Cost Of Living
Comments
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guinea wrote:I bought a watch to replace a stolen one just before Xmas.I was back in Selfridge's at the weekend and it's gone up £400.
The VAT increase accounts for only £95 of that.
Inflation is huge, time to ramp up the interest rates. I'm sick of funding borrowers.
Luckily, most people wouldn't consider this sort of item a necessity.0 -
Valy wrote:morstar wrote:Food inflation has been astronomical for the last 2 years.
We are on a seriously tight budget this year to bring our finances into line with where they should be and grocery shopping is seriously tough.
What is really annoying me at this exact moment in time is totally unrelated though. Right now the mrs is using up stack loads of the colour ink I bought for our home printer because the DWP where she works has banned colour printing and everybody is moaning how bland the notice boards are.
Not my f***ing problem. I was so tempted to completely lie on my tax self assessment at the weekend, but like a good little boy I didn't. Regretting it now that I have discovered I'm funding the DWP printing.
Do you use 3rd party inks? If not, then it's a good deal cheaper and just the same more or less. Also why does not everybody put some money into the ink - if they say no, then not for you to take the cost really. Just my £0.02.
I used 3rd party inks in an Epson. They simply didn't work, gummed up the print heads. Ended up having to buy a new printer. Not doing that again!0 -
I live about dozen miles west from the Esso refinery in Fawley (New Forest) the Esso petrol station in Bashley (New Milton) has unleaded at 130 or 131 ish per litre. There is an Esso station a further 20 miles away (Wimborne) from the refinery yet the cost is 5p cheaper. How the hell does that work?Always be yourself, unless you can be Aaron Rodgers....Then always be Aaron Rodgers.0
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Biggest issue were all going to get hit with is the shift in classes in China.
The middle classes are growing expoentionally each month and as a result there is a shortage of labour in the southern factories and thus prices are rising.0 -
Bartimaeus wrote:guinea wrote:I bought a watch to replace a stolen one just before Xmas.I was back in Selfridge's at the weekend and it's gone up £400.
The VAT increase accounts for only £95 of that.
Inflation is huge, time to ramp up the interest rates. I'm sick of funding borrowers.
A £4,500 watch? Sell it and buy a couple of bikes... one for you and one for me.
Good maths!0 -
Valy wrote:Bartimaeus wrote:guinea wrote:I bought a watch to replace a stolen one just before Xmas.I was back in Selfridge's at the weekend and it's gone up £400.
The VAT increase accounts for only £95 of that.
Inflation is huge, time to ramp up the interest rates. I'm sick of funding borrowers.
A £4,500 watch? Sell it and buy a couple of bikes... one for you and one for me.
I really do hope his post was a joke of him pretending to be a banker. :shock: :shock: :shock:
I hope your post is a joke and you're not a bitter ne'er do well who resents people who work hard and spend their money on the odd treat.
Actually, although I said I bought it in my original post, it was actually my fiance who paid for watch as an engagement present.
This watch costs less than a top brand bike with Super Record and Boras, maybe you should have a dig at those guys too?0 -
guinea wrote:Valy wrote:Bartimaeus wrote:guinea wrote:I bought a watch to replace a stolen one just before Xmas.I was back in Selfridge's at the weekend and it's gone up £400.
The VAT increase accounts for only £95 of that.
Inflation is huge, time to ramp up the interest rates. I'm sick of funding borrowers.
A £4,500 watch? Sell it and buy a couple of bikes... one for you and one for me.
I really do hope his post was a joke of him pretending to be a banker. :shock: :shock: :shock:
I hope your post is a joke and you're not a bitter ne'er do well who resents people who work hard and spend their money on the odd treat.
Actually, although I said I bought it in my original post, it was actually my fiance who paid for watch as an engagement present.
This watch costs less than a top brand bike with Super Record and Boras, maybe you should have a dig at those guys too?
Ah, but I bet your expensive watch is heavier than a £15 digital one from argos
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The cynical amongst us would suggest shops have used the VAT increase to apply inflation-busting price rises, regardless of whether VAT even applies, and take advantage of the general confusion and what-not amongst the general public...
There are a lot of people who weren't aware of VAT-exemption on most food, and also that gas/electricity is VAT'd at just 5%...0 -
shm_uk wrote:The cynical amongst us would suggest shops have used the VAT increase to apply inflation-busting price rises, regardless of whether VAT even applies, and take advantage of the general confusion and what-not amongst the general public...
All it takes is one outlet not to do that though and then they have a price advantage.
Otherwise it's cartel behaviour, which is banned.0 -
Bet it makes you smile every time you look at it though....0
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rhext- yeah there is risk taking. We used them for quite a while and have not had any problems. A big lol for "WSO"! :P
guinea - so are you a banker? :P
It's just that I see that as a pretty large amount to spend on a watch. If you have anything less than a Di2, Zipp 404 equipped commuter though, that is where I will find most of my surprise coming from, in fact I will be disappointed, greatly.
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Thick Tester wrote:Biggest issue were all going to get hit with is the shift in classes in China.
The middle classes are growing expoentionally each month and as a result there is a shortage of labour in the southern factories and thus prices are rising.
I work for a company that makes stuff and there are some components we sourced from China up until very recently that we now find cheaper to get from Eastern Europe. Shipping costs were a factor as well as the increased labour costs of the Chinese.0 -
verylonglegs wrote:Thick Tester wrote:Biggest issue were all going to get hit with is the shift in classes in China.
The middle classes are growing expoentionally each month and as a result there is a shortage of labour in the southern factories and thus prices are rising.
I work for a company that makes stuff and there are some components we sourced from China up until very recently that we now find cheaper to get from Eastern Europe. Shipping costs were a factor as well as the increased labour costs of the Chinese.
About 2008 Chinese people were getting paid about 30% more in Russian for construction work than they would have been getting in Russia. I was a bit surprised.0 -
My monthly expenditure has shot up in the past month, what with fuel and food like most people on here.
If you have any money in savings and have the opportunity/facility to, then put your money into an offset account for your mortgage.
Im saving almost the same in one month that i was giving in interest in a year by doing this.
I also think that it wont be long before interest rates are on the rise again, so it will help lower your monthly living cost or pay your mortgage off that little bit quicker. Remember mortgages are compound so everymonth you'll have saved just that little bit more.
I hope.....anyway.Its Italian, its carbon.....and some lanky tool rides it.0 -
Valy wrote:rhext- yeah there is risk taking. We used them for quite a while and have not had any problems. A big lol for "WSO"! :P
guinea - so are you a banker? :P
It's just that I see that as a pretty large amount to spend on a watch. If you have anything less than a Di2, Zipp 404 equipped commuter though, that is where I will find most of my surprise coming from, in fact I will be disappointed, greatly.
Not a banker. IT Dir.
My road bike is a Wiler with Chorus and Boras. Not on commuter though. That's an MTB, albeit with XTR and SIDs
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Daym... I really needed to hear that, thanks. *goes off to weep*
There are some crazy salaries for IT jobs though - 400k/year for some! Of course that is one in very many I may also not be understanding the salary...
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Well my cost of living is now about to take a serious serious hit!!!
I found out today that I'm going onto half pay in March because I'm still waiting for an operation and I can't prove that my injuries were work related so not eligible for our force insurance. To make matters worse my wife will be on minimum maternity pay by then so we are screwed big big time!!!
With paying for emigration stuff and baby stuff and rent etc etc there is no way we will cover it with my salary.
Oh joy...
There is never redemption, any fool can regret yesterday...
Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!0 -
No-one's mentioned Quantitative Easing???? (printing money).
Been done here, the US and now the euro. There are a few other things at play, but this is by far the biggest. Print money, the price of stuff goes up. When unemployment is also rising, there's little pressure for wages to rise, so everyone's standard of living drops.
Stagflation.
Hard to believe the powers that be took this option over a healthy dose of deflation.
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TheStone wrote:No-one's mentioned Quantitative Easing???? (printing money).
Been done here, the US and now the euro. There are a few other things at play, but this is by far the biggest. Print money, the price of stuff goes up. When unemployment is also rising, there's little pressure for wages to rise, so everyone's standard of living drops.
Stagflation.
Hard to believe the powers that be took this option over a healthy dose of deflation.
Would the example of Japan not have put them off deflation? Although didn't the Japanese suffer because they never really cleaned up their banks after the boom they had?0 -
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verylonglegs wrote:
Would the example of Japan not have put them off deflation? Although didn't the Japanese suffer because they never really cleaned up their banks after the boom they had?
Japan also printed a lot of money (although most of it was later reversed). The inflation was exported through the carry trade, which is (a) not a good thing and (b) not possible when everyone is printing at the same time.
In my opinion the deflation wasn't the issue. Their property boom was crazy, even by the western world standards, but I can't help but feel that if they hadn't printed and let the market fully deflate, by now the next generation would have picked up the pieces and be investing. Instead they're still in limbo.0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:Deflation is a nightmare scenario.
Why?
Just because every politician and political economist say so, doesn't make it true.
The most successful sectors are constantly deflation (computing, communications etc). No-one puts off buying stuff because it'll be cheaper. With essentials (food, fuel etc), there isn't the choice.
Yes, it's not good for those in debt or the banks, but they caused the problems.
It's also not good for the govts, as it's difficult to tax deflation.
.... but doesn't make it all bad.0 -
TheStone wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:Deflation is a nightmare scenario.
Why?
Just because every politician and political economist say so, doesn't make it true.
The most successful sectors are constantly deflation (computing, communications etc). No-one puts off buying stuff because it'll be cheaper. With essentials (food, fuel etc), there isn't the choice.
Yes, it's not good for those in debt or the banks, but they caused the problems.
It's also not good for the govts, as it's difficult to tax deflation.
.... but doesn't make it all bad.
As you can imagine, economies and employment functions on people and business spending cash.
When deflation hits, people save, since the more the save, the more value their cash is. That also applies to any loan anyone has - it becomes phenomenally expensive. Given that a lot of businesses use loans to buy stock, etc, as well as people's mortages etc, it's a horrific nightmare. There is no investment, no anything.
No-one spends, everyone loses their jobs, aggregate demand falls, vicious cycle continues. It's really very bad.0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:
As you can imagine, economies and employment functions on people and business spending cash.
When deflation hits, people save, since the more the save, the more value their cash is. That also applies to any loan anyone has - it becomes phenomenally expensive. Given that a lot of businesses use loans to buy stock, etc, as well as people's mortages etc, it's a horrific nightmare. There is no investment, no anything.
No-one spends, everyone loses their jobs, aggregate demand falls, vicious cycle continues. It's really very bad.
There's some evidence, I'll see if I can dig it out, that says when real interest rates are positive (i.e. there is a real cost to debt), it leads to wiser and more secure investments. Germany had this for decades and has built a very solid manufacturing base upon it. In the UK it's not been the case. The debt has been too cheap, so rather than take the risk of investing in something real, everyone and anyone just gambles ... hence the bubbles.0 -
That has nothing to do with deflation.TheStone wrote:Rick Chasey wrote:
As you can imagine, economies and employment functions on people and business spending cash.
When deflation hits, people save, since the more the save, the more value their cash is. That also applies to any loan anyone has - it becomes phenomenally expensive. Given that a lot of businesses use loans to buy stock, etc, as well as people's mortages etc, it's a horrific nightmare. There is no investment, no anything.
No-one spends, everyone loses their jobs, aggregate demand falls, vicious cycle continues. It's really very bad.
There's some evidence, I'll see if I can dig it out, that says when real interest rates are positive (i.e. there is a real cost to debt), it leads to wiser and more secure investments. Germany had this for decades and has built a very solid manufacturing base upon it. In the UK it's not been the case. The debt has been too cheap, so rather than take the risk of investing in something real, everyone and anyone just gambles ... hence the bubbles.
A quick wikipedia will show you all you need to know about deflation.0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:That has nothing to do with deflation.
A quick wikipedia will show you all you need to know about deflation.
My point is that a high real cost of debt (which would happen in deflation) isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Has a deflationary spiral ever occurred? Where as hyper-inflation happens and destroys countries.
The deflation in the depression and in Japan in the 90s could be seen as the solution - the mending of the monetary inflation that had already happened.0 -
showing my age!!!!!!!!!!:- does any one remember how we were duly screwed big time when decimilisation was introduced its the same again , any excuse to screw the punter and get away with it. Lets have afuel strike and not buy for afew days/week and see how those b'stards in there ivory towers like it.0
