Do you feel poorer?

Solari

Solari

Solari

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What with the credit crunch "biting" amongst higher fuel bills and the like, I'd be interested to see how people feel about their finances compared to this time a year ago...

Personally, I do "feel" poorer. My pay rise was below inflation this year, and I seem to be spending an awful lot more on bills, petrol and the like. Saving half my wages each month last year (towards house deposit & new car) wasn't an issue, but now things seem to be getting a lot tighter, and I've had to cut my savings down a bit a few times - even with good amounts of OT (some of this is to do with a bit of bad luck though, boiler going, work on car etc) :(

I'm definitely spending less on clothes and the like, but somehow seem to be spending a lot more on beer recently. Perhaps that's a subconscious effort to fight off the real world ;)

So... how do you "feel" financially, and are you taking any drastic measures to make life less expensive? (no need to mention wage figures and the like in willy waving gestures, that would be crass) :)
 
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I get paid and im still overdrawn, im actually spending more than I earn in a month on things I cannot avoid paying.
Life sucks.
:(
(i'll live)
 
I wouldn't say I've noticed it hugely but we had prepared for a hit by ditching a car and generally saving more than we used to. I've recently noticed a price hike in food and obviously fuel.
 
I don't commute that often via car so that doesn't effect me that much, my electricity bills are low because we're very consious of leaving unecessary things on and all of our lights are energy saving, our gas bills are VERY high at the moment, luckily we're having a new much much much more efficient boiler fitted which should negate the projected 40% rise in gas bills.

Where I do really feel the pinch these days though is in beer and going out. It's just beyond expensive these days and i've come to grips with having to spend over £3 a pint. Yes I don't NEED beer but damn I enjoy it.

Oh and food is a pain aswell the price of food really has shot up :(, and this another one of my loves.

However I am still saving a good amount every month, even if it means dipping into my overdraft slightly

Edit: I could probably stop going into my overdraft at all if I (a) stopped drinking and (b) watched my spending habbits on food. But as I said previously these are the two things in life that give me pleasure. I will have to kurb both of these in the next few years as we plan on having kids
 
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Yeah I cannot believe the price of some items of food, at our local Morrisons mince has gone up from £1.49 last year to £2.20 now! :eek:
 
Having to cut back on a few luxuries or putting savings aside, but not too bad (at the moment).
 
Now, I don't feel poorer at all. BUT, I am really noticing price increases. Especially with chicken and meat in general. I threw out two chicken breasts today as they were VERY off. I couldn't help but think of the cost, and I've never normally done that.
 
With our mortgage alone going up by £200 a month and all other costs rising (gas, electric, fuel, shopping etc)- yes, much poorer. It sucks really, but maybe it'll get better one day.
 
Get paid on a Friday and by Monday evening it's either weed up the wall, poured in the fuel tank or the months bills are paid off online.
A recurring nightmare that never changes really.

Until of course I win the lottery :D

Concious of the fact I have my head firmly buried in the sand about the whole thing. One day it will go away I'm sure ;) :D
 
danza said:
It sucks really, but maybe it'll get better one day.
Click to expand...

Of course it'll get better. It always does, the question is when.

Personally I don't really "feel" poorer. Not yet anyway, just life as normal if you ignore all the press. But I don't have kids or a mortgate. Just pay my rent as normal
 
I haven't really noticed that much difference myself, apart from our weekly shopping bill has shot up from about £60 to £90 since last year. Some of the prices of things are just pathetic. £1.89 it is now for a pack of 8 orange clubs. Shocking.
 
knip said:
I get paid and im still overdrawn, im actually spending more than I earn in a month on things I cannot avoid paying.
Life sucks.
:(
(i'll live)
Click to expand...

same here, but my misses has just got a job so its going in the right direction now
 
Solari said:
What with the credit crunch "biting" amongst higher fuel bills and the like, I'd be interested to see how people feel about their finances compared to this time a year ago...

Personally, I do "feel" poorer. My pay rise was below inflation this year, and I seem to be spending an awful lot more on bills, petrol and the like. Saving half my wages each month last year (towards house deposit & new car) wasn't an issue, but now things seem to be getting a lot tighter, and I've had to cut my savings down a bit a few times - even with good amounts of OT (some of this is to do with a bit of bad luck though, boiler going, work on car etc) :(

I'm definitely spending less on clothes and the like, but somehow seem to be spending a lot more on beer recently. Perhaps that's a subconscious effort to fight off the real world ;)

So... how do you "feel" financially, and are you taking any drastic measures to make life less expensive? (no need to mention wage figures and the like in willy waving gestures, that would be crass) :)
Click to expand...

My financial situation has changed drastically for worse.

Last year I could do, and afford, near enough anything I wanted. This year a train ticket is an expenditure that has to be planned in advance :mad:
 
Steve2000 said:
I haven't really noticed that much difference myself, apart from our weekly shopping bill has shot up from about £60 to £90 since last year. Some of the prices of things are just pathetic. £1.89 it is now for a pack of 8 orange clubs. Shocking.
Click to expand...
Yup yup. It's just crazy.... £2.50 for minced beef... oh come on !
 
Am just keeping my head above water at the moment. Its always harder for single people trying to do it on their own. I am a going to be concerned when my mortgage will need to be re-newed. But hay eating has been over-rated hasn't it? :p
 
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