Do you find?

[TWR]

Do you find that's it's getting very hard to run your car / house/all bills to pay?

[starone]

Yes. You may have to give up your car and walk. But hopefully not your house.

[steg]

the steggess does all that stuff, i would forget

[lylabellablueyes]

Very much so. Me and partner both work and only just scrape by :-(

[Lore]

I think most people do, TWR. It's surprising how well we manage when we have to.

Champaign lifestyle on lemonade wages!

Hi steggy :)

[sara3]

no, but all the extras are harder to justify. I want to book a holiday :o(

[steg]

hi lore xx

[Cowtipper]

I live a pretty moderate lifestyle. I drive older vehicles and do all my own maintenance. I don't use credit cards or buy things on credit. I try not to buy things new when I can get them used. I only have to work three or four months out of the year to pay the bills and I like it that way.

[WuTang]

Cowtipper ..Gas prices in the UK would make your eyes water

[steg]

so would peeling onions

[boxtops]

Cowtipper, I envy your lifestyle, many of us are suffering the consequences of mad spending in earlier years. OH and I both work and scrimp in our daily lives now - we do take our holidays because often it's the only time we get to spend time together having a bit of a relax. Any spare money goes in the holiday pot - otherwise we've not bought anything new for ages. Our last splurge was 6 pairs of pants for OH, off eBay.

[Cowtipper]

Our public transportation system assures that without a car you're screwed.

[albaqwerty]

A bit like parts of this country tipper.

Gas and Electric and fuel goes up. Cost of food goes up. Income doesn't.

Dreadful.

[micmak]

Most of the western world is in the same boat. We saved when we were younger, yet still had 2 or 3 holidays every year. We did not go out for expensive meals etc. I retired at 56 Mrs MM at 57. We are doing okay. When the powers that be say inflation is 4.5% they clearly do not shop where we shop.

[Cowtipper]

I was terrible with money when I was younger. When I finally managed to crawl out from under all the debt I had accumulated I swore I'd never do it again.

[albaqwerty]

I know it's not food, but a 2l bottle of fizzy juice at my local cheap shop used to be £1, it's now £1.39. I'm not good at maths but a 39% increase??

[micmak]

I said the same about sugar last week Alba. 20.6% increase in 1 week.

[karenmac60]

Yip - really struggling. Mr mac and I are both part time (not through choice) and we've had a wage freeze for the past 3 years. Even the basics are hard to afford these days, it's getting to be a real worry.

[TTG]

Use car dealer for servicing (servicing book stamp) and problem investigation....take to local garage for any additional work needed as a result. Saved a lot of money on my cars over the years.

[welshlibranr]

yes!.............Expensive nowadays, still managing to run my car, but find it hard!..........may have to give it up in a year or so!...........hate the thought of losing my independance!..........

[boxtops]

OH needed new tyres before he put his car in for MOT - we have found a little place that supplied and fitted two for £90. they cost £90 each last time he had to change them.