Cost of Living

[ALBIONSAINT]

Inflation is also good for savers, haven’t seen rates like this since before 2008 !! 

[StanleySaint]

25 minutes ago, ALBIONSAINT said:

Inflation is also good for savers, haven’t seen rates like this since before 2008 !! 

Unfortunately saving rates are never, never raised as swiftly as mortgage rates.

[Rascal]

2 hours ago, ALBIONSAINT said:

Inflation is also good for savers, haven’t seen rates like this since before 2008 !! 

Very true. Now worth the bother of moving it out of a current account!

[antrin]

11 hours ago, Rascal said:

Put my apparent optimism down to my advanced age Mr A.

A year older than I am is not really an “advanced age”.  So there is no excuse, Rascal.

I was pointing out that the inflation already hitting UK society is due to forces other than wages (or pension) pressures.

You changed the subject, by talking of potential, yet to be realised, inflationary pressures.
Your optimism and age is no excuse and is not a reflection of reality as it impacts people like Stanley Saint.

Edited August 5, 2022 by antrin

[Rascal]

8 hours ago, antrin said:

A year older than I am is not really an “advanced age”.  So there is no excuse, Rascal.

I was pointing out that the inflation already hitting UK society is due to forces other than wages (or pension) pressures.

You changed the subject, by talking of potential, yet to be realised, inflationary pressures.
Your optimism and age is no excuse and is not a reflection of reality as it impacts people like Stanley Saint.

Inflation hits us all. No argument from me. Causes I agreed were Brexit and Oil and Commodity price rises both post pandemic and war in Ukraine.
 

Wage driven inflation has not been a factor.  Austerity and low wages together with a drive to get people off benefits and into work (low paid) and on “flexible” work has been the approach. Not honouring the triple lock on pensions was very poor. Talk of a high wage, high productivity economy is , so far, just that.

We are all impacted by inflation but those with lower incomes and insecure sources of income are hit the hardest particularly when it comes to essential purchases such as heat and light, food and fuel. Thankfully interest rates, despite recent sharp rises, remain low. (When I bought my first place in 1966 the rate was 6.75% and would rise to twice that before falling to where we are today).

The big question for me is what happens  next? Is this an inflationary spike that will settle back to the averages of recent times? What political choices will the government make to support those least able to cope with current pressures? 
 

Shortage of labour  following Brexit has handed a bargaining card to unions and shifted the balance of power, perhaps only temporarily to workers. Collective bargaining has made a dramatic re entry to our news with unions across a wide range of sectors involved in wage negotiations with , it looks like, a good chance of success. As a past Union Rep I hope that negotiators on both sides recognise that rises should reflect increases in living costs and the ability to pay but also look at improving productivity and job security. 
 

 

 

 

[antrin]

1 hour ago, Rascal said:

Inflation hits us all. No argument from me. Causes I agreed were Brexit and Oil and Commodity price rises both post pandemic and war in Ukraine.
I accept that you eventually conceded that current inflation wasn’t driven by wage demands, but initially that had been your response.  It just also happens to be the line trotted out by our media and Truss and co.  It was unhelpful flannel.

Wage driven inflation has not been a factor.  Austerity and low wages together with a drive to get people off benefits and into work (low paid) and on “flexible” work has been the approach. Not honouring the triple lock on pensions was very poor. Talk of a high wage, high productivity economy is , so far, just that.

Again, I accept that.

We are all impacted by inflation but those with lower incomes and insecure sources of income are hit the hardest particularly when it comes to essential purchases such as heat and light, food and fuel. Thankfully interest rates, despite recent sharp rises, remain low. (When I bought my first place in 1966 the rate was 6.75% and would rise to twice that before falling to where we are today).

I know a fair bit about sucking eggs.

The big question for me is what happens  next? Is this an inflationary spike that will settle back to the averages of recent times? What political choices will the government make to support those least able to cope with current pressures? 
Socialism, for me, would be the logical political choice, but it currently seems unlikely.

Shortage of labour  following Brexit has handed a bargaining card to unions and shifted the balance of power, perhaps only temporarily to workers. Collective bargaining has made a dramatic re entry to our news with unions across a wide range of sectors involved in wage negotiations with , it looks like, a good chance of success. As a past Union Rep I hope that negotiators on both sides recognise that rises should reflect increases in living costs and the ability to pay but also look at improving productivity and job security. 

Here is the type of leader who could nudge society towards a better balance:

https://www.doubledown.news/watch/2022/august/4/mick-lynch-dismantles-the-media-keir-starmer-war-on-freedom-extreme-right-wing-tory-government

 

 

[Rascal]

1 hour ago, antrin said:

 

The relationship between the rewards to owners / capital and rewards to employees has clearly swung too far ) in favour of Capital and a correction is overdue. Media coverage is not unbiased and favours capital, but you know this.

 

 

[Rascal]

How it feels for a lot of folks today and an old song.

[faraway saint]

While it seems the price of everything else is going up fuel continues to fall.

£1.66 at our local Morrisons.

Still expensive right enough but a whole lot better than a wee while ago. 

[faraway saint]

3 hours ago, faraway saint said:

While it seems the price of everything else is going up fuel continues to fall.

£1.66 at our local Morrisons.

Still expensive right enough but a whole lot better than a wee while ago. 

Update, nipped down this morning to fill up, £1.65, I put in an extra 50p worth as it was "free". 

[Rascal]

Costs are definitely rising. We don’t go on holidays but My wife and I go out for coffee every day and for a light lunch twice a week. That and eating out twice a month at a good restaurant. It’s a hobby and luckily we can afford it. But our energy will soon cost us as much each month by October. Seriously , for people who just don’t have the income, how can they possibly afford to pay the amounts involved. Scandalous 

Edited August 12, 2022 by Rascal

[beyond our ken]

Luckily, i reacted to Martin Lewis' warnings last year and fixed for 2 years at the end of November  Not on quite as low a tarriff as i previously had but with monitoring energy use i have actually reduced how much i pay per month.

My direct debit was raised by by £100 my supplier to the level of the increases in January, as if i was on a variable tarriff but i brought the DD down to reflect what i was actually using.  I reckon i am costing my supplier about £3k/year just now and that will go up.  So for a change, i am almost unscathed, as are my kids.  My daughter didnt fix until January and complained like hell about her new price, but has been quiet about that since the spring.

despite working in the energy sector, i dont have a full appreciation of how the consumer market works but it seems we are selling energy into the market as a producer then buying it back as a retailler.  That must be inefficent and it seems the market is constructed to shaft the end user.  Despite protestations to government it is not in our interest to lower prices as the shareholders demand, so we are told, that we take what profit we can, whenever we can.  My CEO's great idea for the poorer families was to set a new tarriff for the middle and higher earners that covered a discount for those on benefits.  Not only would customers have to prove their income status to their supplier, but all of those who are struggling and not on benefits will get double-shafted.  there is also the question of who will pay for the extra admin.  It seems state ownership is the only way to protect consumers.

[Rascal]

New swimming pool anyone? https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/swimming-pool-rishi-sunak-uk-heatwave-b2143826.html?amp

[exiledfan]

One thing that gets me as a single person is there is no support at all. I pay rent on a 2 bed flat myself. I don't get tax relief for being married. Food for two is same for one. I can't really date recently due to covid now monky pox. 

It's hard being single and no help. 

[faraway saint]

6 minutes ago, exiledfan said:

One thing that gets me as a single person is there is no support at all. I pay rent on a 2 bed flat myself. I don't get tax relief for being married. Food for two is same for one. I can't really date recently due to covid now monky pox. 

It's hard being single and no help. 

You should get a discount on dating sites, that'll save you a fortune.  😄😄😄

[W6er]

25 minutes ago, exiledfan said:

One thing that gets me as a single person is there is no support at all. I pay rent on a 2 bed flat myself. I don't get tax relief for being married. Food for two is same for one. I can't really date recently due to covid now monky pox. 

It's hard being single and no help. 

Monkeypox?! 

[W6er]

One thing that never seems to be mentioned is that there are simply too many people living in the UK, now! As the population continues to increase, so will the demand for electricity, gas and housing. There will be greater strain on the NHS and schools, and more congested roads and parks.

 

[Guest]

27 minutes ago, W6er said:

One thing that never seems to be mentioned is that there are simply too many people living in the UK, now! As the population continues to increase, so will the demand for electricity, gas and housing. There will be greater strain on the NHS and schools, and more congested roads and parks.

 

Tosh. We have a declining ageing population in Scotland.  Due to Brexiteers like you we have significantly less immigration to staff the NHS, care, agriculture, fishing, hospitality sectors.

[lenziebud]

30 minutes ago, W6er said:

One thing that never seems to be mentioned is that there are simply too many people living in the UK, now! As the population continues to increase, so will the demand for electricity, gas and housing. There will be greater strain on the NHS and schools, and more congested roads and parks.

 

You could leave and help the situation 😉

[W6er]

1 minute ago, SuperSaints1877 said:

Tosh. We have a declining ageing population in Scotland.  Due to Brexiteers like you we have significantly less immigration to staff the NHS, care, agriculture, fishing, hospitality sectors.

 

A declining population, or an ageing one? Here's a novel thought, instead of poaching doctors and nurses from some of the poorest countries in the world, resulting in worsening medical care fore their native populations, why not train our own staff? It's pretty callous policy to lure doctors and nurses away from the most impoverished people on the planet, so that you don't have to pay more in tax to fund our universities. You should be ashamed of yourself!

We have encouraged an underclass who live on benefits, why not encourage them to work in agriculture and other such industries?

I suggest you read this, btw:

https://populationmatters.org/

 

1 minute ago, lenziebud said:

You could leave and help the situation 😉

I have thought about it!

[Guest]

Just now, W6er said:

 

A declining population, or an ageing one? Here's a novel thought, instead of poaching doctors and nurses from some of the poorest countries in the world, resulting in worsening medical care fore their native populations, why not train our own staff? It's pretty callous policy to lure doctors and nurses away from the most impoverished people on the planet, so that you don't have to pay more in tax to fund our universities. You should be ashamed of yourself!

We have encouraged an underclass who live on benefits, why not encourage them to work in agriculture and other such industries?

I suggest you read this, btw:

https://populationmatters.org/

 

I have thought about it!

You are an idiot.

Many of these people seek opportunities to move from where they currently live to countries where they can earn in a month what would take them years to achieve at home. By doing so they can send money home to support extended family thereby giving other younger family members the opportunity to study longer in school and university that they would not have been able to do had some one else in their family had the opportunity to study, work and learn in the UK. Selfish people like you have stopped that opportunity in the UK and you indirectly have blood on your hands.

An “underclass on benefits”? You Tory cnut. 

So you suggest that all physically and mentally disabled people should work the fields? Are you aware of how many terminally ill people are told they are not eligible for benefits?

While we are at it. Let us reopen the mines and send orphans down the mines. 

Regarding population control. WW111, Global pandemics and starvation as a result of a global recession should deal with a few deaths that no doubt you will be happy about. 

Climate issues resulting in natural disasters will kill millions. The next few decades you can spend wanking at your tv screen as millions die.

[W6er]

2 minutes ago, SuperSaints1877 said:

You are an idiot.

Many of these people seek opportunities to move from where they currently live to countries where they can earn in a month what would take them years to achieve at home. By doing so they can send money home to support extended family thereby giving other younger family members the opportunity to study longer in school and university that they would not have been able to do had some one else in their family had the opportunity to study, work and learn in the UK. Selfish people like you have stopped that opportunity in the UK and you indirectly have blood on your hands.

An “underclass on benefits”? You Tory cnut. 

So you suggest that all physically and mentally disabled people should work the fields? Are you aware of how many terminally ill people are told they are not eligible for benefits?

While we are at it. Let us reopen the mines and send orphans down the mines. 

Regarding population control. WW111, Global pandemics and starvation as a result of a global recession should deal with a few deaths that no doubt you will be happy about. 

Climate issues resulting in natural disasters will kill millions. The next few decades you can spend wanking at your tv screen as millions die.

So you're justifying robbing the most impoverished countries on their planet of their medical staff? Absolutely disgusting! Naturally you're unable to debate sensibly without recourse to abusive language, also. 

Are you familiar with the concept of a 'brain drain'? If all the educated and skilled people leave a country, its prospects will diminish. For example, how are they supposed to build an infrastructure if all their engineers leave for the West? 

Quote

You Tory cnut. 

Oh dear! More ad hominem. Your profanity doesn't offend me in the slightest, but it does expose you for what you are!

I suggest you read this and educate yourself, before suggesting immigration is a good thing: https://populationmatters.org/overpopulation-uk

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, W6er said:

So you're justifying robbing the most impoverished countries on their planet of their medical staff? Absolutely disgusting! Naturally you're unable to debate sensibly without recourse to abusive language, also. 

Are you familiar with the concept of a 'brain drain'? If all the educated and skilled people leave a country, its prospects will diminish. For example, how are they supposed to build an infrastructure if all their engineers leave for the West? 

Oh dear! More ad hominem. Your profanity doesn't offend me in the slightest, but it does expose you for what you are!

I suggest you read this and educate yourself, before suggesting immigration is a good thing: https://populationmatters.org/overpopulation-uk

I was part of the “brain drain” from Scotland in the early 80s like many other Scots. Emigration happens the world over. The current population of India is 1.38Billion. The UK population is 67Million. I don't believe that some Indians doctors and nurses moving for economic personal reasons is disgusting. That is their personal choice that cnuts like you have deprived them of. 
 

Go fuk your self.

We have a history of population decline due to Tory policies. Even the Highland clearances had a massive effect when sheep and deer were more valuable than people.

[Slarti]

You could leave and help the situation [emoji6]

I have thought about it!

Are you familiar with the concept of a 'brain drain'? If all the educated and skilled people leave a country, its prospects will diminish.

We'll be better off if you decide to go then. [emoji16]

[Guest]

 

@W6er

 

@W6er will be much happier when there is a UK population decline this winter with increased deaths as a direct result of Tory policies caused by hypothermia, starvation and suicides.

 

Edited August 12, 2022 by SuperSaints1877