I can't say I've noticed much change in my shopping basket over the last year but do anticipate some significant price rises ahead due to the flooding earlier in the year.
My utility bills are incredibly good compared to some other ABers.
I filled my car up the other day and it had gone down in price per litre since my last fill up, it is currently 11p cheaper than I recall it at its peak.
Pretty good. My company pension is linked to the RPI which is higher than the CPI and I planned for retirement (AVCs etc) a long time before it happened.
Ours dropped severely as Mr Boo lost his job, it took him 4 months to get another. In the meantime we were living on his jobseekers and my part time wage. We weren't entitled to tax benefits as combined we earned too much the previous year (!)
We're now just about getting back on our feet, and catching up on the bills we had no choice but to let slide in that 4 month period.
With no pay rise for 5 years in construction, my living standards dropped as every single bill went up. Upturn in work now,so maybe a salary increase this year but I'll never get back to where we were.
Hi TWR,
Coping o.k. I wouldn't say I'm frivolous with my money nor would I say I'm tight,. I'm not rich but comfortable. I food shop at Asda & Aldi. I'm fortunate enough to be able to buy the bulk of my food in ahead for the month which saves on constant bus trips. I have a yearly bus pass subsidised by my employer & deducted out of my wage monthly, that scheme saves me a packet on travel!
Graham - not personally, asI am salaried working for a main contractor but I do notice more Eastern Bloc names appearing among our sub contractors and agency staff.
sherrardk, I have a home delivery as I shop for the month so it's a large load & I have no car. It's the nearest large supermarket to me so is the one I shop at. I have the staples I order but also look for what's on offer at the time.