The Real Cost of Living in Britain

ceridwen

amcluesent wrote: »

>So a family of 4 would usually, imho, be fed with "2 large cod and a large chips".<

Anyone north of the border will, of course, be ordering a 'Munchy box' from their local takeaway -



A fine repast of a layer of Doner Kebab meat on top of a Naan Bread and chips, two tubs of Sauce with coleslaw, Onion Rings, Pakora and Chicken Tikka below. Hoots!



Some may prefer the Pizza Crunch Supper, a half-pizza deep fried in chip-shop batter and piled on a wodge of chips. Crivens!

YUK!

I'd do without takeaways if they looked as (UN)appealing as that. Come to think of it - i dont have takeaways anyway....:rotfl:

ceridwen

Okays - my take on this. Well - I totally discounted the words "average lifestyle" and mentally replaced them with "standard lifestyle". Now that makes a lot more sense to me.....

Do I think that is a reasonable "standard lifestyle" to expect? Errrr....cough...yes actually....

Do I have that "standard lifestyle" myself? No I dont.

Okays - I'd knock the Sky subscription on the head. Also - they clearly dont need the car - as they are able to get to work on public transport anyway. So - that would bring costs down.

I think many people have cars because its "expected", the norm, anyway - rather than because they actually NEED them personally. I've never had a car personally - admitted I don't live in the depths of the country actually - hence I can manage without and do. By choice I WOULD live in the country (well - okay would have done until the modern-day concerns came up of "Suppose a load of travellers buy the field next door?:eek:"). So - basically I live in an urban area because I cant afford a car anyway (have cut my cloth according...) - rather than by choice.

They havent allowed anything for any health care - other than dental check-ups. I think that means that amount of money allowed in that category is unrealistically low (but...at my age...I find that healthcare costs me hundreds of £s per annum to stay healthy). I presume this hypothetical family are all fit and healthy and never need so much as a tooth filling or pair of glasses between them.

I certainly wouldnt allow any money for debts - I would assume they dont have any.

BUT - having said all that - and mentally thrown out the Sky tv and car. I've also mentally added in a realistic amount for healthcare costs and allowed for "normal" level interest rate on the mortgage (ie as interest rates on mortgages are currently WAY beneath normal levels and anyone who isnt taking account of the fact that those interest rates cant stay that low much longer is living in Cloud Cuckoo Land). With all that - I dont think that salary level necessary for the "standard" lifestyle is at all unrealistic actually and may even be a bit low (bearing in mind the higher mortgage payments to come and that need accounting for).

*****************************

That doesnt mean to say BTW that it isnt possible for people to live at a lower than "normal British standard of living" - as people clearly do. I know that I'm on a low:(:mad::( salary personally - but I estimate I'm living on roughly half of it (no mortgage:D) and have the reverse problem of wondering where on earth I can put the saved money where it will at least keep pace with inflation (so my mental arithmetic focuses around wondering what proportion of mortgage "zombie households" took on mortgages they couldnt afford in the first place v. ones who took on mortgages that were affordable to them initially but stuff outwith their control damaged their income coming in).

Generali

Generali wrote: »

Which Alp/Alps are you doing? I've done a fair bit of road riding in the Alps. Nothing in the UK that I've found can prepare you for your first one. 10-15km of continuous climbing isn't available on British roads AFAIK. When you get to the top, the feeling and the view are awesome. Just remember that when the cars beep you, they are warning you they are there, not being aggressive. You'll get a few shouts of 'allez, allez vite' out of the windows too!

PS You need to learn to eat as you ride. If you go up an Alp without food then you will bonk.

olly300

ceridwen wrote: »

Also - they clearly dont need the car - as they are able to get to work on public transport anyway. So - that would bring costs down.

Depends what exactly they do. They haven't said the jobs that this "average"couple do.

I know people like myself who can have periods where a car is not needed but then end up with periods of using their car everyday.

Hence if you break down transport cost per month over a year it would look like that but in reality if you were using one method of transport every working day then then the costs would be higher on one and nil (or nearly nil) on the other.

Generali

olly300 wrote: »

Depends what exactly they do. They haven't said the jobs that this "average"couple do.

I know people like myself who can have periods where a car is not needed but then end up with periods of using their car everyday.

Hence if you break down transport cost per month over a year it would look like that but in reality if you were using one method of transport every working day then then the costs would be higher on one and nil (or nearly nil) on the other.

I think she's taken what the average family of four 'need' to live a middle class lifestyle.

I didn't post this because I agree or disagree with this BTW, I posted it because I thought it was interesting.

lostinrates

Generali wrote: »

PS You need to learn to eat as you ride. If you go up an Alp without food then you will bonk.

I'm guessing that's not as fun as it sounds? Personally I find driving up the Alps exhausting enough!

Generali

lostinrates wrote: »

I'm guessing that's not as fun as it sounds? Personally I find driving up the Alps exhausting enough!

It's just fuel, not eating for fun. You need 1g of carbs per 1kg bodyweight for each hour you ride. Add a bit if you're in the hills.

The energy gels I eat contain about 31g carbs so 1 of those plus a muesli bar plus an apple plus a Gatorade each hour keeps me fuelled.

When I get back down the mountain I'll have some raclette (potatoes, cheese and pork) or a big bowl of pasta washed down with a couple of beers, then a cool shower and sleep for an hour.

Wake up hungry. Out for a walk then have a protein meal to give the muscles some repair food (a big steak or roast chicken).

anna25071970

Nixxx wrote: »

Which part? I can taste it

Ha ha. If you pm me, I will give you there number. It's in north london.

Maybe I should ask them for commission lol. :rotfl:

StevieJ

drc wrote: »

This article is a load of rubbish.

Firstly, it is not essential to;

a) own a dog
b) have a Sky tv package
c) have a chippy at the end of each week at £20 per pop.

.

I remember when the chippy was the cheap alternative :eek:

Graham_Devon

Must admit, fish and chips around here do seem on the expensive side, £5.20 at my nearest, for normal cod and chips.

Unfortunately, they are not that nice either. Polystyrene boxes, no bits, and chips that have had absolutely no effort put into them. Batter on the fish appears to be a good half cm thick.

Nothing like up North, where fish cakes were proper hand made....layer of potato slices, then a layer of fish, then another layer of potato slices, covered in batter. Down here you get a deep fried frozen potato burger in breadcrumbs.

Up north, proper bits, down here, nope, nothing.

I used to love the paper sticking to the chips, but sadly, don't seem to get that as much down here. There are half decent places, but you have to drive a few miles to get to them. Polystyrene trays merely lend to creating pools of oil.

Always seem to cook to order too....so fish comes out of the oil straight onto your chips, REALLY annoys me!!!