We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
Debate House Prices
In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non MoneySaving matters are no longer permitted. This includes wider debates about general house prices, the economy and politics. As a result, we have taken the decision to keep this board permanently closed, but it remains viewable for users who may find some useful information in it. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide
Inflation in Essentials
Comments
-
To addicts they are. I used to be a smoker and I would have bought cigarettes before food at that time.
Fair point. A further question then could be whether the need for all of the others is universal, whereas for cigarettes and alcohol demand could be inelastic for an addict, but not so much for a casual user.
An interesting question therefore around insurance. It is commonplace that the poor do not insure their possessions. So maybe there comes a point that, while an 'essential' of sorts, that those who can't afford it start underinsuring or not insuring. I have a baseline from last year in this article:
http://www.independent.co.uk/property/people-are-more-likely-to-insure-their-homes-than-their-spouses-7938405.html
It shows 58% have buildings insurance (probably looks lower than it does as many will rent) and only 3/4s have contents insurance.
It will be interesting to see if this goes up or down over time. I daren't look up how many aren't insuring their cars or I may never get in mine again:eek:.Please stay safe in the sun and learn the A-E of melanoma: A = asymmetry, B = irregular borders, C= different colours, D= diameter, larger than 6mm, E = evolving, is your mole changing? Most moles are not cancerous, any doubts, please check next time you visit your GP.
0 -
What
However I am slightly suspicious about some of the numbers quoted, I think retailers and providers in general are getting cleverer at increasing 'basic' prices in order to offer 'savings' be it BOGOF or discount power tariffs or new customers getting cheaper car insurance and I am not sure how much the official price indicies pick up this 'segmentation' of the market rather than just recording official prices. Certainly my car insurance risk has not really changed over the last 5 years and my premiums have inched down if anything etc.
Food packaging weight/volume is another factor. I know this has been questioned before, here and it was confound that the ONS do take this into account where obvious.
Pre packed fresh mince (horse?) is often in 400g packets as opposed to 500g previously, same with cheese - that is obvious, but frozen products often reduce weight/volume to maintain price point less obvious. Fruit is often sold by number and not weight these days too."If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....
"big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham0 -
Insurance is a racket run by thieves.
So I buy as little as necessary.
I insure my car under the threat of violence by the state.
I have building insurance in case my houses burn down.
Other than that, nothing.
It is a shame that I missed out on the PPI blag, but hey ho, win some lose some.0 -
I earn what many would call a good salary, but I just look at the price of some things and think "what??? - you're having a giraffe!".
You have to watch out for some of the hidden increases too, like the size of tin cans has got smaller, loaves of bread aren't quite as long as they were (especially the home bake ones). They may not necessarily show up on a price index, but they surely represent an increase.
Of course, the devaluation of the pound is driving up the price of imports, and the cost of fuel is driving up production and delivery.
As a result of this, I've turned into a much more careful shopper over the past couple of years, and we're gradually cutting back on the more expensive items.0 -
Insurance is a racket run by thieves.
So I buy as little as necessary.
I insure my car under the threat of violence by the state.
I have building insurance in case my houses burn down.
Other than that, nothing.
It is a shame that I missed out on the PPI blag, but hey ho, win some lose some.
The only time I have ever had Buildings Insurance, is when it was a condition of a mortgage.
Other than that refuse to waste money on it. Saved myself thousands over the years :j
P.S. I know it is politically incorrect to say so, but you would have had to be particularly dim to have been scammed into buying PPI, or any other of these "insurances" salesmen try to peddle.'In nature, there are neither rewards nor punishments - there are Consequences.'0 -
grizzly1911 wrote: »Food packaging weight/volume is another factor. I know this has been questioned before, here and it was confound that the ONS do take this into account where obvious.
Pre packed fresh mince (horse?) is often in 400g packets as opposed to 500g previously, same with cheese - that is obvious, but frozen products often reduce weight/volume to maintain price point less obvious. Fruit is often sold by number and not weight these days too.
You can't fit a cake in a quality street tin anymore. But they cost 60% more than they did 5 years ago for a tin.
Apparanly anyway.
Suppose it depends on the size of your cake
0 -
Graham_Devon wrote: »You can't fit a cake in a quality street tin anymore. But they cost 60% more than they did 5 years ago for a tin.
Apparanly anyway.
Suppose it depends on the size of your cake
The plastic celebrations "tins" are OK but they aren't full of sweets in the first place;)
No difference to tax really they don't like to simply increase the personal tax rates just do it by stealth and hope you don't notice."If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....
"big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham0 -
As a result of this, I've turned into a much more careful shopper over the past couple of years, and we're gradually cutting back on the more expensive items.
Many people are cutting back. The government then wonders when were not spending so much and chains are closing.
It seems a lot slow process, chipping away a tiny bit every month at the moment. I just wonder how long it can go on for and how long people can tell us to simply "cut back" while moaning that were not spending.0 -
Graham_Devon wrote: »Many people are cutting back. The government then wonders when were not spending so much and chains are closing.
It seems a lot slow process, chipping away a tiny bit every month at the moment. I just wonder how long it can go on for and how long people can tell us to simply "cut back" while moaning that were not spending.
Well the UK is currently the 6th biggest economy in the world and (I think) in the top 10% of economies by GDP/head. How far do you think people need to cut back until they're poor by international standards?0 -
As a result of this, I've turned into a much more careful shopper over the past couple of years, and we're gradually cutting back on the more expensive items.
I have just indulged (not a normal purchase) in a premium herby sausage (90% pork) and egg sandwich.
It makes you realise how good premium food is and what you get accustomed to by pricing down.:eek:"If you act like an illiterate man, your learning will never stop... Being uneducated, you have no fear of the future.".....
"big business is parasitic, like a mosquito, whereas I prefer the lighter touch, like that of a butterfly. "A butterfly can suck honey from the flower without damaging it," "Arunachalam Muruganantham0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 353.5K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455K Spending & Discounts
- 246.6K Work, Benefits & Business
- 602.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178K Life & Family
- 260.5K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards