It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

KxMx

The rear of house warms up nicely now in the afternoon, so I turn radiators down for evening but up again for the morning, sun at front in morning not strong enough yet to make any difference so front of house & halls cold without heating on. 

[Deleted User]

I have been offered a lift to Lidl on Friday which I have gratefully accepted. 

I won’t be going to a supermarket for the rest of the month after that so I’m going to set myself a £50 budget and really stock up. It’s my DS birthday next week as well and I’m hosting a little tea party for that, so will be baking lots.

I am very very concerned about how people are going to manage these continued rises. I am still eBaying everything that isn’t nailed down... sad but true to help us stay afloat. Any extra money I make will be going toward topping the coal stores up xx

euronorris

Just been told that my airtime plan for my mobile will be increasing by 7.8% come April. Sigh. Thankfully I wasn't on a large tariff, so the difference to me is only £2pm, but it's yet another increase!

I am going to be eBaying what I can also. Daughter has decided she has grown out of her gro clock, and wanted a proper alarm clock instead. So new alarm clock bought for £5, and gro clock should sell for between £15 and £20 on ebay. I also purchased her a plug in night light, with led bulb. So no more money wasted on batteries for old one, plus she still insisted on other lights being on in the room, also using up energy. So another save there. And I can also get rid of the gro bulb from her room too. Win win.

mandy47

Just received an email, broadband going up £2.50 a month from April. Doesn't seem a lot but on top of everything else it's adding insult to injury.
Overtime ban at work and they're even slim lining the management team. Already cut other staff to absolute minimum. I've always been able to rely on a bit of overtime to cover price rises and unexpected expenses. Not any more.
Spending a little more time on surveys, helps a little. 
Local a$da have been selling bakery goods for 10p each. Apparently over ordered. Filled freezer with bread, crumpets, scones and hot X buns ready for an easter treat. That's a good saving for us. Hope they keep over ordering.

LadOnTheHill

Too good to go bags have been a help for us. Not being able to plan what we get is a bit awkward, but going to SPAR or One Stop generally gets us more variety than Costa or Starbucks. There are a few shops within reasonable distance that we can get to in one trip, which makes it more worthwhile. Paying £3 for about £10 worth of food make it worth not being able to plan for what we get.

Floss

euronorris said:

Just been told that my airtime plan for my mobile will be increasing by 7.8% come April. Sigh. Thankfully I wasn't on a large tariff, so the difference to me is only £2pm, but it's yet another increase!

Can you switch to a non-contract sim? I pay £10 a month for 30Gb, unlimited texts & calls with Smarty & the network coverage is great.

Auntycaz

I got an email to say my broadband is going up £2 a month and then a letter in the post to say my rent will be going up £50 a month in May, I wonder what will be next. 

euronorris

Floss said:

euronorris said:

Just been told that my airtime plan for my mobile will be increasing by 7.8% come April. Sigh. Thankfully I wasn't on a large tariff, so the difference to me is only £2pm, but it's yet another increase!

Can you switch to a non-contract sim? I pay £10 a month for 30Gb, unlimited texts & calls with Smarty & the network coverage is great.

Unfortunately I'm only a year and a half into a 3 year contract. They split the monthly cost between cost of the handset and the airtime plan now. I'd have to pay off close to £300 on the handset to consider getting out early. 

ladyholly

We have just saved about £5 on diesel as our very ancient car will run with a small percentage of vegetable oil. Do not try it unless you know your engine will run with it or you will ruin your fuel pump. Only works in the warmer weather but it all helps.

sammyjammy

Wraithlady said:

EssexHebridean said:

I do get the point that was being made about the Jack Monroe article although I don't think I would have used "sensationalist" as the word to describe it - "selective" perhaps. It was a really important point that was made though - that the "inflationary" rises that get reported on don't tell the full picture - and it was certainly important that she called out Asda on their stealth removal of the budget lines from the shelves. 

Not just Asda - both Tesco and Sainsbury's have significantly less in their budget range now compared to a few years ago, and the price has increased

Its almost cruelty!