You and yours this morning,, feeling the pinch??

There was an interesting article in our local paper today. In Burnham on Sea, N Norfolk, aka Chelsea on Sea because a lot of fairly well off people have second homes or take holidays there, owners of shops and cafes said this Easter wasn't as good as last despite the lovely weather. Rising fuel costs for the Chelsea tractors and rising costs generally had been felt even amongst relatively well off people, and of course it filters down.

I’ve listened to several families on the radio on very low incomes, and even if they are managing, there can be very little joy in life when your children have to give up their clubs, when you can only afford the most basic food, and when you’re frightened to turn the heating on.
I still work, so does my husband, but we do have our daughter and three children living here, and I’m concerned about the price of electricity and heating oil.

It just goes to show how little people realise the dire situation that people in real poverty are in. I do think that they were trying to show how the cost of living is having an impact on people in a number of income brackets; but it would have been better if someone in the really poor bracket had been on the programme well.

Galaxy

Yes werent they showing that even on good incones the current situation will have an impact. And thats important because if people are cutting back on gyms, restaurants etc that will have an impact on those who work in them.

Yes, that’s a very good point.

I always think that as you start to earn more, your outgoings grow accordingly, so whether you earn twenty thousand or sixty thousand you feel the pinch.
Having said that, obviously if you’re on sixty thousand, you have a lot more wriggle room.
I don’t like to criticise people for how they spend their money, they’ve earned it, and they can spend it however they wish, but I think they have to be careful what they whinge about when people are facing real hardship.

Galaxy

Yes werent they showing that even on good incones the current situation will have an impact. And thats important because if people are cutting back on gyms, restaurants etc that will have an impact on those who work in them.

If that was the point then yes, especially if they have student loans, graduate loan and a mortgage.

However, they are not having to cut down on essentials like some people, just tweaking their lifestyle.

I guess it depends on what your fixed outgoings are. If you have a large mortgage, two cars on lease etc. even £60,000 may not be as much as it sounds. The people who are really struggling in real terms though are those who have a very low income, because they’ve got nothing to cut back further on. There have been some heartbreaking stories in the news about disabled and older people as well as families who just can’t see a way to manage. Worryingly it’s been reported today that borrowing is starting to increase as well, which doesn’t bode well for next winter.

Yes the current situation does have an impact on the more comfortably off. My DH and I have economised on many occasions in the past. We have saved and been careful. Now that he is about to retire we’re not going to be able to afford everything we hoped to do. It doesn’t mean we’re in severe hardship. Believe me my heart goes out to those on very strict budgets. We’ve all worked hard in the hope of having a comfortable and stress free retirement.

Yes werent they showing that even on good incones the current situation will have an impact. And thats important because if people are cutting back on gyms, restaurants etc that will have an impact on those who work in them.

I didn't hear the programme - maybe they were pointing out that even on an income of £60k a couple are having to reduce subscriptions, eating out, etc.

You don't have to be at the food bank stage to be feeling the pinch.

You and Yours perhaps needs to find some better examples of those scrimping and saving.

While I know a lot of us find a joint income of 60k good income, most people live to the income you earn some even over. I have never gone into debt for things like holidays or even cars I know a lot of people who maxed their credit card on a regular basis for what I considered silly non essential items. I think everyone is going to feel the pinch for the next few years. But those who have always spent Willy nilly will feel it all the more.

Maybe they have a very large mortgage along with student loans?

On the other hand they may need a few lesser on how to run a household budget…

And they might have to give up the foreign holidays and gym memberships too.?

Aww what a shame, they now have to cook meals / buy food from Aldi and cut back a few media subscriptions... welcome to the real world...

Well he certainly would not be able to manage on my pension!

I expect the person interviewing him was on £80,000 a year so felt he must be struggling!

I wouldn’t have felt very sympathetic either.