Living Standards,

[TWR]

With the cost of everyday Item's, Food / Household bills / Travel costs, how are you coping?

[EcclesCake]

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.

So overall I'm 'coping' pretty well.

[ummmm]

He's in a recession proof job. We haven't felt the pinch, tbh...

[Prudie]

Because of our jobs we haven't noticed at all. In fact our living standards improve year on year. I realise we are one of the lucky ones.

[murraymints]

Ummm. He's an undertaker ?

[Graham-W]

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.

[Graham-W]

How about you TWR? Managing OK or finding it a struggle?

[Purple_Popple]

Doing ok so far although have noticed food budget going up slightly. I have a good job which is also recession proof so I count myself very lucky.

[B00]

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.

[EcclesCake]

That is harsh Boo, I didn't know the system worked like that.

Hope you get yourself sorted and can get your Cornish getaway this year....a couple of years ago we visited the same pub but a few weeks apart ;-)

[mccfluff]

it would be nice to be able to afford a holiday, i just about keep my head above water but that's about it

[B00]

It was booked and deposit paid before he lost it Eccles, so yep, we're Cornwall bound again- yay! Which pub? The Ship Inn?

[WELSHYORKIE]

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.

[Graham-W]

Welshyorkie. Would you say your expected wages have been adversely affected by the influx of eastern bloc workers?

[EcclesCake]

That's good, I can only imagine how grumpy you'd be without your Cornwall fix ;-)

Yep, The Ship Inn in Lostwhithiel......is that how you spell it? I really struggle with spelling and pronouncing half the places in Cornwall!

[Elina]

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!

[sherrardk]

My Asda shopping has risen considerably - a combination of higher prices and less offers.

[WELSHYORKIE]

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.

[B00]

(apologies TWR)

Think it's a different Ship Inn Eccles, as ours is in Pentewan in St Austell

[237SJ]

I think food prices and bills have risen a lot. I seem to spend an awful lot of money on not very much.

[Elina]

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.