when you reach breaking point

COOLTRIKERCHICK

I know there are 'tougher' threads ...but i am totally panicking here..

By all accounts fuel is going to go up according to the news, as the price of oil per barrel as gone up again....etc..so this will prob mean food prices going up AGAIN... plus with this carp summer we have had, I should imagine the price of veg will go up too.

We all know on the OS board.. to try and make ends meet after finding the cheapest energy suppliers etc... Its the grocery budget that takes the hit, as its the most flexible, but only to a point...where you just can not get it any lower:o:o:o

I feel there is going to be a breaking point where it will be physically/financially impossible to cut anymore..

I am not green when it comes to cutting back and being savvy with the shopping etc...

Just wondering if anyone else is 'close to the edge'

Fruball

Yep. It's getting pretty dire and I am really starting to worry tbh. At some point I can see riots and anarchy over it.

People in other countries wouldn't tolerate it.

Seakay

I know what you mean - I just can't find any more areas to make meaningful savings in. Trouble is, once you swap power suppliers, hardly switch the heating on all year, go to a water meter and then cut down on water use there comes a point when you can't save much more because you can't alter the standing charges etc. I'm on a very low fixed income and so in real terms I have less money all the time as prics for necessities rise. Not very cheerful as I don't have answers but just wanted to express sympathy and understanding!

Mrs_Boo_Boo

Was only thinking the same about the price of petrol and the mileage amount paid at work.It has been the same since I started in 2003 and according to the unions was ok as long as petrol didn't go over £1 a litre. Well it's way past that!!!! Also commuting 34 miles a day means over £200 a month petrol plus 75p a day to cross the bridge then £21.36 a month to union/professional body and insurance. Then £70 odd to be registered to practice. It soon adds up.

[Deleted User]

Train fares are going up in the new year, bus fares will probably soon follow too! At the moment it costs me £84.20 a month and that is high enough considering what a bad rail service we get here. I have started shopping at Lidl for some stuff, where Value branded equivalents are not available or not pleasant. Only heat a room during winter when we really have to and try to conserve electricity. We struggle enough at the moment, if it gets much worse we just won't be able to afford to live. Both OH and I are on the same wages we were 6 years ago! It was much easier to live then. We were not rich by any stretch of the imagination but we could afford to live. In real terms we have both taken a massive pay cut, and the pennies just won't stretch much further.

Popperwell

I'm like GQ.Hardly put the CH on or heat the water(gas)and am quite careful with the electric too...my food is basic and often value brands, I'm buying now to try and survive when income gets worse or prices rise.

I doubt I can cut back much more...just purchased some meat but I can see that becoming less and me being more vegetarian, the meat will be portioned so the amount per meal is small and I'll bulk it out using other ingredients. I often feed myself on a budget of 75p-£2 daily often nearer £1-£1.25 and eat less(that probably isn't a bad thing)but I do try to eat well...

Evie74_2

It is getting tougher, and you're right that we can only pare back so far. It's all very well "downshifting" but what do you do when there's nowhere lower to downshift to? I've been wondering the same thing since DH was made redundant. We've been cutting back anyway for the past few years - downshifted to the Value range in Mr T and using A!di whenever it's cheaper to do so. Now I'm wondering where to go to cut back further.

My fear is that it is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets any better.

I'm sorry I've not been much help, but you are definitely not alone in this. Thankfully the OS board is a mine of information and support.

Evie xx

sophlowe45

The problem is if we all individually try to reduce our living costs, how are we contributing to....i dont know even know what to call it, making the world a better place, economic growth, stability etc.

I've read that there is no food shortage in the world, only lack of distribution where it is needed. There is no shortage of money, only lack of distribution of money. I'm far too lazy to do any proper research into this and what would i with the information if i spent ages googling stuff? or reading academic papers? But personally i believe both things to be true.

I got interested in Amartya Sen when doing A levels http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amartya_Sen about why famines occur and the 1943 Bengal famine where there was no lack of food. Nowadays im far too tired to to care? Not sure if care is the right word, be bothered? I got home today, have a bad headache and want to go to bed, no space for anything else.

Individuals spending as little as possible does nothing to address any of these issues does it?

ok i did one google search (im not saying this is a reliable source there will be other articles and evidence saying there is a shortage)

http://www.meattradenewsdaily.co.uk/news/030811/united_nations___there_is_no_world_food_shortage.aspx

Popperwell

sophlowe45 wrote: »

The problem is if we all individually try to reduce our living costs, how are we contributing to....i dont know even know what to call it, making the world a better place, economic growth, stability etc.

You are right and that thought has crossed my mind many times...as has the idea that if the Government keeps attacking the low paid, they are even stopping the money that we have to put into the economy to keep companies going and hopefully some in employment...but I have to consider my situation as others are having to do so.

Evie74_2

Sophlowe - I understand the point about needing to spend money to boost the economy, but many people don't actually have spending power to do that. When it comes down to it we just need to look after our families - the Govt aren't going to do that for me, and they aren't going to care if I am comforting cold hungry children in the months to come.

While the bigger picture is important, and it is right for us to take an interest in it, my primary concern is always going to be my family and my home, and doing the best I can to look after them.

Evie xx

Grouchy

Evie74 wrote: »

Sophlowe - I understand the point about needing to spend money to boost the economy .......

Evie xx

I am an avid follower (but non poster) in OS and find it useful and encouraging that others are trying to live as much as possible ethically and within their means and I try to live that way by choice, I've found lots of ideas on here that I've tried to put into practice.
As I'm a new poster on OS please forgive the instrusion and me being a bit opinionated, but when I saw this statement i thought I had to put in my tuppence LOL

The government encourages us at every opportunity to spend spend spend money to boost the economy, but consumer spending is the absolute worst and weakest way to build an economy. Our governments have shut down or sold off our manufacutiring industries which are the REAL source of economic growth and stability. What we have ended up with is an economy dependent on consumer spending and finance, which is bonkers and a rollercoaster we all have to put up with.
My approach is to live within my means and don't get sucked into buying a lot of tosh. I don't spend because governments/supermarkets/electric companies encourage me to. And I don't feel guilty, I feel like I'm being responsible.

Yes, I agree with others that times are extremely tough and even when you are being as sensible and practical as possible things seem to be getting more and more expensive and budgets tighter. At least I feel OS is on the right track and an adult approach to looking after yourself and family.

Anyway, again apologies for sticking my oar in, it was well intentioned and of course just my small take on things .:)