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Cost of Living - bloody hell.

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Topped up the van's tank today as I figured fuel is only going to get more expensive in the foreseeable. 

 

72l cost me €170... €2,36/litre.  Bit of a shock.

 

I'm not complaining though. Had not moved the van in the last two and a bit weeks choosing instead to ride the  10km to the supermarket or 6km to fetch water with the Bob trailer.

For those that need to use their motor daily that's a big hike in price.

 


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 5:01 pm
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Posted by: alpin

For those that need to use their motor daily that's a big hike in price.

In the past it's been pretty much the only way to reduce car usage and speeding. It's incredible how quickly folk adjust their driving habits when fuel prices spike or when fuel is in short supply. I do wonder how all the people in massive pick-up trucks and SUVs are viewing this big spike in diesel prices.

On the other hand, the increasing number of people in EVs are probably more or less unaffected.

The ridiculous thing is that so much of this could have been avoided with different Government policy. Cameron's famous "cut the green crap" rhetoric on energy was catastrophically stupid and short-sighted (like most of what he did), successive government policies around net zero, renewable energy, cutting fuel duty, tying the UK into ever-more dependency on imported gas has just been insane.

It's like no-one in Government ever once thought - hmm, at some point petrol and diesel and gas are going to massively increase in price, we could probably do with preparing for that scenario.

And inflation is inextricably linked to fuel prices and everything else is affected by inflation (apart from your wages)... 


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 5:32 pm
 MSP
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Yeah, I filled up my car this morning, 2.20 a litre, it was 1.70 before the orange man baby needed to escalate his Epstein distraction by killing brown people.

At least we are heading towards the time of year I can spend more time commuting by bike instead of the car. But I wouldn't be surprised if these price rises don't settle down until autumn, maybe even longer.

 

On the other hand, the increasing number of people in EVs are probably more or less unaffected.

 

We are heading to a world of serious energy poverty if governments don't start getting real about renewables. It needs the ability to invest in solar and electric vehicles that many of us can't afford, yet another cog in the machine of furthering inequality..


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 5:37 pm
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Posted by: MSP

wouldn't be surprised if these price rises don't settle down until autumn, maybe even longer.

same here, I suspect it's the 'new normal' as far as fuel prices are concerned :-/


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 5:41 pm
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Not being funny, but I must have missed something as I'm not sure what your point is?

That they don't understand the difference between planned maintenance (services) and unplanned maintenance (repairs and failure of parts) 


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 6:46 pm
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Yeah, I filled up my car this morning, 2.20 a litre, it was 1.70

What are you filling it with Dom perrignon? 

 


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 6:48 pm
 Joe
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Posted by: roli case

Can't believe nobody has pulled OP up on the horrible AI-generated writing. 

But that aside, it's true workers have been getting shafted for years. Particularly since 2010 and labour have sadly only carried on the attacks, but the real damage is done by right wing rhetoric which convinces people we can't tax the rich or big business, leading many workers to actually vote for this very outcome.

Where it all ends I don't know but surely the squeeze on workers can't go on for much longer. Surely people will wake up and see that they're being taken for a ride soon.

 

 

HAHA Guilty as charged. 

 


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 7:12 pm
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What are you filling it with Dom perrignon? 

 

I am in Germany, fuel and energy costs are more expensive here than the UK.


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 7:48 pm
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As an expat I’m appalled by what appears to be average salaries in the Uk for skilled professionals. Here in the lucky country a position that pays GBP 30k in the UK pays around GBP 60k equivalent. Even with cost of living difference taken into account, that’s grim reading. Uk just doesn’t pay. 


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 8:17 pm
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£10.80 for a bacon roll and cappuccino this week🫣


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 8:24 pm
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Posted by: johnstell

Here in the lucky country a position that pays GBP 30k in the UK pays around GBP 60k equivalent.

What is this lucky country?

I know what you mean though, I was looking at salaries in Australia for my job when I was over there in 2022, it seemed about a third higher for not much more cost of living. Although equally, they seem really shafted by the Iran stuff at the moment.


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 8:24 pm
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I was looking at salaries in Australia for my job when I was over there in 2022, it seemed about a third higher for not much more cost of living

We were there in 2019 - the prices were *significantly* higher for most stuff – we were staying with family so we cooked a few meals for us all and just a "meal shop" was costing us £60-£80 for ten of us. Alcohol was silly money. And that same family, when in the UK, hit our shops for clothes and stuff because it's significantly cheaper (they particularly like Sports Direct).


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 8:40 pm
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The Ford Stealership wanted north of £500 to fix 1 switch (electric parking brake switch) on my motor.

With half an hour on YouTube, £20 of clip remover pliers, and half an hour (took my time so I didn't break any of the plastic trim panels in the car) it was a £30 repair with the part 2nd hand from the Netherlands. 

£450 saving (and the time I used was less than what it would have been to take the car to and from the Stealership).  Seems a pretty good value for the effort.

Disc brakes (EBC) all round, £450, maybe £500 tops with cans of cleaner etc. The Stealership wanted over £1k.  

 


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 9:30 pm
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I had a job offer in Oz in 2015. 

I went over with the wages on offer  in mind to find somewhere to live. I worked out of a staff house for 6 weeks and shopped in the supermarkets etc and lived as I would in the UK....IE not hitting restaurants/pubs/clubs etc . 

I quickly realised that the wage although it seemed good on paper and consumerate for the going rate in my industry in the region was terrible in real terms compared to what my income / outgoings in the UK were for the same job. 

I didn't take the job.


 
Posted : 25/03/2026 10:20 pm
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The difference is that since 2015 incomes have continued to grow in Australia.

I’ve been here 20 years and had regular trips “home.” Every visit to the UK things seem more expensive and also more dilapidated. My wages automatically go up 3% annually. 

My parents are insulated from it having been (sometimes embarrassingly) frugal all their lives and lucked out with pensions and property prices etc.

My sister and her kids have much less fun. Three smart kids with great school grades, a first class design degree, all unable to afford to leave home and working warehouse jobs. Living a long way from husband’s work because of affordability.

My mates mostly seem to be trudging through middle age with epic mortgages, tied to stressful jobs - one a former chief of staff at one of the most well known addresses in England - but not really getting ahead.

I’m not gloating. It just feels like my timing was fortunate and it’s sad seeing them apparently trapped.


 
Posted : 26/03/2026 12:22 am
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My wages automatically go up 3% annually.

And what's inflation and cost of goods gone up by 

What's 3% in real terms? 

 


 
Posted : 26/03/2026 6:43 am
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I think I usually see people talking about wage growth "in real terms" not the % difference from one pay slip to another.

 

The beeb have a recent article on pay growth

Earnings - excluding bonuses - grew at an annual rate of 3.8% in the November to January period, down from the previous figure of 4.1%.

Edit from Reuters

Annual pay growth ticked up to 3.4%, from a revised 3.3%, and has been in a range of 3.2% to 3.6% for six consecutive quarters now.

But, depending on inflation that could easily be zero or a negative figure in real terms.

 


 
Posted : 26/03/2026 6:53 am
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And housing - I've seen reported that average Australian house prices are over $1m. Don't people need epic mortgages to buy a home in Aus? 


 
Posted : 26/03/2026 6:56 am
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We were there in 2019 - the prices were *significantly* higher for most stuff – we were staying with family so we cooked a few meals for us all and just a "meal shop" was costing us £60-£80 for ten of us. Alcohol was silly money. And that same family, when in the UK, hit our shops for clothes and stuff because it's significantly cheaper (they particularly like Sports Direct).

Had a similar experience but with a 2023 visit to the States. Staying well away from all the tourist places, in free accommodation around an hour North of Boston. Ended up spend an absolute fortune, even just grabbing some snacks from CVS was painful. Ignoring the many other US issues, it was clear that our buying power over there has gone through the floor compared to the days of people flying over with empty suitcases to fill. Had a similar dinner experience where getting some nice bits n pieces for 6 of us to have a BBQ could end up getting near £100 without even trying


 
Posted : 26/03/2026 7:49 am
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I feel skint and have for a while.  It feels like we are back to the 70s and that the pace of quality of living regression is just accelerating.   I can't see how this is going to turn around,  I think it's a major reset.  We've done the 'live for now' and now,  worldwide,  we are paying for it. 

 

Hope I'm wrong!


 
Posted : 26/03/2026 8:26 am
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And still it goes up.... 

91 is 2.59/l today.

Diesel is 3.20/l 

People are queuing and taking pics and vids of absolute sausages, putting all manner of cannisters full of fuel in the backs of their cars. No static protection. Heck, it's not gonna be long before someone crashes into a car that's essentially a mobile Molatov cocktail. Or some numpty blows his own garage up.  


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 6:34 am
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Posted by: robola

And housing - I've seen reported that average Australian house prices are over $1m. Don't people need epic mortgages to buy a home in Aus? 

Not average, median. Median house price in Aus right now is....$1,155,325 and yes you'll need a **** huge deposit. House prices are mental. We bought in a relatively rough area for $300k. 900sqm 3x1 ten years ago. Neighbour one side sold last year for 750k. Next door other side has just put board up and starting price is $867k. Ours is now also a 700k+ house. Doubled in value in ten years but everything has in the market. 

 

 


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 6:40 am
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Posted by: aphex_2k

Not average, median.

Only going off what the article is reporting, the source being:

I have no real interest in Australian house prices, but people comparing costs of living while leaving out the biggest cost any of us face isn't a true reflection. 

Your fuel is cheap compared to Europe though, so stop whinging 😉


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 7:10 am
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Posted by: robola

Your fuel is cheap compared to Europe though, so stop whinging 😉

Not any more, Australia seems quite badly affected by the Iran stuff. 

Popped up this morning in my general news feed. Maybe it's more noticeable in Aus because everywhere is so bloody far from everywhere else so further to drive! 


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 7:17 am
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Posted by: crazy-legs

Not any more, Australia seems quite badly affected by the Iran stuff. 

He just quoted $2.60/l for unleaded, so £1.30/l. Before this crisis they were well under $2/l.


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 7:27 am
 wbo
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If you live in a country which has low productivity then compared to others then this is what happens.  Compared to others your standard of living will drop, or at least increase less.

Out of date, but still informative. Or

Productivity in Europe by Region as of October 2025.
byu/UpgradedSiera6666 ineurope


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 7:55 am
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Posted by: Marin

Anyone seen the update on plug in and play solar panels at last, not huge savings but it will reduce costs in the long term, available from July I think.

Yes. I saw that. Very interested depending on price, output etc. I'd be quite comfortable fixing one to our garage roof, less so about getting up to the house roof 🙂


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 8:01 am
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Queues outside Sainsbury's in town this week as it's the only petrol station around not to have raised their prices drastically yet. The other garages have raised prices, even though I suspect the fuel in their tanks was bought before oil went over $100 a barrel thanks to dimwit Don.


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 8:11 am
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My local Tesco was at £1.669 / litre for diesel where everyone else is north of £1.80. They had sold out.

 

Tesco near work was at £1.699 so I filled filled up. That'll do me for 3 weeks. Gawd knows where it will be then.

 

Driving like a nun in a sensible car I was at 15p/mile in February. With this morning's fill up I'm at 21p.

 

 

**** Trump

 

Don't dare to look what has happened to your pension! Early retirement isn't looking so good right now.


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 9:19 am
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Don't dare to look what has happened to your pension! 

Yeah, my meagre pension pot has lost about 10% in value since the war began, but seems to have stabilised at that for now.


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 9:59 am
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Be bold.  Buy the dip.


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 10:09 am
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Posted by: crazy-legs

Australia seems quite badly affected

echoes of the great run on bog rolls in Oz during the pandemic...


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 10:09 am
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Posted by: wbo

live in a country which has low productivity

look at Ireland, a lot of that wealth and 'productivity' is centred on Dublin but has a wider benefit for a country with a relatively small population, the border might be more permeable than is suggested by those maps...


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 10:12 am
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Posted by: Harry_the_Spider

Don't dare to look what has happened to your pension! Early retirement isn't looking so good right now.

And it was looking Ok 3 months ago? Markets have only fallen back to that point. A little AI froth has been skimmed off - the Iran war has barely been priced in yet. 


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 10:45 am
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Yeah, my meagre pension pot has lost about 10% in value since the war began, but seems to have stabilized at that for now.

 

Yep, but I think that 10 year stock growth is about 300%, while wage growth is lagging way behind that, if you only have a meagre pension (as I do) then that 10% drop is **** all compared to how annoyed we should be about how much we actually get paid for the hours we work every month. 


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 10:49 am
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I don't think it's particularly helpful to pluck a stat or two out of the air and use it in isolation to compare countries.  Rather, it's a lot more complex than that.  Eg,

Over on Linked In, there's Americans posting about how their salary is offensive, it's no wonder they can't attract staff, etc etc.  The numbers they're throwing around are over double anything I've ever seen.  I'm thinking "I wish I had your salary concerns, mate."  Then I watched a YouTube video with another bunch of Americans and this subject came up.  The amount they have to pay out is astonishing.  One guy's family healthcare insurance is a grand a month, and that's like our car insurance in so far as you still have an excess to pay on any claims so you typically wouldn't use it for day-to-day stuff like a GP visit, you still have to get your hand in your pocket for that.  Woe betide you should need regular medication, drugs prices are obscene.


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 11:28 am
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Posted by: Cougar

I don't think it's particularly helpful to pluck a stat or two out of the air and use it in isolation to compare countries.  Rather, it's a lot more complex than that.  Eg,

Over on Linked In, there's Americans posting about how their salary is offensive, it's no wonder they can't attract staff, etc etc.  The numbers they're throwing around are over double anything I've ever seen.  I'm thinking "I wish I had your salary concerns, mate."  Then I watched a YouTube video with another bunch of Americans and this subject came up.  The amount they have to pay out is astonishing.  One guy's family healthcare insurance is a grand a month, and that's like our car insurance in so far as you still have an excess to pay on any claims so you typically wouldn't use it for day-to-day stuff like a GP visit, you still have to get your hand in your pocket for that.  Woe betide you should need regular medication, drugs prices are obscene.

I've 2 frames of reference for this.

I managed a global team, someone who works for me is in the US, they earn significantly more than me but because of the difference in the cost of living they are considered to be on a below average wage (for the field).

I also have family in the States who have complained about their healthcare system regularly.  They get what's considered to be a good level of care through their company scheme, but still have to pay huge excesses.  Although the worst part of it is having to argue with the insurer to actually pay in the first place as they'll routinely reject claims in the first instance.  On top of the stress and upset of going though a severe medical condition, you've had to fight for the company to cover the costs, and on top of that you then spend a significant sum on your excess.  Long live the NHS (as flawed and struggling as it may be)!


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 11:44 am
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Posted by: Cougar

I don't think it's particularly helpful to pluck a stat or two out of the air and use it in isolation to compare countries.  Rather, it's a lot more complex than that.  Eg,

Over on Linked In, there's Americans posting about how their salary is offensive, it's no wonder they can't attract staff, etc etc.  The numbers they're throwing around are over double anything I've ever seen.  I'm thinking "I wish I had your salary concerns, mate."  Then I watched a YouTube video with another bunch of Americans and this subject came up.  The amount they have to pay out is astonishing.  One guy's family healthcare insurance is a grand a month, and that's like our car insurance in so far as you still have an excess to pay on any claims so you typically wouldn't use it for day-to-day stuff like a GP visit, you still have to get your hand in your pocket for that.  Woe betide you should need regular medication, drugs prices are obscene.

Don't the yanks get like a week annual holiday too? Screw that...

 


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 12:38 pm
 wbo
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Well they're a low tax country... except they're not because stuff like healthcare, kindergarten, decent services all become a stealth tax because you have to pay them.  The consequences of getting sick or injured are unbelievably bad if you're poor - lose your home or addicted to painkillers are pretty normal.

The point of those maps is to give you a feeling of why stuff feels expensive in Britain, though it's everywhere in Europe.  But as you drift down the economic rankings , you notice it around you. And bear in mind those are whole UK numbers - separate the UK by region and it's obvious why many people, many councils are overwhelmed by increasing costs.

And the solutions are not easy or painless ( and no I am absolutely thinking not thinking Liz Truss was on the right track)


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 12:55 pm
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Posted by: andrewh

Posted by: aggs

I would have thought the money would be better used to invest in energy projects to the benefit of all over the long term and into the future.

I said exactly that last time we had government handouts, when the thing in Ukraine kicked off. If they had spent that money on insulation/double glazing/wind farms/whatever rather than temporarily subsidising fossil fuels where would we be now? 

Also, if you spend £8bn on solar farms or whatever how many jobs does that support? How many does an £8bn bung to the energy companies support?

TBH due to how they calculate the leccy generation prices on the highest price, so highest gas price is used, £8bn on solar farms wouldn’t make a difference as they won’t pass that cheap electricity saving on on, the Gov should really look at policy on this.

 

 


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 1:00 pm
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Posted by: wbo

Well they're a low tax country... except they're not because stuff like healthcare, kindergarten, decent services all become a stealth tax because you have to pay them.  The consequences of getting sick or injured are unbelievably bad if you're poor - lose your home or addicted to painkillers are pretty normal.

The point of those maps is to give you a feeling of why stuff feels expensive in Britain, though it's everywhere in Europe.  But as you drift down the economic rankings , you notice it around you. And bear in mind those are whole UK numbers - separate the UK by region and it's obvious why many people, many councils are overwhelmed by increasing costs.

And the solutions are not easy or painless ( and no I am absolutely thinking not thinking Liz Truss was on the right track)

 

Yep even in Spain the cost of living crises is playing out.

Americas on another level of insanity with their health insurance,they probably need another civil war,this time against the rich.

I suppose the issue is that the path a solution does have to be started and more austerity isn’t really going to work, as it it never has or just take the MP wages and let someone else worry about it later.

Of course the other problem is you can only vote for what you can vote for, so if no party has a desire for change there isn’t a way for it.

 

 


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 1:12 pm
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Posted by: verses

On top of the stress and upset of going though a severe medical condition, you've had to fight for the company to cover the costs, and on top of that you then spend a significant sum on your excess. 

Healthcare bills is the number one cause of bankruptcy in the US I believe.

Posted by: DaveyBoyWonder

Don't the yanks get like a week annual holiday too? Screw that...

 

A good point.

I don't they're legally entitled to any?  I'm not wholly sure whether they get paid leave even, if you're on leave you might not get paid.  (Take all this with a pinch of salt, I'm really not certain at all.)

I have a friend in Chicago who was telling me, (before working for herself) she had a fixed number of sick days and leave days each year and they were essentially interchangeable, run out of one and you use the other.


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 1:13 pm
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Yep, GBenergy was meant to be a state energy generator, but after the 28 billion announcement, the wealthy and powerful told Starmer they want their profits, so he bottled it (SACO) and dropped the funding so the corporates can get their profits, and the debt gets put onto the public in future energy costs instead of the government balance sheet. And remember when he was challenged on the decision by teenagers, all the dumb prat could mumble was "I believe in growth" (of course he missed out he only believes in growth for the few while the rest lose).

Basically its a ****ing con job to funnel money up the ladder to the already wealthy, and once again events have shown how stupid, selfish and mentally lazy our leaders are.


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 1:16 pm
 aggs
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Just spent the holiday fund on some kerosene!

Just shy of £800 ! 

But in the BIG scheme of things we are lucky really.

SO many people caught in terrible situations. 


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 2:34 pm
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Just cycled past my local garage.

183.9p/l for diesel
154.9p/l for petrol

😯

Kind of glad I don't have a car at the moment, not sure I could afford to be putting any fuel in it!


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 8:03 pm
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Posted by: crazy-legs

Just cycled past my local garage.

183.9p/l for diesel
154.9p/l for petrol

😯

Kind of glad I don't have a car at the moment, not sure I could afford to be putting any fuel in it!

 

”only” £1.45 litre unleaded to fill up at Dumfries earlier, was £1.35 two weeks ago 

 


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 10:40 pm
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Posted by: somafunk

”only” £1.45 litre unleaded to fill up at Dumfries earlier, was £1.35 two weeks ago 

Same here pretty much, the jump in diesel prices though is more marked, nearly £1.80 now, fortunately I don't need to drive much at the mo.


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 11:16 pm
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Over £1.85 for diesel here. 


 
Posted : 27/03/2026 11:19 pm
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you think its bad now

theres a lot of people warming that this crisis is going to get exponentially worse the longer things go on

2 more weeks is likely to see the UK without enough diesel to meet our needs, prices will rocket & the spectre of rationing appears

 

Reeves will regret making those comments. If supply is curtailed you either ration by price, by queuing or by government action to curb demand. What’s the one thing people remember about the 1970s? The three day week. Starmer, like Heath, is going to be overwhelmed by events beyond his control.

David Higham (@oldtrotter.bsky.social) 2026-03-28T07:34:14.598Z

Trumps coup has been successful - the theocracy is replaced with a military dictatorship who seem to be setting up a permanent toll across the Strait of Hormuz, thats a disaster for the global economy 

meanwhile this morning its confirmed the Houthis in Yemen have launched a ballistic missile and it looks like a $300million! AWACS plane at a US airbase in Iraq has been shaheded 

 

 


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 9:29 am
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Posted by: kimbers

you think its bad now

theres a lot of people warming that this crisis is going to get exponentially worse the longer things go on

2 more weeks is likely to see the UK without enough diesel to meet our needs, prices will rocket & the spectre of rationing appears

I realise that in the grand scheme of things, this one doesn't even move the dial, it's very much a First World Problem., but...

I'm working on another two bike races in the next month. It was already a pain (an expensive one!) filling up the sponsor-supplied race convoy vehicle a couple of weeks ago, the next two races are going to be way worse. You have the best part of 40-odd vehicles across two races (Men's & Women's) hitting up the local petrol station for full tanks, that'll be up against all the locals who need it for their daily lives (rather than poncing round and round in circles on bikes), possible rationing and long queues.

It's not going to be fun.

But I appreciate that it's way down on the list of Shit That's Going On Right Now.


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 10:39 am
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Posted by: crazy-legs

But I appreciate that it's way down on the list of Shit That's Going On Right Now.

This is a cost of living thread though, I think it is ok to be concerned about that whilst still acknowledging that obviously others are impacted more deeply.

The impacts are real - people will start deciding to restrict their activities. Businesses are going to suffer. 

Before this kicked off we were looking at changing our car - anybody want to buy a 9 year old diesel? 


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 10:56 am
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Posted by: robola

Before this kicked off we were looking at changing our car - anybody want to buy a 9 year old diesel? 

I need a new car (new to me, not necessarily "new") but now I'm seriously considering not bothering and just hiring as and when I need it or reconsidering either EV or PHEV. EV is difficult cos I can't have home charging and using the public network was (when I started looking) near enough the same as relying on petrol / diesel. But it now looks like EV could be substantially cheaper that ICE, even using public chargers.

On the other hand I suspect there's going to be a big spike in demand for EV right about now and S/H PHEV are significantly more expensive to buy than a bog-standard petrol or diesel estate...


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 11:10 am
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Unleaded is £1.49.9 at the end of my street but I pass a lot of places on my way to work and the cheapest I've found is £142.9 but telling perhaps that they'd run out of super unleaded and diesel.
However a can of Coke in the local "cheap" cafe is now £2.50, I know they have utilities and staff to pay for but what the actual flip? There's defo some crazy pricing going off, same with the supermarket, 1x twix £1.45 or 4x slightly smaller ones in a pack for £2, or even a pack of 9 Penguins for a pound. The pricing makes no sense logically, it's just lets keep pushing stuff as far as we can, especially if it's in the "convenience" bracket.


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 12:45 pm
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There's defo some crazy pricing going off, same with the supermarket, 1x twix £1.45 or 4x slightly smaller ones in a pack for £2, or even a pack of 9 Penguins for a pound. The pricing makes no sense logically,

I finally sussed this out earlier this year..... Basically shit is going up in price hugely. This isn't a problem if you are part of the rich establishment because the useful shit that you own ( assets) is also going up at a huge rate. So for the people with huge unearned wealth it's not an issue. It's just a problem for the people at the bottom who rely on this depreciating asset called money.

Like so many people I thought that saving will get you ahead and allow you options. It's complete bollocks unless you have the clout and attitude to invest it instead.

 


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 1:00 pm
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Posted by: thepodge

There's defo some crazy pricing going off, same with the supermarket, 1x twix £1.45 or 4x slightly smaller ones in a pack for £2, or even a pack of 9 Penguins for a pound.

Username checks out. 😁

It's always amused me that people who (rightly) balk at paying £1.50 for a litre of fuel then won't even blink at paying north of two quid for a 500ml bottle of water.


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 1:04 pm
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This isn't a problem if you are part of the rich establishment because the useful shit that you own ( assets) is also going up at a huge rate.

While I agree with your sentiment, it’s highly likely that asset values will also tumble, and more so than real wages, if both the USA and Russia up their aggression. Excluding oil companies that is, world politics seems to always favour them of course. Drill baby drill, burn baby burn.

Note also that it is the “anti-establishment” politicians serving the oil companies interests most strongly, with their mates making big money off of betting on their dangerous policies negatively effecting the economy, society and the planet. 


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 1:07 pm
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Petrol and diesel should be more expensive, it's been kept unnaturally low by successive governments frightened of the Daily Mail & it's a very difficult and costly task to produce.
Water is an odd one through, you can often buy cheap basic lemonade for less than water. Again, no sense logically but products aren't priced logically, they are priced at what people will pay.


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 1:20 pm
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Kept unnaturally low? The tax rate is something like 40-50% on petrol. How on earth is that keeping it unnaturally low?


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 1:54 pm
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Posted by: johnhe

Kept unnaturally low? The tax rate is something like 40-50% on petrol. How on earth is that keeping it unnaturally low?

With enormous subsidies to the upstream O+G industry. 

 


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 2:05 pm
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Energy in general gets a fair whack of government money. Although I'd rather that was more focused on renewables, what I don't know is how much of the O&G money is intended to secure supply, rather than simply chuck money people that don't need it.

 

The "Warm Homes Plan" is slated to be a fund of £15 billion by itself (a good thing). The figure I saw for O&G was up to £17.5b ( a year). Sizewell C is what. £14b.

 

I'm honestly curious as to how it all stacks up tbh if anyone has a concise report they can link to?


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 2:34 pm
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Posted by: Cougar

Posted by: thepodge

There's defo some crazy pricing going off, same with the supermarket, 1x twix £1.45 or 4x slightly smaller ones in a pack for £2, or even a pack of 9 Penguins for a pound.

Username checks out. 😁

It's always amused me that people who (rightly) balk at paying £1.50 for a litre of fuel then won't even blink at paying north of two quid for a 500ml bottle of water.

 

Pint of milk often the cheapest thing to drink in the supermarket. Which I don’t mind - milk is great. I suspect the dairy farmers aren’t getting great deal, but it’s one of those benchmark items people notice

though I only recently realised that skimmed has more protein than full fat. I knew it has half the calories, but not hadn’t registered the protein. 

we also live in a world where buying a jam jar (empty) costs more than buying a jar of jam. Jar included. 

 


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 3:00 pm
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Posted by: sockpuppet

Pint of milk often the cheapest thing to drink in the supermarket

They're very expensive compared to the price of a 4-pinter! 


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 3:45 pm
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Posted by: sockpuppet

we also live in a world where buying a jam jar (empty) costs more than buying a jar of jam. Jar included. 

Yeah, I make apple chutney with fruit from our tree every year and gift it to friends. By the time I've bought jars and the other ingredients it would be much cheaper (though less personal) to just buy it. 


 
Posted : 28/03/2026 3:55 pm
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With enormous subsidies to the upstream O+G industry

While your understandably outraged by the headline figure 

Do you understand where they go and how they are formed ? 

 
Posted : 28/03/2026 7:14 pm
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Our PM has cut fuel excise by half for three months, saving us a whopping 26c per litre despite the fact fuel has gone up so much (1.55 to 2.65+ for petrol and 1.70 to over $3 in some places.... Some states have made public transport free, or just 50c to travel.  No such discounts here in WA. So really we're no better off we've just returned to week one war petrol prices.

Huzzah.


 
Posted : 31/03/2026 10:04 am
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I feel we are at least partially responsible for high inflation, collectively.

At the end of the day it's just basic supply and demand economics.

And we probably demand a little too much:

- too much tat, mostly Chinese.

- too much oil, mostly paid in USD

- too much arrogance, Brexit etc.

- too much shit food, ultra processed etc

- too much obesity as a consequence so too much reliance on healthcare

At the same time we have become less productive so that's not a great combo for growth.

 


 
Posted : 31/03/2026 6:46 pm
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Currently have 16 servos with no petrol or diesel. (Both Costco's dry). 13 without petrol and  17 without diesel. Easter Long weekend too. 


 
Posted : 03/04/2026 3:17 am
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very few stations round here have fuel - those that do are ~2.00/l 

i put in 50 quid earlier - 1/4 tank ! 


 
Posted : 03/04/2026 1:33 pm
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At the same time we have become less productive so that's not a great combo for growth.

Have we though? I'm pretty sure I get a shit load more done at work than when computers didn't exist etc


 
Posted : 03/04/2026 6:18 pm
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I know its obviously more complicated but part of me would like to see a bit of this:

 

(Holland, 1973 Oil Crisis)

 


 
Posted : 04/04/2026 11:48 am
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Posted by: winston

I know its obviously more complicated but part of me would like to see a bit of this:

 

(Holland, 1973 Oil Crisis)

 

Apart from the 1970's fashions, that could be Easter 2020. We rode over the local flyover on the A1, NOTHING went past either way.

 


 
Posted : 04/04/2026 12:51 pm
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Posted by: boblo

that could be Easter 2020. We rode over the local flyover on the A1, NOTHING went past either way.

I cycled over the M6 during Covid, somewhere I've got a really eerie photo of my bike on the bridge with 6 completely deserted lanes below.


 
Posted : 04/04/2026 12:58 pm
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While I agree with your sentiment, it’s highly likely that asset values will also tumble, and more so than real wages,

I'm sceptical ( but also not well informed) tell me more.


 
Posted : 04/04/2026 3:43 pm
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Posted by: trail_rat

i put in 50 quid earlier - 1/4 tank ! 

$70 yesterday got me just over a qtr of a tank. Not the greatest time to drive a nearly 3t,  5 litre v8. Bloke at work has a little twist and go 'ped and told me he put $20 in and that lasted him over three weeks. Might be time to consider something like this!


 
Posted : 05/04/2026 8:47 am
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Don't the yanks get like a week annual holiday too? Screw that...

Meet some septic couple in Assisi, Italy, last year. He was proudly telling us that this was his longest vacation (😭 🤮), a while two weeks, as he had been at his company for ten years and he got given one days holiday for every year he had been there.... Although it only kicked in after his fifth year of service. 

 

I felt genuinely sorry for them both and paid for their drinks.


 
Posted : 05/04/2026 6:57 pm
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I worked in the US for a year, fortunately my UK holiday benefits went with me but I recall my colleges only getting a couple of weeks. They worked long hours too, though I'd question how productive they didn't always seem to work particularly hard compared to UK but I don't think you can over that many hours.


 
Posted : 05/04/2026 7:43 pm
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Posted by: rsl1

At the same time we have become less productive so that's not a great combo for growth.

Have we though? I'm pretty sure I get a shit load more done at work than when computers didn't exist etc

Everyone has computers. Our productivity has fallen compared to our competitors'. Decaying infrastructure doesn't help on that front either.

 


 
Posted : 05/04/2026 9:27 pm
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Posted by: aphex_2k

Not the greatest time to drive a nearly 3t,  5 litre v8.

Yeah - actually there never was. 


 
Posted : 05/04/2026 11:12 pm
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Aww, green suits you mate. 


 
Posted : 06/04/2026 6:49 am
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