Hard Times

lostinrates

Im noticing it.

I notice it on fuel. I'm driving less but my fuel cost is greater. (I'm not driving less because I've choen not to to beat fuel rises, but because I on't have to drive as much anyway right now. In autumn that will change again).

Food is very noticable too. My weekly food bills for just me have alway been vey low. Usually later in the year we'll have our own apples again for a bit. Otherwise my main hop is for the weekend when I cook for DH and eat more like a normal person, lol. Both have gone up significantly.

PasturesNew

beecher wrote: »

I don't know if they do show the worst cases as everytime I see a story of woe on the tv I think 'well maybe if you cancelled Sky and hadn't bought the huge tv and vast collection of dvds/computer games you'd be okay'. Then I usually have an uncharitable thought about the amount of food they obviously eat and feel bad about myself.

I think it is obvious that many have overstretched themselves financially on mortgages, and many more just can't spend less as they are so used to buying 'stuff'. Everyone without a safety net is going to be caught out while the rest of us can maybe do without a few things and not really notice the difference.

I agree with this viewpoint.

This is the thing. People have been trying to lead TV shiny lives and have all this stuff. And they feel hard done by if they are struggling to pay for it. But historically people didn't have shiny stuff ... it's the whole credit culture that let them THINK they were wealthy enough to afford things they wanted.

I knew I could never afford the stuff so never got a credit card to buy it. Hence I am not feeling much of a difference as I don't have a lavish lifestyle to maintain.

(lavish = gadgets, posh TV, posh car, holidays, mobile phone on contract, Sky/package, nights out, new clothes, brand names, designer trainers, bottles of wine in the weekly shop, iPod ...)

Jeeez... typing that list of stuff I thought it was never ending.... and I had to stop myself from continuing

tomstickland

I live quite a frugal life so have not had any massive changes. I cut back on drinking a few months ago because it was making me fatter than I want to be and that has saved me a lot on my shopping bills. I've managed to get a 20% improvement in mpg from my car by experimenting with efficient driving (approx 10% improvement from not hammering the car, taking me to "average" driver, further 10% from efficient driving).

I bought the cheapest property that I actually liked and have just taken out a 2 year fix, that due to low fees is actually the same monthly cost as the previous fix despite a 1% increase in rates.

So, personally, things aren't looking too bad. That's due to careful planning and conscious decisions to control my expenditure, and the good fortune of a reasonably well paid job that I enjoy.

aardvaak

[quote=beecher;11673557]I don't know if they do show the worst cases as everytime I see a story of woe on the tv I think 'well maybe if you cancelled Sky and hadn't bought the huge tv and vast collection of dvds/computer games you'd be okay'. Then I usually have an uncharitable thought about the amount of food they obviously eat and feel bad about myself.

I think it is obvious that many have overstretched themselves financially on mortgages, and many more just can't spend less as they are so used to buying 'stuff'. Everyone without a safety net is going to be caught out while the rest of us can maybe do without a few things and not really notice the difference.[/quote]

I agree with you.

Some people have the idea of it's there I must have it now worry about paying later and whinging to the media about the tough time they are having!

Which in my opinion is totally bonkers.

Also surely when people took out these lower interest mortgages they knew they were for a limited time and their rates would return to normal in a very short time!

amcluesent

I've been 'under-geared' for years, paid of mortgage, no CC debts etc. By some standards I'm doing OK with salary.

Already done everything in Martin's book, on 'retention' deals for mobi, ISP, cancelled cable TV for Freeview. Installed water-meter, dual-fuel/DD discounts etc.

Now I drive like a district-nurse. From Aberdeen! Very rarely drive anywhere for the sake of it, will be stopping NT subs etc. as can't afford the petrol to their properties.

Programmed CH to run just long enough to warm tank for shower.

Shop at Aldi for basics and go to supermarket late evening for 'bargain bucket' item going out of date.

Still trying to reduce food bill, mostly by making in bulk at weekend and then freezing. Booze bill is high

Look for bargains on Ebay, esp. with local pickup and have sold off unused items. Freecycle of course.

I've put a few ££ aside for rainy days. Now looking to use that to have work done on the house at sensible rates, looking to negotiate on a conservatory.

Still enjoy a meal-out once a month and buy CDs etc. as I love music. Can't be a hermit - you're a long time dead!

angeluk69_2

I would like to say, that since my husband moved out - I have always done the food shopping anyway- my food shopping bill has gone down, but the actual cost of the food has gone up. I certainly don't buy the amount of food that I was before but individual items have risen dramically in some cases...Lettuce has gone up from 75p to £1.09!!! Thats in my local morrisons, but my toatal bill has gone down by approx £10 per wk.
I only buy what I need, not what I want, otherwise I would be going loopy and only eating crisps and sweets (apparently thats the law according to my DS aged 7)

Although Petrol has gone up (approx 115.9 - 118.9 per litre unleaded) I try not to use my car for little journeys, and walk wherever I can. I only uase the car to take my mum to chemo and back and to get the food shopping.

These are the 2 things that really effect me at the moment but no doubt this will change in time.

beecher

I actually think I've gone a little too far with the frugal lifestyle and am in danger of becoming downright mean. I'm saving a fifth of my wage and still have money left over at the end of the month!

beingjdc

That's even stupider than not buying it on a particular day! Petrol is fungible. If you boycott one company, they'll just sell their petrol to the smaller companies who won't have enough to meet demand...

beecher

That email's been doing the rounds for months so obviously hasn't had much impact. Don't Sainsbury's and Tesco get their petrol from BP/Esso anyway? Many people could cut down on car journeys if they really wanted to by walking/using public transport - they just don't want to.