maybe i live in a bubble

The_White_Horse

but i don't see anyone struggling at all. ok, people moan that prices are rising and their weekly tesco shop has gone up, but they are all buying stuff, going on holidays, spending hundreds in tesco each week and general living it up.

i have not seen anyone stop driving because of petrol prices or cut down on anything.

am i alone in this? moaning, yes. actual physical giving up on anything - no.

wymondham

I've not personally witnessed it either - the shops around here have been packed, the roads busy etc..... maybe all on tick?

Itismehonest

There's definitely a lot of moaning going on but there are people who are genuinely finding things very tough.
I think we have to look through the "I want but can't have" to those that actually need but truly can't afford.
Some people only have themselves to blame while others have been overtaken by events they had no control over.
Reading the various posts on MSE shows patterns. Those with reasonable incomes & mortgages are paying off mortgages faster so they must have the spare cash to do that. Those with funds seem to be either doing BTL or other investments. Those who strapped up enormous debts on credit cards have, hopefully, learned that's a dumb way to fund life - but the Christmas/Sales figures will probably show some will never learn. Those on state pensions with no other income who topped up their money from savings/interest have seen their quality of life fall due to rising prices & non-existent interest. The unemployed (those that are actually seeking work - the others don't deserve any benefit) have fixed incomes while prices rise. Minimum wage workers & disabled (again the genuine not the fraudsters) are the same.
As always it's impossible to tell the truth just from what we see. People put on fronts. They either pretend they have more or pretend they have less when it suits them.

Sibley

I've got to say.
There are less holiday makers from UK in Thailand this Christmas.

Still plenty of money being spent by the ones who are here though.

None of my family in UK have actually lost jobs or cut down. Moaning yes.:)

ognum

The_White_Horse wrote: »

but i don't see anyone struggling at all. ok, people moan that prices are rising and their weekly tesco shop has gone up, but they are all buying stuff, going on holidays, spending hundreds in tesco each week and general living it up.

i have not seen anyone stop driving because of petrol prices or cut down on anything.

am i alone in this? moaning, yes. actual physical giving up on anything - no.

Where do you live because there certainly are areas in the UK that are suffering are you in the south or north?

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

To put things in perspective.....

A person on the lowest of incomes in the UK has a standard of living and access to medical care & other services that the vast majority of humans can only dream of.

We are one of the richest nations on earth. And a paltry few percent difference in our disposable income or employment statistics doesn't change that fact one little bit.

nicko33

The_White_Horse wrote: »

they are all buying stuff, going on holidays, spending hundreds in tesco each week and general living it up.

Really? Everyone?

Itismehonest

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

To put things in perspective.....

A person on the lowest of incomes in the UK has a standard of living and access to medical care & other services that the vast majority of humans can only dream of.

We are one of the richest nations on earth. And a paltry few percent difference in our disposable income or employment statistics doesn't change that fact one little bit.

True but take, for instance, a pensioner on state pension &, if they have been wise &/or able, some savings. They have no way of increasing their income to offset increasing costs.
It's things like fuel, basic food costs (yes, some items have come down but others risen) - the basic necessities of life - which mean they have to make choices.
Some have stopped going out socially at all, buy clothes rarely & only when necessary, have cut back on travel costs etc. Holidays are no longer an option.
They have no way of making extra money & no likelihood of ever doing so. They genuinely feel a terrific fall in their living standards. Those of us who may be benefiting from cheaper mortgages etc. should recognise that any savings pensioners have made throughout their lives are being eaten away for the benefit of those who are currently working &, hopefully, continue to have the opportunity to do so.

ILW

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

To put things in perspective.....

A person on the lowest of incomes in the UK has a standard of living and access to medical care & other services that the vast majority of humans can only dream of.

We are one of the richest nations on earth. And a paltry few percent difference in our disposable income or employment statistics doesn't change that fact one little bit.

But apparently, if house prices were to drop a few percent, it would be a complete disaster.

I do feel for savers though, who many would consider had done the right thing and are now being punished for it.

The_White_Horse

nicko33 wrote: »

Really? Everyone?

everyone i know

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Itismehonest wrote: »

take, for instance, a pensioner on state pension

Like this one.....



And compare it to what life is like for the genuinely poor.....