How much to live on

helensbiggestfan

About half way through sorting out the garage. Just taking a breather. Currently just moving stuff into separate areas, some for the tip, some for the charity shop and some to be stored. It's heavy going and I am far too old for this game. Lol. This is positively the last time I take on such heavy manual work. (I say this every time and every time I convince myself I mean it, but maybe at 75 it really is time to ease up a bit).

I going to order a couple of free standing additional shelving units to free up floor space (and make things easier to find once everything is neatly boxed up and labelled). I've got plenty of good strong plastic storage containers. Then I will be able to store my garden furniture in the garage over the winter.

Has anyone been following the 7Up series. A documentary following a group of people since they were 7 years old. They make a new edition every 7 years. Last night I watched part 1 of 70 Up - it will be the last in the series, Part 2 is next week. It's a fascinating series, following their lives over the decades. Last nights episode was very moving and very thought provoking. Made me think about my own life, my successes and failures, what I'm proud of and what I prefer to forget (fortunately not much of the latter).

Je ne regrette rien 😁

I should imagine I'm going to need a box of tissues, some wine and chocolate for Part 2.

Albermarle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82138212#Comment_82138212

Things are unbelievably expensive here in the uk.

I am just back from a few days in France and can confidently say it is not just the UK that is expensive !

Although it was a provincial city, the prices for eating and drinking out in kind of mid range places were very similar to London prices.

Also I met some Aussie relatives on a visit to the UK, and they said eating and drinking out was about the same price as in Oz, but our supermarkets were cheaper, probably because it is a more competitive market.

I agree though £4.50 for a coffee is poor value for money.

Organgrinder

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82139888#Comment_82139888

I think, largely as a result of platforms like X, that we are constantly bombarded with cost of living comparisons that are a long way from reality. Eg fuel prices. The more people say it, the more sadly believe it.

In some cases there may be some truth but wherever I go in the world, people say the same thing, that it is cheaper elsewhere.

That said I hear Spoons have opened in Manchester Airport. Great I thought, a cheap breakfast when going to Austria later this year. Hmmm....now that is expensive!!

Albermarle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82139926#Comment_82139926

In some cases there may be some truth but wherever I go in the world, people say the same thing, that it is cheaper elsewhere.

When working I had a number of European colleagues. They all said the same about their countries ; prices always going up; taxes too high ( particularly true for the French and Belgians) :; Useless governments etc

I think there is also a psychological factor at play. We notice prices increasing more acutely, than say we notice our income increasing.

I did find the other day though a particularly astonishing price increase. Until 1979 it cost One penny to go into Kew Gardens. Today it is £25 , An increase of 20,000 % !

Kantankrus_Mare

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82139865#Comment_82139865

Yes Ive recorded the 7up programme and may watch tonight. i always find anything like this fascinating.