Money will be tight

[cromwell]

I am one of those people, taking home a little too much to get any welfare support so thus missing out on most of the government help for the cost of living crisis.

My rent is actually fairly low, being as I live in social housing, only 310 a month. If I had to pay a private rent of typically at least twice that, I'd be on UC and caught in a benefits trap, as many of my colleagues are. But my workplace is 15 miles away so fuel costs are hammering me, as well as Tamar bridge tolls. And there is all the expense of keeping a reliable car on the road. The car itself is being bought on a finance deal and with the various insurances, AA membership, and MOT plan costing me nearly 200 a month, and fuel is costing me at least that much again. And the rise in food and energy costs is seriously crucifying me.

I am now watching the prices of everything I buy to eat much more carefully. Anything costing more than a couple of quid doesn't get bought. Anything that needs to be cooked in an oven for 30 minutes doesnt get bought cos of the cost of the energy. Most days I am cooking nothing but eating ham or cheese sandwiches. I have fished out all my woolly jumpers ready for the colder weather, intending to sit around in the winter in a jumper and coat indoors and only use the heating in short bursts when it is very cold. I will stay in bed much longer on days off.

I was in the group that was just about managing and now no longer am and am slowly slipping into credit card debt just to survive. Somewhat incongrously for a socialist like me, one of my best friends is a wealthy millionairess who works at a top level in the pharmaceutical industry, who has helped me out. Last week my constant robbing of Peter to pay Paul hit a brick wall as with two weeks until pay day I realised I only had left in my account barely enough to cover my debits and had no funds to pay my rent. My friend helped me out by lending me 700 quid and agreed that I dont have to repay until the new year, by which time a 130 a month loan will have been paid off. In truth she has made clear that she is not bothered about getting it back but honour makes me feel compelled to repay it.

Were it not for her and/or credit cards right now, I would already be defaulting on bills and relying on food banks.

I don't see this getting any better and don't think that Truss is the least bit interested in people like me and doesnt actually give a shite. Her focus seems to be on helping middle England, who are no doubt feeling the pinch too but have rarely been the ones who are just about managing.

I've no doubt that's true and I've also no doubt apart from platitudes Steamer is the same.

[srb7677]

I don't doubt what you're saying Steve but somethings don't add up. You're always saying you do long hours and I think you've said in the past you work full time so that must add up to at least 50 hrs a week. Average supermarket rates are about £10/hr so you must be bringing home £1700 a month, which should easily cover the above?

Your maths are wrong. I am lucky if I bring home 1400, more typically it is about 1250.

I only have a part time contract but work full time hours by grabbing as much overtime as I can get. Also our breaks are unpaid.

Take this week. One day off and five 8 and a half hour days plus an 8 hour sunday. Because these shifts each come with two half hour breaks, I am getting five lots of 7 and a half hours pay = 37 and a half hours, plus seven hours at time and a quarter on sunday - 8 and 3 quarter hours.

46 and a quarter hours pay. This is an exceptional week. Some weeks there is less overtime available. Next week I only have 38 paid hours.

My employer is very reluctant to let you work many more hours than I am doing this week because tired staff make mistakes, and if you make one they tend to hold the fact that you are overdoing it against you. My manager has already spoken to me advising me to be careful.

And our pay was only 9.55 an hour, though it has just gone up to 10.10, the first benefit of which will be in the next pay packet. Will see what difference that makes. It is worth bearing in mind that once you hit the tax brackets you are losing a third of that 10.10 in tax, and only taking home about 6.75 an hour

[Nick]

I am one of those people, taking home a little too much to get any welfare support so thus missing out on most of the government help for the cost of living crisis.

My rent is actually fairly low, being as I live in social housing, only 310 a month. If I had to pay a private rent of typically at least twice that, I'd be on UC and caught in a benefits trap, as many of my colleagues are. But my workplace is 15 miles away so fuel costs are hammering me, as well as Tamar bridge tolls. And there is all the expense of keeping a reliable car on the road. The car itself is being bought on a finance deal and with the various insurances, AA membership, and MOT plan costing me nearly 200 a month, and fuel is costing me at least that much again. And the rise in food and energy costs is seriously crucifying me.

I am now watching the prices of everything I buy to eat much more carefully. Anything costing more than a couple of quid doesn't get bought. Anything that needs to be cooked in an oven for 30 minutes doesnt get bought cos of the cost of the energy. Most days I am cooking nothing but eating ham or cheese sandwiches. I have fished out all my woolly jumpers ready for the colder weather, intending to sit around in the winter in a jumper and coat indoors and only use the heating in short bursts when it is very cold. I will stay in bed much longer on days off.

I was in the group that was just about managing and now no longer am and am slowly slipping into credit card debt just to survive. Somewhat incongrously for a socialist like me, one of my best friends is a wealthy millionairess who works at a top level in the pharmaceutical industry, who has helped me out. Last week my constant robbing of Peter to pay Paul hit a brick wall as with two weeks until pay day I realised I only had left in my account barely enough to cover my debits and had no funds to pay my rent. My friend helped me out by lending me 700 quid and agreed that I dont have to repay until the new year, by which time a 130 a month loan will have been paid off. In truth she has made clear that she is not bothered about getting it back but honour makes me feel compelled to repay it.

Were it not for her and/or credit cards right now, I would already be defaulting on bills and relying on food banks.

I don't see this getting any better and don't think that Truss is the least bit interested in people like me and doesnt actually give a shite. Her focus seems to be on helping middle England, who are no doubt feeling the pinch too but have rarely been the ones who are just about managing.

I don't doubt what you're saying Steve but somethings don't add up. You're always saying you do long hours and I think you've said in the past you work full time so that must add up to at least 50 hrs a week. Average supermarket rates are about £10/hr so you must be bringing home £1700 a month, which should easily cover the above?

[srb7677]

The people who are really going to struggle are working people with either high rents or mortgages who just about get by week to week .

I am one of those people, taking home a little too much to get any welfare support so thus missing out on most of the government help for the cost of living crisis.

My rent is actually fairly low, being as I live in social housing, only 310 a month. If I had to pay a private rent of typically at least twice that, I'd be on UC and caught in a benefits trap, as many of my colleagues are. But my workplace is 15 miles away so fuel costs are hammering me, as well as Tamar bridge tolls. And there is all the expense of keeping a reliable car on the road. The car itself is being bought on a finance deal and with the various insurances, AA membership, and MOT plan costing me nearly 200 a month, and fuel is costing me at least that much again. And the rise in food and energy costs is seriously crucifying me.

I am now watching the prices of everything I buy to eat much more carefully. Anything costing more than a couple of quid doesn't get bought. Anything that needs to be cooked in an oven for 30 minutes doesnt get bought cos of the cost of the energy. Most days I am cooking nothing but eating ham or cheese sandwiches. I have fished out all my woolly jumpers ready for the colder weather, intending to sit around in the winter in a jumper and coat indoors and only use the heating in short bursts when it is very cold. I will stay in bed much longer on days off.

I was in the group that was just about managing and now no longer am and am slowly slipping into credit card debt just to survive. Somewhat incongrously for a socialist like me, one of my best friends is a wealthy millionairess who works at a top level in the pharmaceutical industry, who has helped me out. Last week my constant robbing of Peter to pay Paul hit a brick wall as with two weeks until pay day I realised I only had left in my account barely enough to cover my debits and had no funds to pay my rent. My friend helped me out by lending me 700 quid and agreed that I dont have to repay until the new year, by which time a 130 a month loan will have been paid off. In truth she has made clear that she is not bothered about getting it back but honour makes me feel compelled to repay it.

Were it not for her and/or credit cards right now, I would already be defaulting on bills and relying on food banks.

I don't see this getting any better and don't think that Truss is the least bit interested in people like me and doesnt actually give a shite. Her focus seems to be on helping middle England, who are no doubt feeling the pinch too but have rarely been the ones who are just about managing.

[cromwell]

Every little helps I suppose but its always people on benefits who get it . The people who are really going to struggle are working people with either high rents or mortgages who just about get by week to week .

Well people with skin problems particularly kids or those with specific problems are not always on benefits,read the link again and you'll see that.

[Streetwalker]

This might help someone you know,someone with kids or a specific problem.

As tosserco says "every little helps"
Watersure

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/water/water-supply/problems-with-paying-your-water-bill/watersure-scheme-help-with-paying-water-bills/

Every little helps I suppose but its always people on benefits who get it . The people who are really going to struggle are working people with either high rents or mortgages who just about get by week to week .

[cromwell]

This might help someone you know,someone with kids or a specific problem.

As tosserco says "every little helps"
Watersure

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/water/water-supply/problems-with-paying-your-water-bill/watersure-scheme-help-with-paying-water-bills/

[patman post]

Blimey, I pay about £30 a month!

I will have to look into this.

That's only about a fiver less than our Virgin full package of broadband, TV, VoIP landline, and Mrs P's mobile. Surprisingly, although it's Hers, the mobile invoice each month comes in at £00.00.

We only use broadband, mobile and landline for incoming, but Mrs negotiated the full package to cost less than the three services required...

[Nick]

Blimey, I pay about £30 a month!

I will have to look into this.

I have a business account with Three and I pay £5 + VAT for unlimited data, txt and calls. In India my rates don't apply so I'm on an E-Sim from a company in Thailand: $17 for a 10 day period do not so bad.

[Borchester]

I've been with 1p mobile for a few years, and pay 1p per minute, text or MB with a minimum spend of £2.50 a month. So it costs me £30 a year. Obviously I have to provide my own unlocked phone. Being a miserable old sod I don't make many calls.

I'll have to look at their website as your deal might be preferable.

Blimey, I pay about £30 a month!

I will have to look into this.

[cromwell]

I've been with 1p mobile for a few years, and pay 1p per minute, text or MB with a minimum spend of £2.50 a month. So it costs me £30 a year. Obviously I have to provide my own unlocked phone. Being a miserable old sod I don't make many calls.

I'll have to look at their website as your deal might be preferable.

Ditto 

[Barry]

I've been with 1p mobile for a few years, and pay 1p per minute, text or MB with a minimum spend of £2.50 a month. So it costs me £30 a year. Obviously I have to provide my own unlocked phone. Being a miserable old sod I don't make many calls. 

I'll have to look at their website as your deal might be preferable.

[cromwell]

Anyway back to money being tight and ideas to make what you've got go further,I guess almost everybody has  got a mobile phone and my provider kept upping their prices so I had a look around and found these people.

I've been with them a few months now and so far so good and they use the EE network,I opted for their annual deal which you pay £36 for a year unlimited minutes,texts and a small amount of data per month so for the equivalent of £3 a month you get all that and can use it in Europe too.

https://www.1pmobile.com/index.taf?cprefs=agree

The usual caveats apply that there are other providers out there,no I have no shares or financial gain from them and you make your own mind up and if it all goes bump don't blame me.

[Benson]

Review the average commuting distance endured by workers since say 1962 and you'll soon see.

In my childhood and early adulthood the nature of work was such that most workers lived within 30 minutes walking distance of their place of work which is why the severe winters were not remotely the problem they are today. People lived within sight of work.

The rise of the long distance (car > 1 hr, train > 2 hr each way) commuter has been astronomic since the building of the M25. Butost of that is down to the insane cost of housing forcing people into commuter ghost towns

Oh I see. Why didn't Labour reverse it?

[johnofgwent]

One thing I gave never wanted to do was live in sight of my job. I had enough of that when I was in the Merchant Navy and my cabin was on top of the engine room.

As said before, most of my working life I have tried to maintain a few a few sidelines so that I could tell the guy or guyess at the main job to go f**k themselves as the mood took me.

Yeah. I must agree, Moira and I were rather happy to move from the University Slum Land flat from which you could see both of my research labs and her office in Cathay's Park, to Newport where despite the altitude and scenic panorama a hill of suitably prehistoric proportions blocked our view of our respective occupational hell holes with blue ssful visions of gorse, limestone and sheep.

It was however less than five miles to my office up the canal towpath by pushbike and a total walk of less than three miles to the railway stations for Moira to catch trains to and from work. 

Since Thatcher and the destruction of local jobs neither of us had less than fifteen miles of commute until very recently....