Decline in our standard of living, when will it stop?

SecondLegDownIsTheBigOne

Decline in our standard of living, when will it stop?

When accommodation is affordable.

Graham_Devon

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Buying and selling property is very expensive, If prices remain flat then buying for the short term makes no sense anyway.

Our local council seem to have grasped that a change is required. As first stage of town centre redevelopment is going to include affordable housing incorporated in the scheme. .

We've got just that in a new development of 600 houses near me. I've looked into it for personal reasons. But affordable simple means "government first buy initiative". The 2 beds start at 164k and the 3 beds start at 179k. If you want to take the initiative, it's on selected houses, which are higher in price.

I don't know why they bother calling it "affordable housing" as it's not.

Graham_Devon

oldvicar wrote: »

All those whinging about the price of petrol should remember it goes a lot further than it used to.

That may well be true.

However, when I look at my insurance, I'm paying a higher price today in 2012 than I was paying in 2006.

Thing is, in 2006 I was swanning around in a 3.2 litre V6 Golf R32. I'm now swanning around in a 1.6 family diesel. It costs me £90 more a year!!

And I was conned with this 1.6!! Sounds great, until you realise they have these stupid filters to keep emissions down which cost an absolute fortune when they go wrong, and an absolute fortune (£700 im quoted) for a 40k mile service. Should have done some more research. The fuel savings and road tax being lower isn't going to make up for the cost of that service. Ahh well, live and learn.

PaulF81

Sounds like you are driving a VW with a rediculously early cambelt change interval. Their diesels arent what I would call emissions friendly, as a lot of their diesels are much higher up the list for road tax than similar models in other brands.

The diesel particulate filter is fine as long as you dont do lots of short journeys. I have a diesel and have done for the last 8 years. wouldnt look back. The ford fiesta seems to be a good option, 70mpg and 35 quid annual road tax for the non ecotec models.

Graham_Devon

PaulF81 wrote: »

Sounds like you are driving a VW with a rediculously early cambelt change interval. Their diesels arent what I would call emissions friendly, as a lot of their diesels are much higher up the list for road tax than similar models in other brands.

The diesel particulate filter is fine as long as you dont do lots of short journeys. I have a diesel and have done for the last 8 years. wouldnt look back. The ford fiesta seems to be a good option, 70mpg and 35 quid annual road tax for the non ecotec models.

Nope, always had VW's, but after recent issues, and what I would call declining reliability and massive costs (2k plus) with a DSG box I looked for something else. (also customer service is absolutely shocking. What other service would literally apply part after part, while charging the customer for every single one, and then state....wasn't that, might be something else, computer says no). No refund will be given on any of the four seperate parts they tried, and I paid for, as I had one service outside of VW.

Saw a bargain bucket peugeot, got an excellent deal on the VW, some cash in my pocket, so took the punge.

Apart from calling the AA to inform and warn them I am leaving the house each time I set out, it's been fine. Got used to the build quality and it gets me from A-B without issue and it's got the large boot space I needed. I'm servcing it myself (Pug don't make that easy!!), but came across the FAP issue. Approx £70 a litre of oil. I came across this issue because sometimes the cooling fan will come on when I switch the car off and stay on for approx 10 mins, making a considerable amount of jet engine noise. Apparently this is an indicator to the FAP needing servicing. Was quoted £680 inc VAT.

I really pine for my old 1990's VW diesel lump. That thing never stopped. No sensors, so either it drove or it didn't. None of this fannying around with sensor problems makign the car drive eratically. Sounded like a tractor, but best car I ever had looking back.

mark55man

Graham_Devon wrote: »

That may well be true.

However, when I look at my insurance, I'm paying a higher price today in 2012 than I was paying in 2006.

Thing is, in 2006 I was swanning around in a 3.2 litre V6 Golf R32. I'm now swanning around in a 1.6 family diesel. It costs me £90 more a year!!

And I was conned with this 1.6!! Sounds great, until you realise they have these stupid filters to keep emissions down which cost an absolute fortune when they go wrong, and an absolute fortune (£700 im quoted) for a 40k mile service. Should have done some more research. The fuel savings and road tax being lower isn't going to make up for the cost of that service. Ahh well, live and learn.

At 188,000 in my old A4 diesel (got 3 years ago at 140) manages 48-52mpg. highly recommend it, but must confess to disappointment 10 years ago I was in x-type 2.5 jag with company fuel card averaging 21mpg - god that was fun

my neighbout just got a 54 plate jaguar s-type for under £3k - that opened my eyes - but not going there again

and on the topic of the thread - I thank god for this site that helped me get life under control just before the s**t hit the fan in 2008 - we are working ever harder to stay still - that's a decline in my books

kabayiri

I really hope the petrol price issues encourage government to help companies look into teleworking as a serious option.

There are a lot of people who don't physically need to be in an office every day of the week, but I suspect cultural issues are holding companies back.

Commuting costs will become a serious factor people consider when choosing jobs in the future.

olly300

mark88man wrote: »

my neighbout just got a 54 plate jaguar s-type for under £3k - that opened my eyes - but not going there again

I've seen a lot of cheap sporty cars in my area then I remember why they are cheap.

ukcarper

I found these prices for 1980 and using measuring worth website I found what they would cost now if they had risen in line with average wage


White loaf ---- 37p-- £1.91
Eggs 1 dozen-- 72p-- £3.73
Milk 1 pint

---

17p-- £0.88
Sugar

---

36p-- £1.86

Now Milk Bread £1, Eggs £2, milk 49p and Sugar 99p

1980 petrol 28p a litre which would be £1.45 now.

StevieJ

Graham_Devon wrote: »

That may well be true.

However, when I look at my insurance, I'm paying a higher price today in 2012 than I was paying in 2006.

Just checked, I was paying £321, March 2007 renewal (Direct Line), this year I am going to switch to LV their quote is £265 (also available was an AA teaser quote of £188), BTW it is the same car, insurance group 19 (9). DL wanted to charge me £410 last year :mad:until I had a word with them, current quote is £ 355.