Bills up 25%, wages up 6% since 2008

DervProf

meljm2 wrote: »

do not be fooled busy mom

Graham is a greedy BTL speculitor who is just laffing at you while he puts the rent up on his tennints every 5 minutes if you belief him

I think that I am less easily fooled than a busy mom.

ukcarper

DervProf wrote: »

I think that I am less easily fooled than a busy mom.

I think most of us are

wotsthat

grizzly1911 wrote: »

You may have a point there, hardly progress though.

Families pulling together to ensure that income matches spending sounds like progress to me. It's as much about attitude as anything else - these families will be better placed as we exit recession.

grizzly1911

wotsthat wrote: »

Families pulling together to ensure that income matches spending sounds like progress to me. It's as much about attitude as anything else - these families will be better placed as we exit recession.

If people are having to downgrade (as in Devs example), sounds more like survival, than a cunning master plan for a spring board to future prosperity.

Nine_Lives

I wish my wages had risen 6%!!!!!!!

Fact is, since 2007 they've risen by £0.00, never mind percentages.

Since 2004/2005 they've risen only by £0.10/hr.

How i wish i was in the dizzy heights of 6%.

Graham_Devon

wotsthat wrote: »

Families pulling together to ensure that income matches spending sounds like progress to me. It's as much about attitude as anything else - these families will be better placed as we exit recession.

Depends how you see it really.

If pulling together means less and less family time....kids in nursery / holiday clubs etc, I don't particularly think that's progress.

Infact, I can't see how it's progress regardless of the above. It may be progress for the business world, as they are paying lower wages and therefore taking more profits, or indeed surviving. But a situation whereby 2 people are now required to bring the same income to the household as one could just a few years ago, leaving less time for everything else in life doesn't sound like progress at all to me.

Adding family issues and life quality into the mix just adds to my confussion over your point really.

More work > Same outcome.

I'd understand if more work equaled a better outcome, but not the same.

GeneHunt_2

Has anybody else had their winter quarter gas bill? Ours was a right horror show. It was the most units we have ever used (we are careful ) and the most expensive per unit (I shop around). Since 2008 (we were on a super low rate) our gas bills have gone up 200%...

....as for our food bills - they are just mental. I'm seriously wondering about what we're going to have to do to get on top of things - somethings gonna have to change...

...and don't even mention the cost of petrol...

wotsthat

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Depends how you see it really.

If pulling together means less and less family time....kids in nursery / holiday clubs etc, I don't particularly think that's progress.

We're in arguably the worst recession since the 1930's and yet skint people still have the luxury of turning down increased income? Sounds like a Mickey Mouse recession if that's the case.

Graham_Devon wrote: »

In fact, I can't see how it's progress regardless of the above. It may be progress for the business world, as they are paying lower wages and therefore taking more profits, or indeed surviving. But a situation whereby 2 people are now required to bring the same income to the household as one could just a few years ago, leaving less time for everything else in life doesn't sound like progress at all to me.

If costs are rising but someone is unwilling to increase income they'll have less disposable income and will have to get better at budgeting. Their choice.

The situation we're talking about is a family member picking up some part time work and increasing household income. The data seems to suggest that this is happening.

Graham_Devon wrote: »

I'd understand if more work equaled a better outcome, but not the same.

Well household income is increasing in real terms - that's one better outcome. We should cherish these people - they're going to lead us out of recession. Those sat waiting for someone else to make them better off are a drag on the economy (and deluded).

You've got to be careful about saying the outcome is worse by framing the argument only in terms of 2008. It's important to consider that not increasing income might lead to arrears and other financial stress - in these terms working a few extra hours leads to a significantly better outcome. i.e. if the choice is solvency or insolvency which is the better outcome?