Is the cost of living crisis real ?

[Steamboat]

Funny you should mention fishing as ive just bought some gear and going to try my hand from piers etc..
I wonder if we will see a rise in livestock going missing soon by organised gangs?

They are not cattle rustling, they are are just Wild West reenactors!

 

[76mill]

Nope, I know how it works and, will take great delight in watching the headless chickens wringing their hands ,gnashing their teeth and, wailing about how they can't afford whatever the knick-knack of their choice is.

I've now got to the stage of "F*** you Jack, I'm fireproof". I have sympathy for my generation and older because we are really being screwed !

The very sympathetic "You should have saved for your old age" generation, are going to learn hard lessons.

I'm one of the "WTF you didn't see this coming" generation...ain't Karma a bitch !

I know which Planet I'm on .

I assume that you also remember the 15% mortgage rates of the 80s and 90s.
Every f*cking month, a letter from the building society saying the rates going up and you have to pay more.
No choice with 3 very young kids but by christ that was a lesson learnt in saving for the future, spreading investments and perhaps most importantly it'll happen again a decade or two down the line so be bloody well prepared.

 

[Teeblerone]

Spanish PM just announced that VAT on electricity will be halved again.
Was 20% but dropped to 10% in October and will be 5% from 1 July.
The 20 cents discount on diesel and petrol will still attract a 20 cents discount per litre until the end of September and this will doubled for commercial vehicle drivers.

Domestic electricity already fallen 29% due to a capped gas price agreed between Portugal and Spain although that falls short of the 50% drop forecast by the government before they signed the pact.

We could really do with the UK honouring promises to reduce VAT on fuel etc after brexit. Yet Spain already has, twice, while still in?
it's like we're not even trying!
Meanwhile, bankers bonuses go up, their cap being removed. Nice.

 

[mush_dad]

Don’t have the electric shock stuff to the muscles it’s beyond the CIA in torture

Had it as part of the diagnosis, and yes it is.

 

[exbleep]

I assume that you also remember the 15% mortgage rates of the 80s and 90s.
Every f*cking month, a letter from the building society saying the rates going up and you have to pay more.
No choice with 3 very young kids but by christ that was a lesson learnt in saving for the future, spreading investments and perhaps most importantly it'll happen again a decade or two down the line so be bloody well prepared.

But you got 30% Mortgage Interest Relief At Source (MIRAS) which cut the bill down.
I bought my first house in 1986 at those rates and my mortgage repayments were half my pay. The good thing was that they started coming down and my pay went up and I kept the same payments. It meant my 25 year mortgage was paid off some 8 years early. By 1992 the rates were down to 7%.

When I did buy, the maximum you could borrow was 3 x salary and, as a SSgt, that meant I could buy up to 42k. Bought a very nice 3 bed semi in a village for 29.750. Flogged it in 2010 for 160k.

T'wern't all that bad. Now, there is no way I could move back to UK as that house (well, a similar one a few doors away) is going for "offers over 290k".

 

[Steamboat]

How much do you lot pay for fresh(ish) seafood?

We have a little outfit out here that will ship us goodies from Alaska, which is what we are going to do instead of taking our chances with good old Red Lobster. It is the best horrible choice we have, and better than being disappointed at King Soopers.

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But the wife and I can get two of the Dungeness crab kits for about 70 bucks and make two meals out of it. Which would cover two meals compared to one at a dine in place.

 

[Boris_Johnson]

I keep track of my private pension almost daily. Mainly as I'm gearing up to retire in my 50s and will draw it down until I reach SPA whereby the SP will take over.

Got a graph and everything.

Can't help noticing how much it's crashed this year... Putting in 1000s just to keep it level and even that's not enough as it is now at its lowest point it has been all year.

But here's the bit I don't get - why don't they just move most of it into fuel and energy companies? We'd all be millionaires in waiting after this year is done!

@Bravo_Bravo any ideas why they don't do this?

 

[greenbaggyskin]

I keep track of my private pension almost daily. Mainly as I'm gearing up to retire in my 50s and will draw it down until I reach SPA whereby the SP will take over.

Got a graph and everything.

Can't help noticing how much it's crashed this year... Putting in 1000s just to keep it level and even that's not enough as it is now at its lowest point it has been all year.

But here's the bit I don't get - why don't they just move most of it into fuel and energy companies? We'd all be millionaires in waiting after this year is done!

@Bravo_Bravo any ideas why they don't do this?

I do the same, although putting more money in just means you may lose more money. If you have a little time, then just leave it to percolate. While the prices are low, you are getting more shares for your money, so that when prices inevitably rise again you are relatively even better off.

The reason that they don't just swap around is that funds have objectives in which they state how they will invest the money. Percentages are normally given for different holding types, but they will mostly concentrate on a small range such as tech companies, banking, bonds or something else. If a tech specialist starts to invest in oil companies he will be out of his depth, probably losing you money and breaching the terms of his fund.

For example: BNY Mellon Global Equity (EUR)

Objective​

The Sub-Fund aims to achieve long term capital growth through investment primarily (meaning at least two-thirds of the Sub-Fund’s assets) in a portfolio of equity securities of companies located worldwide. Up to one third of the Sub-Fund’s assets may be invested in a portfolio of equity-related or debt securities of companies located worldwide.

 

[ugly]

How much do you lot pay for fresh(ish) seafood?

We have a little outfit out here that will ship us goodies from Alaska, which is what we are going to do instead of taking our chances with good old Red Lobster. It is the best horrible choice we have, and better than being disappointed at King Soopers.

Dungeness Crab Seafood Boil Meal Kit – Alaskan Seafood Guys

Our life changing Seafood Boil Meal Kits are the easiest way for you to enjoy an authentic meal kit at home. Simply boil your kit from frozen and you have a wonderful seafood meal in just 8 minutes! 2 lbs. of food inside each kit! Each Seafood Boil Kit includes: 1 Dungeness Crab Cluster 2 Corn...

www.alaskanseafoodguys.com

Alaskan Seafood Guys - Super Fresh Local & National Delivery

A simple mission, to connect you directly with Wild Caught and Alaskan Seafood. We have extensive experience within the fishing industry that comes from working in Alaska for many years. When you purchase seafood from Alaska Seafood Guys, you can be sure that it is ethically sourced, sustainably...

www.alaskanseafoodguys.com

But the wife and I can get two of the Dungeness crab kits for about 70 bucks and make two meals out of it. Which would cover two meals compared to one at a dine in place.

I can drive the mile to the sea front and buy it fresh off the boat, my wife and youngest are allergic to fish and I was raised on it and see it as poor man’s food!
If I want pork or lamb I see the estate shepherd who sometimes sorts me out! The alternative is an early start and bag some venison!

 

[Oops]

Funny you should mention fishing as ive just bought some gear and going to try my hand from piers etc..
I wonder if we will see a rise in livestock going missing soon by organised gangs?

Already a regular occurrence up here, 'specially around BB postcodes

 

[RoofRat]

But with your line of reasoning, I can state maybe you should have worked a bit more in your younger years...
Throw more money into that 401K or 457 plan.

You need to understand that in some places a vehicle is necessity and not a luxury, now it doesn't have to be the newest beast on the lot. But it does have to run, sometimes families will need two.

You won't be funding my families lifestyle trust me on that one.

Well kudos to you, nobody under 40 has dealt with Stagflation before.

Just so you know...all 'overtime' in the Armed Forces is, unpaid.

In some places, a vehicle is a neccessity, most SUV/Chelsea Tractors, could be replaced with a secondhand MINI.

I spent 10 years commuting to London and back, 200 miles a day, 06:00-20:00, then I had an epiphany !

I worked out that, if I ditched the job with a good salary, factored in London prices for food and, entertainment whilst up there (Lunches aren't free), forget the company car (only needed for the commute), I could exist quite comfortably on a lower paid job, 8 hour day, 5 minute 'commute', not forgetting an infinitely happier life style with more home time.

Anybody can do it, all it takes a bit of reflection on what you want from life !

 

[flieslikeabeagle]

I'll buy the politicians being the problem - but the system? In the UK? I think FPTP is intertwined with it (and therefore how the parties do business) - but FPTP tends to give a clear result. I'd hate to have the Belgian system at the moment.

try PR , or have a look north of the border and see the shit show we have here , country being run into the ground and the useless government of the day unable to do anything sensible about it in case they upset their coalition partners and they lose power

lie with dogs ...you get fleas

 

[RoofRat]

With a debit card I would hope.

Preaching to the choir, everything is going up for everyone.

You can always get another job. Many seniors do to supplement their income. Our buildings custodian is in his 70’s and keeps plugging away. Granted he uses his paycheck to go fishing on the weekends.

I would love to go back to work however, I'm 75, progressive sight loss, I have arterial fibrillation and, a cerebellar dysfunction (I tend to fall over without a stick), I can no longer drive due to my sight, I can no longer ride my bike due to my brain problem, bus prices are stupid so, I can't get to any employment...not forgetting all the youngster who complain about 'coffin dodgers' not retiring and, keeping them out of a job !

Take your pick, I could also add that, lots employers prefer to hire youngsters where they can and, pay 'em less !

But, I'm happy with my lot...Almost forgot, the £1200 Cost of Living Allowance, is only for those claiming benefits, that doesn't include pensioners unless, they get pension credits.

Halcyon Days for me !!!

 

[javaguzzisti]

Just so you know...all 'overtime' in the Armed Forces is, unpaid.

In some places, a vehicle is a neccessity, most SUV/Chelsea Tractors, could be replaced with a secondhand MINI.

I spent 10 years commuting to London and back, 200 miles a day, 06:00-20:00, then I had an epiphany !

I worked out that, if I ditched the job with a good salary, factored in London prices for food and, entertainment whilst up there (Lunches aren't free), forget the company car (only needed for the commute), I could exist quite comfortably on a lower paid job, 8 hour day, 5 minute 'commute', not forgetting an infinitely happier life style with more home time.

Anybody can do it, all it takes a bit of reflection on what you want from life !

Worked that out in 1990.
My upstairs neighbour was commuting to London daily and it took 5 hours out of her day.
She was in a very good job.
I lived 5 minutes from work so could put those hours into paid overtime on the local dairy shop floor.
I was actually better off than she was.

 

[RoofRat]

I assume that you also remember the 15% mortgage rates of the 80s and 90s.
Every f*cking month, a letter from the building society saying the rates going up and you have to pay more.
No choice with 3 very young kids but by christ that was a lesson learnt in saving for the future, spreading investments and perhaps most importantly it'll happen again a decade or two down the line so be bloody well prepared.

Yep, I also recollect that exactly a week after I started paying my mortgage, the fragrant Magaret stopped MIRAS as the interest rate went up again, holiday or not, no brainer...first family holiday was 10 years later.

Shit happens, people of a certain generation know that, remain fairly sanguine about it.

 

[BossHogg]

My last 'pay rise' was, 32p a day in April, wanna tell me how I pay my Council Tax, Gas and Electric, Water ?

They all went up on the same day !

I have the same standing outgoings as the proverbial "Young Family/Couple" with no way of enhancing my income...as I said, no sympathy.

I have had either no pay rises or £10 a month pay rises for the last 12 years. I haven't had any increase for the last 3 years. My union is asking for 10% rise and an increase in shift allowance. The company is saying it can only afford 2%. When we were CS, we had 3 people earning over 100k a year, the CEO was on 124k a year. Now we have over 100 people earning 100k+ and the CEO is on 450k including bonus.
Edited to adjust figures - had a brain fart!

 

[RoofRat]

I have had either no pay rises or 10p an hour pay rises for the last 12 years. I haven't had any increase for the last 3 years. My union is asking for 10% rise and an increase in shift allowance. The company is saying it can only afford 2%. When we were CS, we had 3 people earning over 100k a year, the CEO was on 124k a year. Now we have over 100 people earning 100k+ and the CEO is on 450k including bonus.

If you're not happy find another job, with another company ?

My last 3 'pay rises' have been no more than 40p a day.

 

[Steamboat]

I can drive the mile to the sea front and buy it fresh off the boat, my wife and youngest are allergic to fish and I was raised on it and see it as poor man’s food!
If I want pork or lamb I see the estate shepherd who sometimes sorts me out! The alternative is an early start and bag some venison!

Well Game and Wish hated me this year.

 

[Portree Kid]

A wee snippet - That will hopefully put things into perspective about the UK's Cost of Living crisis

The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) left its policy rate on hold at 14% today, even though consumer price inflation surged to 73.5% in May.

 

[ugly]

View attachment 672341
Well Game and Wish hated me this year.

We are lucky not having that level of beurocracy here! Land owners permission is enough and you can stalk without a firearms license if you are with someone who has!