainly because my mortgage is next to nowt (shared with my gf). The main things I've noticed increasing a lot seem to be gas/electric and insurance.

Unsurprisingly some fairly ****tish attitudes in this thread. 🙄

My Missus and I can get by on £20 a week food shopping. Lots of savvy spending involved though, she has a fascination with MSE and the like and loves a deal, you should see the size of our freezer!

With regards to renewable energies, her folks have just moved into a new house which is pretty much off the grid. Gas has to be bought in on site. The tank lasts about a year ish and costs £1k to fill which is bonkers. However, they have solar panels on one side of the house, only about 4 panels and they were put in when the house was built about 20 years ago so I'm guessing they're not the most efficient, however those panels on their own heat the entire house.....and the pool.

I guess I'm OK now as my mortgage has gone and I have a reasonable income

But I went though similar in the 70s & 80s and it wasn't pleasant, both inflation and interest rates into double figures and rocketing fuel costs way above inflation.
Looking back, it was tough but we survived OK and so will most others now

Just do the best you can to make sure you look after you and yours with life's essentials and sod the rest, let them whistle.
The better times will come back, they always do, just make the best of it best you can now.

Will be very interesting (well horrible for many) when Interest rates go up - repossessions will rise!

Give it a few more years should start to pick up I reckon 🙂

I'm with Enduro. Definitely not starving, but... no pay rise for 5 years now. Petrol up. Fuel up. Aldi quite cheap but involves a 5 mile drive, while Morrisons is just a walk away. Child tax credit gone.

I've been getting progressively worse off for years. Of course it's all relative, but at a time of life when I thought things would be getting easier... they aren't.

Give it a few more years should start to pick up I reckon

Things will probably pick up, but I think there has been permanent damage to the UK economy which we may never entirely recover from, especially as the 'developing world' gets stronger and stronger.

The last 20 years or so are going to be seen as a bit of a golden age for most people in the UK imo.

Just started a new job but earning less than when made redundant last year. So things could be worse.

Being brutal it is not going to get better. Interest rates one way bet. Fuel, mix peak oil with increasing demand from bric countries. throw in globalization of salaries. Oh what joy to look forward to.

I think you're bang on their Grum. Whereas a few years back it was semi-skilled and manufacturing jobs that went, this time round its 'professions'.

And a lot of those jobs are gone for good. Or have been de-valued to the point where they'll command nowhere near the same salary or conditions. My salary is 30% down on what it was 8 years ago. And that's pretty much across the board in my industry. I think it'll get worse before it gets better too. Its the old 'supply and demand' thing. Oversupply of people with the right skills for too little 'real' work.

It looks pretty bleak all round I think. I've been reading with mild amusement the threads about teachers pensions. I'm not getting involved. All I'll say is some people don't know they're born at the moment. There are going to be some pretty shrewd wake up calls soon though. Presently in the post

I think there has been permanent damage to the UK economy which we may never entirely recover from

Nah, it'll adjust. It does all the time. There are too many clever people working on the task of making money to just sit around and go 'oh well we lost'.

We'll come up with something. We've got different demographics to developing nations. If they end up the same as us then their labour and manufacturing will no longer be cheap, so we'll starting doing it here again.

Something to think about how many jobs need to be in the uk? you can out source most back office functions to some where cheaper. Once the jobs have gone so dos the money to buy things, so don't need so many sales people, a few more jobs go.

The solution is to buy british products in the uk from uk retailers, not to outsource, not to globalize the labor pool. But it is not going to happen.

I have some friends in manufacturing, they're once again able to compete with foreign competitors for tenders and their order books are bulging. Far-Eastern manufacturing is becoming less competitive and a lot of companies are starting to see the "value" in UK production as opposed to the bottom line. I think making stuff seems to be the better way of getting ourselves out of the mire. I may have the blinkers on however.

I think making stuff seems to be the better way of getting ourselves out of the mire

Absolutely right! But the capacity and skills to do that are so far gone we'll be virtually starting from scratch again. And that takes investment. Which isn't going to happen. Not with the banking system, the education system and the balance of the economy structured as it is

yeah who cares about food, heating etc getting silly, i'm with enduro-aid, its bike parts that worry me most!

a few years back, with some hunting about and the regular extra % off weekends immediately post xmas, i was replacing my drivetrain, brakes etc annually as the old kit would easily sell on ebay for such good cash it was silly not to.

but now!

I agree, it will take time and investment. However, the rise in school leavers applying for apprenticeships is on the rise, a number of companies I work with will have a workforce that is classed as "skilled labour" with a growing proportion of those being apprentices. I dont think it's a co-incidence that the reducing number of young unemployed, the increase in apprentices and the proposed welfare reforms all seem to have a pretty direct correlation.

The solution is to buy british products in the uk from uk retailers

There are disadvantages to that. It reduces competition, and can lead to crap products, see the US car industry for details.

I hope you're right fella. I always thought it ridiculous this newlabour idea that everyone had to go to University. To learn what? Media studies? Meanwhile we're importing 'tradespeople' from Eastern Europe because we haven't invested in any training in skilled jobs in this country for decades.

That's one of the things I meant about the balance of the economy needing to change

*STW pedant mode on*

resisted.

interested to know how 4 solar panels heat their house?

Solar (Thermal/hot water) panels heat your hot water that comes out of your taps, not your radiators.

Solar (electric/photovoltaic) panels provide electricity, which could be used for heating but you would need a huge amount!

*STW pedant mode off*

... or was it a joke? 🙄

It wasn't a joke, it's just what I've been told, it may have been BS, it probably is. I know their heating bills are **** all for such a gargantuan house.

I do know they're thermal panels, it sounds like I'm talking out of my arse come to think of it. I know they definitely keep the pool heated though

and still the amount left at the end of the month is getting less and less

you have money left - you're doing OK

thisisnotaspoon - Member

Petrol, its been 130something since Febuary, the yearly

was £1.29 and is now £1.35 which is almost 1% per month

tax/insurance/service/mot ruitual still costs me more than 10,000miles of fuel.

Insurance increase has been 45% over the past 4-5 years, which is again 10-12% per year.

Food, I've not noticed it going up since 2008/09? Steak is still £10/kilo, tin of tomatoes is still 33p. I could feed myself for £20/week at uni, there was a menu plan in MensHealth last month that cost £26/week for lots of protein and a lot more interesting stuff than I ate at uni!

But the quality of entry level goods has declined as have quantities per measure. Take pasta, milk, and bread. I found a receipt at the bottom of a reusable bag from 2006, Pasta was £1.34 for 3kg and is now nearer £4, milk was £1.06 for 4 pints and is now over £1.65, and the exact same loaf that was 66p in 2006 is £1.19 in Tesco today.

250% increase for pasta,
60% for milk
45-50% for bread,

Trains, well they use fuel too.

And don't we just pay for it....Train ticket from Workington to Barrow in 2008 was £8.40 for a return and is now £12+ at peak times.

Gas/lecy, no idea, missus deals with those.

Yeah, cos these things aren't expensive at all. For me, despite a decrease in useage (LCD TV not Plasma, Solar Charging of iPhones + Laptops only running the heating for 1 month per year, no tumble dryer, no freezer, no desktop computer running all day), my gas and electric bill is over twice what it was at the end of 2009.

So a minimum of 12% per year over the past 5 years....have your wages gone up by 60% in that time?

Not the first time this has happened, can remember the mortgage rate being 14% and stupidly high poll tax to pay

Got through it then and won't be any different this time, bound to be a few casualties, hopefully without the wholesale house repossessions though

Such a reasuring thread as I'm house hunting for a bigger (or more expensive at least) house which will involve a longer commute for me.

It will have nicer views though hopefully!

Was talking to my dad the other day and when they moved into their current house in 1978 interest rates were at around 3%. He also had 2 other mortgages on his business property. 6 months later the interest rates went up to around 15% 😯

Now I know why he was doing man n van work at the weekends and selling eggs to local hotels in the evenings!

It's frustrating but such is life. ?Had a pay freeze for a 2 years now, lost tax credit due to changes in the policy, my pension is being looked at, our shift allowance may be reviewed and costs are going up. Still I have my Wife and Kids I can cut back in things if needed and I live a pretty good life really so I'm still happy.

Can't say I have noticed apart from beer.

Costco is a real bonus as is the ability to cook from scratch. No ready meals and the minimum of pre-prepared stuff saves us around 400 a month on food and grocery as well as being better for us and much tastier.

To answer the OP, it worries me to death, I'm praying that won't be literal*

* I do OK, it's my pension I worry about.

i try not to worry about things that are out of my control.

I reckon the figures on inflation have been getting fudged ever since they changed from the old index. It really feels like they've stepped on the gas over the last 6 months or so though.

It's like a neo-malthusian check on greed culture.

resisted.I think you mean Welfare cuts not Reforms don,t you?

Ticker on CNBC this mourning:

"BOE's King defends ultra-low interest rates, insists inflation will fall".

You have a choice between high mortgage repayments or increasing prices. If the BOE bods are really, really clever you'll end up with inflated prices and high interest rates as they suddenly realise inflation is our of control and hike rates in a panic. The late 70s all over again? (add smiley to suit you situation)

Child tax credit gone

We qualify for Child Tax Credits but never claimed them as I feel we are well enough off without and there are a lot more deserving cases. Child Benefit goes straight into a bank account for "the future". These are two benefits which could be improved by some/better means testing.

These are two benefits which could be improved by some/better means testing.

Well Child Benefit is disappearing for higher rate taxpayers from 2013.

We are definitely driving less and drinking less. (not at the same time, of course).
Same pay freeze as Drac here (well, actually a cut in terms of cost of living) on both our incomes. When we have finished paying off our student/crazy 20's debts we will be better off again in terms of disposable income so I suppose we have that to look forward to in a couple of years.

Speaking as somebody who still gets child tax credits, I really feel for the level of poverty you must be in if you don't get them.

Oh stop whining, I lost them due the bizarre change. I'm fortunate not to need them though and appreciate that a lot. Being someone who sees true poverty all too regular, if you can afford to buy a MTB your not in poverty either.

The system is off 2 parents earning £39k each per year can still get them. If one parent is the sole worker and earning £40k they don't get them.

It's relevant though the rising costs to what you earn, I've lost the Tax Credit and as mentioned other costs have gone up. It means I watching things but no I'm far from worried like I said I have a good life.

The system is off 2 parents earning £39k each per year can still get them. If one parent is the sole worker and earning £40k they don't get them

I'm not complaining at all about the amount of money we have - we've taken lifestyle choices to be where we are and cope just fine thanks. It just seems strange that people with more household income than us are whining.

Except it doesn't work like that. If 2 parents are each earning 21k they lose them. It's on household income (unlike child benefit, but that's a different issue).

I understood it to be one parent, OOPS!

It just seems strange that people with more household income than us are whining.

It's relevant though as I said and I'm far from whining. The pay freeze I see as necessary to do my bit, the pension part of frustrating but as I have that many years in I'll get an option but it's not as good as it was when I joined, the shift allowance part that may be reviewed is what boost my pay up to a good wage. With out that my wage is going to a lot lower and would have to make huge changes but still have to work the same shifts. The likely hood is that'll be effected hugely as the uproar would be pretty huge.

Could be worse though eh? We could live in Greece. Looks like those poor buggers are going back to bartering with chickens as a currency, and living in mud huts at this rate.

Just thought I'd add some perspective 🙂

druidh - Member

We qualify for Child Tax Credits but never claimed them as I feel we are well enough off without and there are a lot more deserving cases. Child Benefit goes straight into a bank account for "the future". These are two benefits which could be improved by some/better means testing.

Universal benefits are important in avoiding the poverty traps and in improving take-up. All that happens is the richer people who can claim them pay more tax to cover the cost - give with one hand and take away with the other.

Means testing is expensive, reduces take up in groups that need the money and leads to situations where you get very high marginal tax rates - the poverty trap. This is where you increase your earned income and thus go over the thereshold for benefits thus actually reducing your total take home income.

It is right that some benefits are means tested but it is also right that some are not.

binners does make a point about the Greece thing

i am a public sector worker aswell so i am currently on a pay freeze so that doesnt help but i am quite happy to accept a pay freeze on the basis i still have a job! lots of people out there have lost there job in this mess

just think that the fat cats in whitehall dont get how hard it is for normal folk to get by just now and they are not making it any easier

have now ditched the SKY tv from the house to save some cash and looking at which insurances i really need try and save somthing there

The solution is to buy british products in the uk from uk retailers, not to outsource, not to globalize the labor pool. But it is not going to happen.

That's one solution. Another one would just be to have less people. I mean do we really need Leona Lewis and Mylene Klass - couldn't we rationalise?