The cost of living.

JamesH85 · 18 Oct 2021 at 22:21

How much had the increase in price on energy, food, fuel and other things this year affected your monthly income and lifestyle?

We have seen some crazy changes in prices this year i.e. during the first few months of covid, a local garage had diesel at 98p!

Now the same garage has diesel at 146.9p

Diagro · 19 Oct 2021 at 07:20

JamesH85 said:
How much had the increase in price on energy, food, fuel and other things this year affected your monthly income and lifestyle?

We have seen some crazy changes in prices this year i.e. during the first few months of covid, a local garage had diesel at 98p!

Now the same garage has diesel at 146.9p

Good question about energy.

But as it's not really been a month since everyone was plonked onto high tariffs, it is prematurely asked.

Pottsey · 19 Oct 2021 at 08:17

So far zero affect, not really noticed any changes in price. That's not to say there has been zero changes just none that stand out as a noticeable increase. Monthly outgoings have hardly changed. Well the one change noticed is the combined Gas/Electricity bill for October was lower then expected and gas was lower then this time last year while Electricity had gone up a small amount so it all balanced out.

200sols · 19 Oct 2021 at 08:17

The energy prices will hurt most people next year, many are going to be in for a big shock.

Trifid · 19 Oct 2021 at 08:23

Energy has cost me £21 more a month.
Food is very difficult to quantify as it is very variable. I have noticed a few items going up around 10% or so over the past year? I really noticed the extra cost of using Morrison's delivery via Amazon when I unfortunately needed to use it a couple of times this year as it was about 2/3rds more expensive then shopping at Tesco myself.
Fuel, I drive so little it doesn't make a huge difference and I only fill up when I need to (which is less then once a month)

I think the government are going to have quite a problem on their hands next year if wages don't start rising significantly.

Rroff · 19 Oct 2021 at 08:30

So far it hasn't had an impact in terms of having to make changes - but I'm definitely noticing the increase in fuel cost driving a 3L V6 pickup

and the increase in costs for energy isn't something I like spending my money on.

Sadly the ones who are going to be hit hardest by it are going to largely be the ones who can least afford it as well - I can see a lot of smaller businesses being put under a lot of pressure by the fuel and energy costs. I know plenty of people on lower incomes who have to do a lot of miles not out of choice.

dlockers · 19 Oct 2021 at 08:31

Rroff has a V6 pickup? What!? Since when?

I am ashamed to admit the recent increases in prices has meant I have had to saw the corner off of my sofa, and retire one of my many Gucci belts. Times be tough.

Rroff · 19 Oct 2021 at 08:33

dLockers said:
Rroff has a V6 pickup? What!? Since when?

Not much longer at the current fuel prices I won't... (only half kidding on that).

englishpremier · 19 Oct 2021 at 08:36

Seems to be a problem faced crossed Europe.

Where I am at the moment the government has had to cap energy prices and limit profits from energy firms, whilst also blaming the EU for the problem. Inflation is 4% up form -0.32% last year and unemployment is about 15%

So far it's not affecting me too much, other than I don't sit with the aircon on all day. I hadn't really noticed fuel prices, but when I look on fuelly I can see I've spent about $300, mostly just around town and playing about off road.

Martynt74 · 19 Oct 2021 at 08:37

I'm similar, in that i don't really feel the impact at the moment.

Working from home means i only fill the car up around once a month, grocery shopping doesn't really seem to have changed much and the higher electric pricing will only kick in this month following a switch due to Green going bust, but i'd built up enough credit that i t in theory shouldn't increase prices too much. I've been working at home for around 18 months and don't really seem to have noticed an increase in bills from being office based to now anyway.

The biggest issue is that Waitrose have scrapped free delivery and now charge £3 per order

Liquid_Entity · 19 Oct 2021 at 08:40

Moved in to our new home last October, I wouldn't say we were tight budgeted from doing that but this next Winter with the price increases will definitely make us feel the pinch more. It's why I think a lot of people are moving jobs to try and get a better salary. It's why I am actively looking as we haven't had a decent payrise for 3+ years (none whatsoever last year)

413x · 19 Oct 2021 at 08:42

NI increase and heating is going to have a big impact on me.

Nearly 100ppm if you add both is the estimate.
Definitely going to be 1k a year more with nothing to show for it.

On plus side I finish paying off my student loan soon and I think that will save me about the same a month? Maybe a bit more

Trifid · 19 Oct 2021 at 08:49

413x said:
NI increase and heating is going to have a big impact on me.

Eh, forgot about this. Going to be a double hit in April with Council tax rises and NI.

200sols · 19 Oct 2021 at 08:50

Martynt74 said:
The biggest issue is that Waitrose have scrapped free delivery and now charge £3 per order

I don't know how you are going to cope tbh.

cyber69 · 19 Oct 2021 at 08:52

Paid off my mortgage in 2020 as it had 5 years left to run and not getting any interest on savings and trimmed all the fat off any direct debits. Purchased a mobile phone outright and got a £8 rolling one month tariff for me and my my daughter.

Total outgoings per month now are around £450 for all direct debits but it just seems as they all keep nudging back up again. Direct debit for dual fuel to increase from £145 to £177, council tax increase and no doubt virgin media will take the **** once again.

I wish BT would hurry up and install fast fibre where I live so I can tell virgin to **** off.

Martynt74 · 19 Oct 2021 at 09:02

200sols said:
I don't know how you are going to cope tbh.

It's truly brutal.

It's still free for click and collect, but that's a 5 minute drive away!

Uther · 19 Oct 2021 at 09:02

Not really noticed so far, I reckon by the first few months of 2022 it's going to sting a bit, especially with the NI and CT rises on top of energy costs.

GuruJockStrap · 19 Oct 2021 at 09:14

Trifid said:
Eh, forgot about this. Going to be a double hit in April with Council tax rises and NI.

You can also add the new energy cap that will be in place by then. People coming out of fixed rate deals are in for a shock.

Hades · 19 Oct 2021 at 09:25

GuruJockStrap said:
You can also add the new energy cap that will be in place by then. People coming out of fixed rate deals are in for a shock.

Then inflation will rise and the BoE will come under pressure to raise interest rates to control it. So mortgages might increase next year too.

Haze · 19 Oct 2021 at 09:26

Pottsey said:
So far zero affect, not really noticed any changes in price. That's not to say there has been zero changes just none that stand out as a noticeable increase. Monthly outgoings have hardly changed. Well the one change noticed is the combined Gas/Electricity bill for October was lower then expected and gas was lower then this time last year while Electricity had gone up a small amount so it all balanced out.

You don't live in this country do you? Or do you not buy petrol and buy your own food ect?